Paul Umbach

Paul Umbach is a Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development at North Carolina State University. His research focuses on equity and diversity in higher education, college student access and success, faculty careers, and survey methodologies. He has held visiting positions at Nagoya University and the University of Jyväskylä, and teaches courses on higher education finance, organizational theory, policy analysis, and quantitative methods.

His current projects include studying predictors and outcomes of college mergers and co-leading a national survey of U.S. college faculty as part of an international collaboration with 40 countries. He mentors students interested in education policy, particularly regarding access, attainment, and labor market outcomes. His work emphasizes the use of advanced quantitative techniques to address systemic inequities in education.

Umbach’s research has explored topics such as nonresponse bias in student surveys, transfer student success, and the impact of developmental education on graduation rates. He is affiliated with groups including the Friday Institute, Belk Center, and the Higher Education Policy cluster. His contributions span policy analysis, institutional research, and program evaluation.