ACE/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation

The ACE/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation recognizes colleges or universities that, in a period of great change in higher education, have responded to challenges in innovative and creative ways that allow the institution to thrive.

The award is split into two categories:

Category 1

Institutions with student populations of 12,001 and over

Category 2

Institutions with student populations of up to 12,000

2026 Winners

Read the press release›

Category 1: Washington State University

Category 2: California State University, Monterey Bay

Past Award Recipients

ACE has been bestowing the ACE/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation since 2014, when Arizona State University became the first ever recipient. Click to expand the area below to learn more about our past recipients.

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2025: Rio Salado College and Windward Community College

2024: Florida Atlantic University and University of California, Merced

2023: Texas Woman’s University and Allan Hancock College (CA)

2022: University of North Dakota and MassBay Community College

2021: University of California - San Diego and Davenport University (MI)

2020: Amarillo College (TX) and Dominican University of California

2019: University of South Florida and Benedict College (SC)

2018: Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ) and Saint Peter’s University (NJ)

2017: Brandman University (CA) and Agnes Scott College (GA)

2016: Fayetteville State University (NC) and Newbury College (MA)

2015: Georgia State University and Governors State University (IL)

2014: Arizona State University

Nominations Closed

The deadline for submitting nominations has passed.

The award was presented to the current president or chancellor of the selected institutions during the ACE Experience 2026 (ACEx2026).

SponsorACE is grateful to Fidelity for its support of this award.

The American Council on Education and Fidelity Investments® are independent entities and are not legally affiliated. The recipient of the American Council on Education/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation is selected solely by ACE. Fidelity employees are not involved in any way in determining, selecting, or approving the recipient of any award.