As the Demand for Accounting Education Research Continues to Flourish, NASBA is Here to Help!

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Author: Cassandra A. Gray, Associate Director, Communications
Posted: Jan. 30, 2025

According to a 2022 National Patterns of R&D Resources (National Patterns) survey, 37 percent of education research is funded through businesses and nonprofit entities. Research in education is vital as it helps to provide a clearer understanding of educational processes, improve efficiencies and outcomes, and play a significant role as colleges and universities work to maintain their accreditation and competitiveness.

NASBA understands the significance of educational research, especially as it pertains to the future of the accounting profession. In 2011, NASBA established its Accounting Education Research Grants Program to aid in this effort. Specifically, the program seeks to advance research on educational issues impacting certified public accountants (CPA), the public accounting profession and state boards’ charge to ensure public protection.

The program’s 2025 Call for Proposals is currently open through 11:59 p.m. CT on Monday, March 3, 2025. Post-doctoral researchers and professors seeking funding are encouraged to submit grant proposals for consideration prior to the deadline. The 2025 class of grant recipients will be announced in summer 2025.

Under the guidance of NASBA’s Education Committee, NASBA will fund and award grants totaling up to $25,000 for one-year research projects. A maximum of three research grants are awarded annually. Since the program’s inception, over $200,000 has been awarded in support of academic research nationwide.

Among this year’s research interest areas include (but are not limited to):

Integrating data analytics and AI as part of an accounting education
Inclusivity within the CPA profession
CPA Pipeline related topics
Impact of licensing requirements on students’ decisions to pursue accounting careers

Although somewhat flexible, the awards will be issued to the recipient(s) in three (3) installments as defined in an agreement. The researcher(s) will generally be expected to finalize the research within one year of the signed agreement date. Additionally, NASBA may extend an invitation for the recipient(s) to present their findings at a NASBA Regional Meeting in June or a NASBA Annual Meeting in October of the following year.

It is important to note that research funding will only be provided for expenses directly related to the project. In 2024, research teams from the University of Alabama, Morgan State University, Virginia Tech and Drexel University benefitted from grant funding.

If you are a post-doctoral researcher or professor in need of research funding, NASBA invites you to visit:https://nasba.org/education/researchgrants/ to learn more about the program’s eligibility criteria, application guidelines and previous recipients. Please direct all questions regarding the submission process to [email protected].