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Exhibit at the
Idealist Grad School Fair
Since 2004, Idealist has hosted graduate school fairs, connecting prospective students and social-impact graduate programs.
The next Idealist Grad School Fair will take place in New York City on
September 29, 2026
at 5pm.
Exhibitor registration opens on
April 15 at 2pm ET
On this page
Fair Exhibitor Information
Idealist Grad School Fair
Every year, hundreds of prospective students attend the Idealist Grad School Fair to connect with admissions representatives from top social-impact graduate programs.
Watch this video to hear from exhibitors and attendees about why the Idealist Grad School Fair is so impactful for them.
FAIR ATTENDEE INFORMATION
Prospective Grad Students
Idealist Grad School Fair attendees are a community of diverse and unique individuals, with interests spanning the social-impact sector. Here’s a snapshot of who attends our fairs:
92% are interested in enrolling in a grad program within two years of attending Idealist's Grad School Fair
72% have a four-year degree, and 18% already have an advanced degree
71% are employed, and 11% are current students
Expand your reach
Sponsor the Grad Fair
Expand your reach to prospective graduate students by sponsoring the Idealist Grad School Fair. The sponsor will receive premiere booth placement at the fair, increased visibility in fair marketing materials, national email advertisements, and more.
Recruit Beyond The Fair
Advertise in Idealist's Emails
Idealist is offering graduate programs the opportunity to advertise in our daily Email Alert, reaching up to 800,000 Idealist users.
This premium ad space puts your program in front of highly-engaged professionals actively seeking new opportunities for career growth.
Request More Information
The Idealist Grad Fairs have been a longstanding staple in our strategic recruitment plan. The Fairs attract both a diverse range of prospective students and graduate programs that seek to marry their mission-driven commitments to serving the public good through promoting the value of advanced education in the attainment of professions of purpose.
Jennifer Forney, Assistant Dean of Graduate Enrollment School of Public Affairs, American University
Join Our Idealist Grad School Fairs Mailing List
Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach out to
gradschools@idealist.org
with any questions, or join our mailing list for up-to-date information about the Idealist Grad School Fairs in 2026.
***Mark your calendars! Registration for the 2026 Idealist Grad Fair opens on April 15, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET.
You'll need to be an
administrator of your program's account
on Idealist.
1) Log in to your Idealist account and select your program's account from the dropdown list in the upper right corner. You will be taken to your program's Dashboard.
2) Click "Grad Fairs," which is located on the left side of the Dashboard. Alternatively, you can also access the registration portal here:
idealist.org/gradfairs
3) Select the fair(s) you'd like to attend from the list on the right.
4) Click the blue "REGISTER" button. If a fair is full, you will automatically be added to the waitlist.
NOTE: Once you've hit "REGISTER," an invoice will be generated. You will be able to view it in your Dashboard and pay via credit card or check.
Programs with the most success at our events are those that offer degrees relevant to public-service professionals, such as anthropology, applied math and science, conflict resolution, counseling, divinity, education, environmental sciences, global and public health, international affairs, nonprofit management, nursing, psychology, public interest law, public administration, public policy, social work, socially responsible business, sociology, urban planning... and the list goes on.
Appropriate fellowship programs that partner with an accredited graduate program (so that fellows earn a graduate degree) are welcome to register. Some schools and organizations cannot register for a table. These include:
for-profit schools
any institution that does not offer graduate degrees
fellowships through which fellows do not earn a graduate degree
post-baccalaureate programs
undergraduate programs
non-school organizations certificate programs
for-profit third party recruiters
The Idealist Grad Fairs attract prospective students who are interested in programs that will help further their careers in the social-impact sector.
Attendees include people who are at different stages in their careers: professionals, recent college grads, current members and alumni of service corps (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps), interns, and current undergraduates.
Exhibitor registration for the Idealist Grad School Fair costs $875.
The 2026 Idealist Grad School Fair will be held at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 30, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET.
The venue is located at 125 W 18th Street, New York, NY 10011.
Program Listing
: Your program will be listed on both the attendee-facing event page and in the printed program provided to fair attendees.
Booth Setup
: Each exhibitor will receive one 6’x24’’ table along with two chairs.
WiFi Access
: Exhibitors will have access to WiFi throughout the event venue.
Attendee Information:
After the event, you’ll receive the list of fair registrants who opted in to receive communication from exhibitors, allowing you to follow up with potential candidates.
Food and Refreshments
: Complimentary food and refreshments, including coffee, tea, soda, and water, will be provided.
Shipping Services
: You'll have the ability to ship your recruitment materials to the venue ahead of time for convenient setup.
Details will be shared in July.
Yes. After the event, you’ll receive the list of registrants who opted in to hear from exhibitors. This list will include contact information to help you follow up with potential candidates.
The cancellation deadline for the Idealist Grad School Fair is
July 31, 2026.
Exhibitors that wish to cancel their grad fair registration must submit their cancellation requests to
gradschools@idealist.org
by
the cancellation deadline in order to receive a refund for the registration fees.
Cancellations requests made after this deadline are non-refundable.
We're excited to have you join us! You can find all the
day-of details for exhibitors here.
IDEALIST GRAD SCHOOL FAIRS
Questions, comments, or concerns?
Please visit our Help Center or reach out to
gradschools@idealist.org
with any questions about the Idealist Grad School Fairs.
Visit Help Center