Quantitative Research Consultant

Location: Remote

Contract Type: Part-time, beginning mid-February 2026

Reports to: Director, Cost of Attendance Transparency Project

About the Project

The Hildreth Institute launched a national research and policy initiative — Cost of Attendance Transparency Project — to address longstanding discrepancies between college-reported living costs and actual local costs of living. The project will generate evidence-informed recommendations aimed at better aligning student support with student needs.

This mixed-methods research will integrate quantitative analysis, qualitative inquiry, and stakeholder engagement. The Quantitative Research Consultant (Consultant) will support quantitative research, including targeted research into states that have already regulated the setting of the cost of attendance (COA) components for their local higher education institutions.

Role Summary

We seek an experienced Consultant with expertise in higher education finance, cost of attendance issues, and equity in financial aid. This role will help execute the quantitative portion of the research, providing technical assistance, and conducting descriptive and statistical analysis on the higher education cost of attendance and living costs data. The Consultant will:

• Conduct in-depth quantitative analysis to complement the project’s qualitative analysis
• Analyze and synthesize quantitative data to identify themes, trends, and relevant
• insights for internal and external audiences, identifying the factors driving higher education COA discrepancies
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to co-develop descriptive and statistical outputs
• Develop data documentation, relevant methodological notes, and a quantitative analysis user guide for internal use
• Support in drafting external content such as data snapshots, blog posts, and slides
• Synthesize quantitative findings for diverse stakeholders, including higher education leaders, financial aid officers, policymakers, advocacy groups, and other relevant stakeholders
• Identify recommendations for additional research as the quantitative analysis progresses

Expected deliverables include:

• Descriptive analysis tables
• Comprehensive statistical analysis and modeling to investigate the association between student demographic characteristics, institutional characteristics, and the discrepancies between estimated and reported living cost allowances.

Qualifications

Required

• Master’s in education or closely related field (e.g., Economics of Education, Education Policy, Higher Education Administration, Sociology, etc.)
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in quantitative research design, data collection, and analysis using statistical software such as R, Stata, Phyton, etc.
• Extensive background in quantitative analysis including developing, cleaning, and analyzing large datasets
• Strong familiarity with higher education finance, COA policies, and equity issues in financial aid
• Experience synthesizing findings for diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, advocacy groups, and institutional leaders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex findings for multiple audiences

Preferred

• PhD in Education or closely related field (e.g., Economics of Education, Education Policy, Higher Education Administration, Sociology, etc.)
• Experience with mixed-methods research in policy contexts
• Experience creating data dashboard using Tableau, PowerBI, etc
• Knowledge of FAFSA Simplification Act and related regulatory changes
• Demonstrated expertise in comparative state policy analysis
• Experience producing policy briefs and recommendations from stakeholder processes

Contract Details

• Period: February–June. Exact schedule is flexible and to be discussed; activities may be staggered across the window or delivered in a concentrated sprint, aligned with agreed milestones.
• Compensation: competitive rate commensurate with experience

Expected Hiring Process & Timeline

The expected start date for this position is mid-February, 2026. 

The hiring process will include two rounds of interview and a performance task beginning the week of January 12, 2026. This process will consist of a 30-minute Zoom interview with the Director, a 1-2 hour performance task (the candidate will receive 48-hour to complete the task and they will be compensated for their time), and a final 60-minute Zoom interview with the Director and the Managing Director. 

Apply for the Position

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter to hi@hildrethinstitute.org

Learn more about the Hildreth Institute at our website: https://www.hildrethinstitute.org/about

Hildreth Institute reserves the right to adjust the timeline to accommodate unforeseen circumstances.