On the heels of its recent designation as a research institution, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education has also named Lehman to the nationwide list of “Opportunity Colleges and Universities.” The designation recognizes Lehman as a model institution that exemplifies how campuses can foster student success.

“It is gratifying to know that Lehman College is seen as a national model for cultivating student success," said Lehman president Fernando Delgado. "This recognition signals that we ourselves are succeeding in our mission to make a quality college education accessible and prepare students to flourish after they graduate." 

The Carnegie Classification means Lehman scores well on increasing access to higher education and improving students’ social mobility post-graduation. Carnegie measures whether Opportunity Institutions enroll a student body reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area.

Lehman enrolls more than 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students, the majority of whom are first-generation students from working class communities. The College has developed a range of successful strategies to promote academic achievement, degree completion, and career readiness, several of which have been nationally recognized and replicated.

This marks Lehman’s second Carnegie designation in 2025; in February the College was recognized for the first time under a new Research Colleges and Universities category. That designation is just a stepping stone on Lehman’s trajectory toward R2 status, which means every year it will award an average of 20 doctoral research degrees and spend at least $5 million on research and development. 

Learn more about the 2025 Carnegie Classifications here.