Application deadline
Credits and costs
Demand Increases for Trained Institutional Research Professionals
Institutional researchers provide quantitative and qualitative information and analysis services that support academic planning, decision-making, accreditation, and assessment for academic institutions, while also maintaining reporting requirements for external agencies and organizations.
If you are a higher education professional who wants to enter this field, Penn State’s online Graduate Certificate in Institutional Research program can help you develop the skills you need to support institutional planning and policy formation and methodologies and research practices.
Institutional Research at Penn State
The Penn State Higher Education program has partnered with World Campus to offer you an entirely online and accredited Graduate Certificate in Institutional Research program. The curriculum includes topics such as research design, assessment and evaluation, and the integration of strategic planning with institutional finance.
Act 48–Approved
Penn State is an Act 48–approved provider for Pennsylvania educators, so the courses for the Graduate Certificate in Institutional Research may count toward professional development hours.
Who Should Apply?
Enrolling in this program can greatly benefit you if you are an in-career professional, institutional researcher, or graduate student or are employed in a related field.
Courses
The graduate certificate program in institutional research is a 15-credit program designed to provide students with the skills that support institutional planning and policy formation. Enrolling in this program can greatly benefit in-career professionals, institutional researchers, graduate students, and persons employed in related fields. You can choose to take the courses for the certificate entirely online or by traditional means at Penn State University Park. In addition, individual online courses will be open on a space-available basis to those who are seeking to upgrade their skills but do not wish to complete the entire certificate program.
Required Courses (6 credits)
Professional Electives (select 9 credits)
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Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Graduate Tuition
Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
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11 or fewer | $1,007 per credit |
12 or more | $12,082 per semester |
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
Paying for Your Certificate
Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program. A private alternative loan may be an option to consider.
Additionally, Penn State offers many ways to pay for your education, including an installment plan and third-party payments. Penn State World Campus also offers an Employer Reimbursement and Tuition Deferment Plan. Learn more about the options for paying for your education.
Students pursuing a degree and meeting all other eligibility requirements may qualify for financial aid.
How to Apply
Deadlines and Important Dates
Your degree application, including receipt of all transcripts, should be received by the following deadline to be considered complete.
Admissions Help
If you have questions about the admissions process, contact our admissions counselors.
Admission Requirements
For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.
Admissions preference may be given to those holding master's and doctoral degrees. Those holding bachelor's degrees and appropriate graduate course work should also apply.
There are two required courses — HI ED 801: Foundations and Fundamentals of Institutional Research and HI ED 830: Designing Institutional Research Studies; however, credit may be given for appropriate academic and research experience. All other courses are elective, and 6 of the 15 credits may be transferred from other institutions.
What You Need
Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee. You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:
Official transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed — Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State but must list Penn State as part of your academic history. If you are admitted, you will be asked to send an additional official transcript. You will receive instructions at that time.
English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
Reference (1) — You will need to initiate the process through the online application by entering the name, email address, and mailing address of one reference. Upon submission of your application, an email will be sent to your reference requesting they complete a brief online recommendation regarding your commitment for success in an online program. Please inform them that they must submit the form in order for your application to be complete.
Program-Specific Questions/Materials
Résumé — Upload your résumé to the online application
Personal Statement — including your career goals, background, etc., limited to one page
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this program.
Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Institutional Research, offered in partnership with the Penn State College of Education, please contact:
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
Email: [email protected]
Karen Paulson
Lead Faculty, Higher Education
The Pennsylvania State University
Email: [email protected]
Faculty
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Allie Goldstein
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DegreePh.D., Higher Education, Penn State
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DegreeM.A., Postsecondary Educational Leadership with emphasis in Student Affairs, San Diego State University
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DegreeB.A., Communications, State University of New York at Buffalo
Dr. Allie Goldstein is an assistant professor for the higher education program offered through Penn State World Campus. Her research, which focuses on online education, examines how predominantly residential institutions can create engagement opportunities and affinity-building activities for their online students.
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Karen Paulson
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DegreePh.D., Higher Education, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Metallurgical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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DegreeM.S., Administration, Higher and Continuing Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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DegreeB.S., Ceramic Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dr. Karen Paulson is a professor and coordinator of online programs for the higher education program. She came to Penn State in September 2015 after 19 years of working with state and institutional policymakers at the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems in Boulder, Colorado. Her areas of expertise include assessment, evaluation, accreditation, and the use of data. She has worked at nearly 60 postsecondary institutions and in 45 states.
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