Demystifying U.S. Higher Education Institutions for Future Faculty

June 11, 2025

Thinking about a faculty career but unsure how to navigate the complex world of U.S. higher education? You’re not alone — and we’re here to help! Our recent Lunch and Learn session, the first in a three-part series on faculty career readiness, provided a deep dive into the types of institutions across the U.S. and what those differences mean for aspiring academics.

Here’s a recap of key insights from the session, led by Daphne Jones, Amanda Athey, and Lisa Anderson.

🔍 Understanding the Institutional Landscape

The U.S. is home to nearly 4,000 colleges and universities, and not all are created equal. To bring some order to this variety, the Carnegie Classification system groups institutions based on degree offerings and research activity.

Some quick facts:

Doctoral Universities are further broken down into categories like R1 (Very High Research) and R2 (High Research).
Master’s and Baccalaureate Institutions tend to emphasize teaching more than research.
Associate Institutions (e.g., community colleges) primarily award two-year degrees.

🎓 Did you know? Only 4.7% of U.S. institutions qualify as R1 — these are powerhouses of research, but not the only places you can have a meaningful academic career!

🧑‍🏫 Faculty Roles & Titles: What They Mean

There’s a wide range of faculty titles and expectations, which vary significantly depending on institution type:

Tenure Track

Assistant Professor: Entry level, pre-tenure.
Associate Professor: Tenured, mid-level.
Professor: Full, often senior and well-established in the field.
Non-Tenure Track
Adjunct/Part-Time: Hired per course.
Lecturer/Instructor: Longer-term, focused on teaching.
Visiting Professor: Temporary appointment.
Clinical/Professor of Practice: Focused on real-world teaching over research.
Research Professor: Funded by external grants, with little or no teaching duties.

📈 Expectations Vary by Institution

Teaching, research, and service loads shift depending on the institution:

Community Colleges and Baccalaureate Schools: Heavy teaching, light research.
R2 and R1 Institutions: High research expectations, some teaching and service.
Master’s Institutions: Moderate teaching and research, depending on size and mission.

💡 Tip: If you love teaching, you’re not limited to community colleges — teaching-focused roles exist even at research institutions!

🌍 International Scholars & Job Market Myths

Can international PhDs get faculty jobs at Associate’s or Baccalaureate institutions? Yes — but it depends:

Based on market demand, some institutions may support visas for longer longer-termterm non-tenure-track positions.
Others may require the candidate to fund their own work authorization.

Also, don’t believe the myth that you can’t do research at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) or master’s institutions — several of them outperform R2s in research spending!

💼 Faculty Job Search Tips

Where to Look:

Chronicle of Higher Ed
HigherEdJobs.com
Indeed.com
Discipline-specific job boards (e.g., MLA, Science Careers)

How to Research a Job Post:

Look up the Carnegie Classification of the institution.
Explore NSF HERD data for research expenditures.
Check out the department faculty list and course offerings.
Understand the governance structure (public vs. private).

If you’re a doctoral student or postdoc curious about your future in academia, we encourage you to attend upcoming sessions, connect with faculty mentors, and start exploring now. The more informed you are, the more confident you’ll be when the time comes to launch your search!