The University of Maine is now ranked as one of the top research institutions in the country. 

The school was upgraded to “R1” status by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a long-running and widely used system to categorize U.S. colleges and universities. 

Only 146 or less than 4% of doctoral research institutions nationwide are in the R1 tier, which requires the highest range of degree options and robust spending on research. UMaine had aimed to attain R1 status by 2024, according to a press release. 

The school has increased research spending more than 80% in the past five years to a record high of $179.3 million last year, grown external funding for research and development by 135%, and reached record highs for graduate and doctoral enrollments. 

Top researchers, state and federal lawmakers and university leaders applauded the news, saying it puts UMaine on the map as an elite research institution with global impact. 

“The research enterprise at the University of Maine is a vital state economic and educational asset,” university system chancellor Dannel Malloy said in a statement. “The R1 designation is the world standard for research universities. With it, we will attract more talent, investment and innovation to Maine.” 

UMaine is the state’s first R1 institution. It joins several others in New England, including eight in Massachusetts, two each in New Hampshire and Connecticut, and one in Rhode Island.