New designation better aligns the University for national recognition in its commitment to student success in the liberal arts and sciences
San Antonio, TX. Jan. 20, 2022. Trinity University announced that the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education has reclassified the institution as a Baccalaureate Arts and Sciences College. Trinity was formerly classified as a Small Master’s Institution by Carnegie, a marker for how the U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) assigns university rankings.
Carnegie's previous classification led to the USNWR ranking Trinity as a "Regional University” in the West. Last fall, they ranked Trinity as No. 1 in the West for America's Best Colleges in 2022 for the 29th time in 30 years. Trinity's new standing is a critical first step in its vision to become recognized by USNWR as a top National Liberal Arts College.
This reclassification makes Trinity one of only three universities with this distinction in Texas, of which Trinity is the only school located in the heart of a large urban area.
“Trinity faculty, staff, students, and alumni advocated for this reclassification so that we may champion the liberal arts alongside our peers nationally,” said Trinity President Danny Anderson.
It has been 80 years since the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce invited Trinity to move to San Antonio - a move James H. Calvert, then president of the Chamber, described as a "major accomplishment" and "a splendid addition to the community's institutions and culture." He concluded by stating that Trinity "certainly will become a force for building a greater San Antonio."
The economic development aspects and community partnerships are vast in a major city such as San Antonio. Trinity is one of the nation's top private undergraduate institutions. It is also home to a diverse student population, which is reflective of San Antonio and the Southwest.
For decades, Trinity graduates have stayed in the Alamo City to lead, teach, and innovate. Alumni have served as mayors, city managers, city council members, and entrepreneurs. They have led research projects in urban studies, biotechnology, and sport analytics. They are a part of the Trinity Network that is more than 7,000 strong in the nation's 7th largest city.
“We believe this reclassification and change in the U.S. News & World Report ranking will help Trinity continue to recruit the best and brightest minds to San Antonio - individuals who represent diverse backgrounds and varied professional interests - leaders who will choose to make this great city their home,” said Anderson.
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ABOUT TRINITY UNIVERSITY
For generations spanning 150 years, Trinity University has transformed obstacles into boundless opportunities. Our resilience, enterprise, and creative vision have driven us in unwavering pursuit of new challenges, and new chances to build on this legacy. Carried by this momentum, we redefine the liberal arts by cultivating a community of lifelong learners. Trinity’s 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students come from 48 states and 57 countries. Students choose from 49 majors, 61 minors, and five master’s degrees. With our combined talents, strengths, ambitions, and passions, we are doing more than waiting for a brighter tomorrow: We’re making a better one today. Discover more about Trinity University.
About the Carnegie Classification®
The Carnegie Classification® has been the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education for the past four and a half decades. Starting in 1970, the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed a classification of colleges and universities to support its program of research and policy analysis. Derived from empirical data on colleges and universities, the Carnegie Classification was originally published in 1973 and subsequently updated in 1976, 1987, 1994, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2018, and 2021 to reflect changes among colleges and universities. This framework has been widely used in the study of higher education, both as a way to represent and control for institutional differences, and also in the design of research studies to ensure adequate representation of sampled institutions, students, or faculty.