Tier 1

• Bed count: 1-400
• Associate College: Community, Technical, Further Education (UK), Tribal College
• Community Public Library (small scale): general reference public library, museum, non-profit administration office

Tier 2

• Bed count: 401-750
• Baccalaureate College or University: Bachelor's is the highest degree offered
• Master's College or University: Master's is the highest degree offered
• Special Focus Institution: theological seminaries, Bible colleges, engineering, technological, business, management, art, music, design, law

Tier 3

• Bedcount: 751-1 000
• Research University: high or very high research activity without affiliated medical school
• Health Profession School: non-medical, but health focused

Tier 4

• Bed count: 1,001 +
• Medical School: research universities with medical school, including medical centers

Tier 5

• Consortia: academic, medical libraries, affiliated hospitals, regional libraries and other networks
• Corporate
• Government Agency and Ministry
• Hospital System
• Private Practice
• Research Institute: government and non-government health research
• State or National Public Library
• Professional Society: trade unions, industry trade association, lobbying organization