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LU named ‘Opportunity University’ in Carnegie Classification

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Lamar University President Jaime Taylor talks to the media following a press conference, May 28, to announce LU's designation as a Carnegie Classification "Opportunity University." UP staff photo

Lamar University has added another designation to its resume after earning Opportunity College & University status in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications for its impact on student success and economic mobility.

LU President Jaime Taylor and Provost Brett Welch announced the designation at a press conference, May 28, in the university’s Welcome Center. Taylor said the Carnegie Classification of institutes of Higher Education is the gold standard for evaluating and classifying universities and colleges nationwide.

Taylor said the classifications are evaluated on a three-year cycle and this year they added a new category which Lamar earned. The classification is based on access and earnings after graduation across six categories — low, medium and high access, and low, medium and high earnings.

Lamar is in the high level in both categories, meaning the school is highly accessible and graduates have high earning capability.

“The reason why this is so important and why it's meant so much to me is this validates everything that we are here at Lamar University, and what we stand for,” Taylor said. “Our core mission is to serve the people and the industry of Southeast Texas, and this metric basically says that that's exactly what we're doing.”

“First, we've made college education accessible to people in Southeast Texas. We allow them to come in, we then provide them with the support they need to get out, and once they get out, they get a degree that's very valuable. Our degrees are designed specifically to benefit those in Southeast Texas, and that shows because people are willing to pay our graduates a lot of money.”

Earlier this year, the university earned an R2 designation as a research university. Taylor said there are only 27 universities in the nation that have achieved both designations out of almost 4,000 institutes of higher education.

“So, this is a very big deal for Lamar University,” Taylor said.

Welch said one of the most pressing challenges in higher education is meeting students’ expectations for a meaningful return on their investment. College education represents a significant financial, time and personal commitment, and students seek assurance that these investments will lead to fulfilling careers and financial stability.

“So, here at Lamar University, we're proud to rise to that challenge,” he said. “Our recent Carnegie classification as an Opportunity University affirms that we are equipping graduates not only skills and dispositions needed to succeed, but also with the earning potential that validates their commitment to higher education.

“While the designation Opportunity University includes high earning potential as a criterion, it's the word ‘opportunity’ that truly defines Lamar University's mission. While only some of our graduates will enter the workforce, workforce with the immediate six figure salaries, our programs are designed to ensure that all students are prepared to rise quickly in their chosen fields.”

The growth is fueled not just by academic content, but by a holistic educational experience., Welch said.

“Our very student body offers a rich environment for cross cultural learning through collaboration with peers and faculty from varied backgrounds,” he said. “Students gain global perspectives (and) interpersonal skills that are central in the modern workforce. These are experiences shape Lamar graduates into professionals who are not only job ready, but career ready. This recent designation as an Opportunity University is a powerful endorsement of our efforts.”

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Lamar University Provost Brett Welch talks to the KLVI's Harold Mann following a press conference, May 28, to announce LU's designation as a Carnegie Classification "Opportunity University." UP staff photo

 

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