Institutional research (IR) is used by universities and colleges to support planning and decision making. There are a number of functional areas in higher education that IR is involved in. It is a very fast-paced field to work in and currently has a strong demand for skilled professionals.

Typically, institutional researchers initiate and evaluate surveys, as well as analyze data from various sources. Institutional strategic planning, accreditation, and accountability efforts are a few things that are supported by IR. Successful institutional researchers have a deep understanding of their institutions, which is important knowledge for any professional to have.

Learn more about the graduate certificate in Institutional Research at Ball State University here.