Distinguished Membership is awarded to members or former members who have made distinguished contributions to institutional research. This award is a meaningful recognition of significant effort in the field of institutional research. The award is for the lifetime of the individual.

• 1992: James Firnberg
• 1994: Joe Sutton
• 1998: Cameron Lane Fincher
• 1998: James R. Montgomery
• 1998: Glynton Smith
• 1998: E. F. "Tex" Schietinger
• 1999: Charles I. Brown
• 1999: Larry G. Jones
• 1999: Gerald W. McLaughlin
• 2002: Richard Howard
• 2004: William R. Fendley
• 2009: Jim Purcell
• 2010: Mary Sapp
• 2011: Glenn James