American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ADVANCE AND SUPPORT A RICHLY DIVERSE, GLOBALLY INTERCONNECTED COMMUNITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS THE INSTITUTIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND LEARNERS THEY SERVE THROUGH ITS RESOURCES, LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY.
- Income
- $12.4 million
- Spending
- $13.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 85%
- Employees
- 53
- Volunteers
- 95
- Highest pay
- $498,908, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (15)
- $3.0 million spent. MEETINGS: THE ASSOCIATION HOSTS SEVERAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING THE AACRAO ANNUAL MEETING, THE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT ENROLLMENT CONFERENCE (SEM), AND THE TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSFER SUMMIT. THE AACRAO ANNUAL MEETING PROVIDES A VALUABLE FORUM FOR MEMBERS AND EXPERTS IN ADMISSIONS, REGISTRATION, FINANCIAL AID, INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH, AND GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS TO COME TOGETHER AND SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE. THE SEM CONFERENCE IS THE PREMIER EVENT FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS, OFFERING ATTENDEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK AND ENGAGE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHILE DEVELOPING TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO ENHANCE ENROLLMENT OUTCOMES. FINALLY, AACRAO'S TECHNOLOGY & TRANSFER SUMMIT IS AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS TO DISCUSS THE LATEST TRENDS AND BEST PRACTICES IN TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSFER CREDIT.
- $1.4 million spent. CONSULTING: THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES SERVICES TO UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES OF ALL SIZES ACROSS THE U.S., CANADA, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS IN THE SPECIALIZED AREAS OF STRATEGIC ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT, STUDENT SERVICES, STAFF DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY OPTIMIZATION, CREDENTIAL INNOVATION, AND ORGANIZATIONAL OPERATIONS.
- $471,971 spent. MEMBERSHIP: THE ASSOCIATION'S MEMBERSHIP SERVICES ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MEMBER ACQUISITION AND RETENTION, ANNUAL RENEWALS AND CUSTOMER SERVICETO OVER 18,000 EXISTING DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS. THISINCLUDES MAINTAINING AN ACCURATE MEMBERSHIP DATABASE FOR INTERNAL USEBY STAFF AND EXTERNAL USE BY MEMBERS AS A DIRECTORY. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO HOLDS AN ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY WHERE MEMBERS CAN NOMINATE EACHOTHER FOR VARIOUS AWARDS TO HIGHLIGHT THE EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS OFITS MEMBERS TO HIGHER EDUCATION.
- $62,982 spent. AACRAO JOBS IS THE LEADING EMPLOYMENT SITE FOR ADMISSIONS, ENROLLMENTMANAGEMENT, STUDENT SERVICES AND OTHER HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATIONPROFESSIONALS. AS A ONE-STOP RESOURCE FOR EMPLOYMENT, AACRAO JOBSOFFERS AN EXTENSIVE LISTING OF AVAILABLE JOBS IN HIGHER EDUCATIONADMINISTRATION THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. THE SITE ALSOOFFERS A RESUME BANK FOR HIRING MANAGERS TO FIND QUALIFIED CANDIDATESAMONG THE MEMBERSHIP.
- $1.3 million spent. STRATEGY AND PLANNING - THIS DIVISION OF THE ASSOCIATION FUNCTIONS AS ACOORDINATING BODY, DEVELOPING, EVALUATING, AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIESTHAT SATISFY THE OBJECTIVES OF INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS AS WELL ASPROMOTING OVERALL ASSOCIATION GOALS.
- $187,220 spent. CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS - THE ASSOCIATION OFFERS A CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPPROGRAM DESIGNED TO FOSTER MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEENTHE ASSOCIATION AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TOHIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. PARTNERS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARETHEIR EXPERTISE AND INSIGHTS WITH HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS THROUGH WEBINARS, PUBLICATIONS, MEETINGS AND OTHER AVENUES.
- $185,024 spent. ELECTRONIC DATABASE FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION (EDGE) EDGE IS A WEB-BASEDPLATFORM THAT PROVIDES TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR EVALUATING INTERNATIONALEDUCATIONAL CREDENTIALS. AACRAO'S EDGE IS DESIGNED TO HELP INSTITUTIONSAND ORGANIZATIONS MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THE ADMISSION, TRANSFERCREDIT, AND PLACEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.
- $500,717 spent. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS - THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES MEMBERS WITH UPDATES ONFEDERAL REGULATIONS AND COMPLIANCE ISSUES, CONGRESSIONAL AND AGENCYACTIVITY, AND HIGHER EDUCATION COVERAGE IN NATIONAL NEWS.
- $68,270 spent. INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE - AACRAO'S INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE IS APROGRAM THAT AIMS TO PROMOTE BEST PRACTICES IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAND SUPPORT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONPROFESSIONALS. THE INITIATIVE PROVIDES RESOURCES, TRAINING, ANDNETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP PROFESSIONALS NAVIGATE THECOMPLEXITIES OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES FORENHANCING GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT ON THEIR CAMPUSES. THE PROGRAM ALSOADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION AND WORKSREGISTRARS AND ADMISSION OFFICERS 52-2274900AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGIATETO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THEWORLD.
- $534,717 spent. LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION COUNCIL (LSAC) - AACRAO AND THE LAW SCHOOLADMISSION COUNCIL (LSAC) HAVE A PARTNERSHIP THAT ALLOWS AACRAO MEMBERSTO ACCESS LSAC'S SERVICES AND RESOURCES. THE PARTNERSHIP IS DESIGNED TOSUPPORT THE WORK OF AACRAO MEMBERS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN LAW SCHOOLADMISSIONS AND TO PROMOTE BEST PRACTICES IN THE FIELD.
- $339,817 spent. AACRAO RESEARCH IS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDINGOF THE FACTORS AND CONDITIONS THAT IMPACT HIGHER EDUCATION ACADEMIC ANDENROLLMENT SERVICES, AND ULTIMATELY STUDENT SUCCESS.
- $85,892 spent. FERPA THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES A RANGE OF RESOURCES AND SERVICESRELATED TO THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA ) TOHELP ITS MEMBERS UNDERSTAND AND COMPLY WITH THE LAW.
- $563,414 spent. CONTENT & CURRICULUM THE ASSOCIATION OFFERS A RANGE OF TRAINING ANDEDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP AACRAO MEMBERS STAY UP TO DATE ONTHE LATEST TRENDS AND BEST PRACTICES IN THE FIELD.
- $314,561 spent. PUBLICATIONS/JOURNALS THE ASSOCIATION OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OFPUBLICATIONS THAT ASSIST MEMBERS WITH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AS WELLAS HELPING THEM MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND IMPROVE THEIR PRACTICES.AACRAO PUBLICATIONS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN COMMUNICATING KNOWLEDGE,INSIGHTS, AND BEST PRACTICES TO ITS MEMBERS AND THE BROADER HIGHEREDUCATION COMMUNITY.
- $1.5 million spent. GENERAL BUSINESS DEVELPOMENT AND GRANTS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.