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New Carnegie Classifications Elevates žƵ to Rare Class
Virginia Wesleyan earns “Special Focus: Arts & Sciences” designation, awarded to only 6 percent of institutions in the nation
University News | April 25, 2025
žƵ was classified as “Special Focus: Arts & Sciences” in the newly released 
, a distinction awarded to only 6 percent of the nation's higher education institutions.
Updated every three years, the Carnegie Classifications is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in higher education. In 2022, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education (ACE) partnered to re-envision the future of the Carnegie Classifications.
In the 2025 classifications, Virginia Wesleyan also earned a “Higher Access” distinction in the new Student Access and Earnings Classification—a clear reflection of the University’s success in enrolling and supporting students from traditionally underserved backgrounds. This category indicates that žƵ enrolls more Pell Grant recipients and students from underrepresented populations than would be expected based on the demographics of the region it serves. And it places žƵ among institutions nationally recognized for removing barriers to higher education and helping students from all walks of life build brighter futures.
“Education opens doors—not just to knowledge, but to a better life,” said žƵ President Scott D. Miller. “We take great pride in serving students who may be the first in their families to attend college and in giving them the tools, resources, and mentorship needed to thrive academically and professionally.”
President Miller continued, “Virginia Wesleyan’s strong performance in the new Carnegie Classifications reaffirms our role as a catalyst for economic and social mobility. This recognition reflects the hard work of our faculty, staff, and community partners who remain deeply committed to student-centered education.”
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