The purpose of this study was to identify and compare common criteria and characteristics for award-winning dissertations utilized by prominent national educational organizations. Formal and informal criteria for award-winning dissertations were examined and compared to distinguish commonalities in the dissertations and award processes. Specifically, this study focused on the following research questions: 1) What were the common criteria (formal criteria) for the dissertations required by the awarding organizations? 2) What were the common characteristics of the award-winning dissertations? 3) What were the informal criteria applied to the award-winning dissertations by the individual review board members? 4) What characteristics of the dissertation, as stated by the university dissertation committee members, made the work exceptional for award considerations? The most common characteristics associated with the winning dissertations in this study included practical implications of the research, quality of scholarship, and a variety of methodologies used throughout the group of dissertations studied. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]