Degree Completion Award

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) established the Degree Completion Award to achieve the following:

Recognize and reward public universities that are increasing degree completion rates, and total numbers of degrees awarded, while improving educational access, quality, and equity;
Collect effective campus-based models from public universities for other institutions to adopt and adapt to increase student success at scale; and
Mobilize all colleges and universities to prioritize institutional change efforts to increase student success and degree completion outcomes.

Apply for the Degree Completion Award

Eligibility: All APLU member institutions are eligible and invited to apply for the 2021 APLU Degree Completion Award. Initiatives (or programs) that have improved the institution’s four-year degree completion numbers and rates will be considered. The strongest applications will provide evidence that an initiative (or program) has a significant impact on degree completion outcomes. Previous award recipients are not eligible to apply in the two years immediately following receipt of APLU’s Degree Completion Award.

The winner of the award will be announced at the APLU Annual Meeting in November. The application period for the 2021 Degree Completion Award is now open.

New Reapplication Process for Applicants
We are happy to offer a new streamlined reapplication process for our previous year's applicants (i.e., 2020 Applicants) who wish to reapply with the same program/initiative. These re-submissions require only an updated Institution Data Worksheet (located in Appendix A of the application packet). Previous year applicants are also welcomed to update and submit their full application should they desire to do so. Re-submissions will be treated in the same manner and with the same standards as other submissions. All other previous applicants are also encouraged to update their full application for re-submission and consideration.