University of Houston gets high research ranking

HOUSTON The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching moved the university on Tuesday from its previously ranked second-tier status to a Tier One school for "very high research activity." The rankings are updated every five years.

But the university is still not a Tier One school like the University of Texas, Rice University and Texas A&M. Texas is investing money in the University of Houston and several other schools to help them achieve Tier One status.

University president Renu Khator told the Houston Chronicle the announcement is "good news" but the school still needs to increase its graduation rate and better its reputation in Houston.