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AACRAO Research Grant

With the goal of encouraging applied research on enrollment management issues and fostering the next generation of higher education leaders, the research grant program supports the pursuit of advanced degrees among AACRAO members and stimulates thought, discussion, and research on emerging topics in higher education enrollment management.

The AACRAO Research Advisory Board will select up to three students who will present their results at the AACRAO Annual Meeting, typically held in late March/early April, following the awarding of the stipend.

In addition, the Board will consider the highest-quality research for publication in SEM Quarterly, the AACRAO peer-reviewed journal.

Recurring Application Window: December 1st Until Selected

Topics

The applicant selects the research topic with supervision by a faculty member at his or her institution. Applicants may drawn appropriate topics from a wide range of subjects of interest to the AACRAO community. Applicants are not restricted to the suggested topics listed below as long as their proposals address the stated purpose of the Graduate Research Grant Program.

Major research topic areas of interest include but are not limited to the following:
  • Enrollment management
  • Recruitment and marketing
  • Admissions
  • Transfer and articulation
  • International admissions
  • Diversity, equity and access
  • Administrative information technology
  • Student services
  • Financial aid
  • Enrollment Services
  • Retention
  • Student Success
  • Federal and state policy

Stipend

The AACRAO Research Advisory Board will select up to three highly qualified applicants to the program. Each participant will receive a stipend of $2,000 for usage toward the completion of an advanced degree and the development of a draft academic research article. Payments will be divided into two installments, with the final payment awarded after the AACRAO Annual Meeting.* The stipend is intended to be used for items such as:
  • Data analysis expertise
  • Professional editor for drafts of thesis or dissertation
  • Data collection incentives for quantitative and qualitative work and/or survey platform expense
  • Travel to the conference
*The award also includes a waiver of the Annual Meeting registration fee
Award Schedule
  • Sept 30
    Calendar year electronic submission of complete application is due.

    Submissions after September 30 will apply to the following year.
Questions?

Wendy_circularContact:
Dr. Wendy Kilgore
Director, Research
AACRAO

AACRAO Research Grant Application

Deadline to Submit: September 1, 2025

Personal Information
Academic Background
Please indicate the degree or graduate certificate program in which you are currently enrolled.
Work Background
Please attach a relevant writing sample in PDF format here.