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What is a Higher Education Administration?

Higher Education Administration is a field of study focused on the academic disciplines, organizational theory, and operational constructs of a higher education institution.  Students electing to pursue a college degree in Higher Education Administration desire to help run the day to day operations within a college or university.

Roles and responsibilities of a higher education administrator can range greatly depending on the following elements: school size (large, small), institution type (public, private, non-profit, for-profit), class type (distance learning, campus-based, hybrid), affiliation (secular, religious), geographic location (coastal, inland), funding type (tuition, subsidy, hybrid), and staffing mix (tenured, classified, union).

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Higher Education Administration Degree

This premiere Ivy league university is established in 1636 through a group of American and foreign benefactors. Being one of the best universities in the USA, this has been the home of a lot of famous people including eight (8) US presidents and 188 living billionaires. It has a low and strict accepting rate, requiring its potential students to pass exams and interviews before admission.

The Higher Education Administration degree is highly prestigious requiring three to ten years of experience in a related study before entry. It constitutes competent faculty and staff, amongst the world’s best. The duration of these programs may vary depending on their offerings. Currently, the university provides online educational programs for those who want to study at a flexible rate.

Acceptance Rate

4.64

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Also called Penn or UPenn, this Ivy League University is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It consists of four undergraduate schools, and twelve graduate and professional schools. Famous alumni on this university include a lot of lawmakers including senators and governors, two US presidents including the former, Donald Trump, and 64 billionaires. Spanning more than 1085 acres of campus area, this university admits more than 22,000 students annually.

Being one of the top-ranked universities in the world, UPenn has a highly diverse Higher Education degree. It currently has various programs for foreign and US national students who want to pursue masters and doctorate degrees in management and administration. Depending on your specialization, there’s something for you in this university.

Acceptance Rate

7.66

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

This highly acclaimed university is established in 1851 at Evanston, Illinois. Consistently ranked among the 30 best universities in the world, its education is research centered composing of 11 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools. Currently, the university admits almost 50,000 students yearly on its multiple campus locations such as Chicago, Washington, Florida, and even in Qatar.

Specifically, this university offers Higher Education Studies on Administration and Policy degree. It’s a flexible study that could be done full or part-time. Taking at least 1 year of study, it's an excellent course designed to diversely discuss management in various fields including law, teaching, engineering, and banking.  It’s a great upgrade to one’s career with a lot of learnings during the period.

Acceptance Rate

9.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Often denoted as Vandy or VU, this private university is founded in 1873 in Nashville, Tennesse. Its name is given in honor of Cornelius Vanderbilt who was its main benefactor upon its establishment. It holds about 13,000 students from different countries all over the world. It currently has two existing campuses, the main and Peabody campuses, both serve different course offerings. One of the best schools in the world, notable alumni from this university include 2 vice presidents of the USA, ten billionaires, and 2 Academy Award winners.

The Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management offers six postgraduate degrees and various MBA related degree programs. It’s a top-ranking MBA school with about 600 students enrolled yearly in the programs. Named after its alumnus, Ralph Owen and his wife, it's an excellent school for those looking for growth in the management and sales industry.

Acceptance Rate

9.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

This public research university is located in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was founded in 1819  by the governing Board of Visitors including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. As of now, the university offers 121 majors within eight undergraduate and three professional schools. Standing on an 1135 acre main campus, the university admits about 25,000 students every semester.

Established in 1954, the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration was formed through sponsorship of various bankers and local businessmen around Virginia and neighboring states. It currently offers three master's degrees and a doctoral program which could take two to four years. Moreover, the school welcomes foreign students and allows the formation of clubs to develop social relationships amongst colleagues.

Acceptance Rate

23.94

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

Named after its main benefactor, John Hopkins, this university is established in 1876 in Baltimore, Maryland. Considered as the first research university in the US, it has 10 divisions on campuses with international centers in Italy and China. It comprises more than 25,000 students, for which three-fourths are taking post-degree programs. Well-known graduates from this university include 39 Nobel laureates and 1 field medalist.

The Carey Business School offers flexible post-degree programs for students who want to study conveniently. It has online and part-time programs on several masters’ degrees including MS Finance and MS Marketing. Taking about three years, it’s worth taking for career development and enhance research and management skills.

Acceptance Rate

11.17

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Often called UM or UMich, this public university is founded in 1817 in Detroit before expanding and moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan to where its central campus is located. Currently, it has three existing campuses, referred to as north, south, and central campuses. Sitting at 3207 acres of land, the central campus accommodates about 50,000 students annually. Being the top-ranked public university in the USA, this university is amongst the schools in the USA which receives a very large amount of endowment from the government. Notable alumni from this university include 26 Nobel Prize winners and 26 living billionaires.

The Michigan Ross School of Business offers undergraduate degree and post-degree programs to students who want to pursue business and administration courses. As of now, the university offers one-year Master’s and doctoral degree programs on various specializations of your choice. Apart from that, the school is flexible in the mode of study as it offers evening, online, and part-time options.

Acceptance Rate

22.91

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Founded in 1863, this private Jesuit University is located in Chesthill, Massachusetts.   It’s a highly acclaimed research university with about 15,000 full-time undergraduates and post-degree students enrolled in this school. It currently has nine schools which include the well-regarded Boston College of Law and Lynch School of Education by several review critics. Being true to its Roman Catholic roots, the university still has distinctive gothic architecture as displayed on its buildings and offices.

Apart from the mentioned schools above, the Carroll School of Management is one of the best schools in this university. According to Financial Times, it ranks 13th among management schools around the world in terms of research and innovation. Competitively selective on the admission of students, higher education programs offered in this university includes MBA, MSF, MSA, and Ph.D. programs.

Acceptance Rate

27.22

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

The oldest private university in California was founded in 1880 by Robert Widney. It currently admits about 20,500 students including undergraduate and professional degree programs. This university consists of 21 academic schools and units centering on various fields including arts, history, sciences, technology, and business. It currently is the largest private-sector employer in California contributing about $8 billion to the economy.

The higher education program in this university for business and administration is admitted through the Marshall School of Business. It offers a variety of post-graduate programs including masters, doctorate, and certificates for those who want to upgrade their knowledge and careers. It’s a good university looking for diversity and quality education.

Acceptance Rate

11.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The largest private university with student enrolment, this university has a total of about 50,000 students of which 30,000 are undergraduate and 20,000 are post-graduate students. It currently has two-degree granting overseas campuses and various academic centers scattered around the world. It currently has 25 schools including 10 undergraduate schools and the rest are post-degree schools such as law and medicine. A research-centered institution, this university holds a partnership with various large technology firms to facilitate research works.

For higher education programs, the Leonard N. Stern School of Business offers various undergraduate and postgraduate programs including MBA, MS, and Ph.D. Specialization courses include finance, business management, accounting, and operations management. Moreover, the school also provides certificates and training programs for short term courses.

Acceptance Rate

16.2

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

This private university centered on liberal arts is mainly situated in the town of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1846, it includes various colleges from different fields of study such as engineering, arts and sciences, and management. Consequently, the university admits about 3600 students with less than 100 enrolled in post-undergraduate degrees. Sits with a land area of 449 acres, it was named after its founder, William Bucknell which had donated a big amount of money during the school’s financial crisis in 1881.

As of now, the university offers 13 post-undergraduate programs.  Bucknell offers quality degree programs from engineering and science-related majors in addition to administration degree programs.  Undergraduates who are seeking management courses in this university, enrolling in the Freeman College of Management is the best option. A lot of graduates from this school are employed in Silicon Valley’s leading tech firms and the New York Stock Exchange.

Acceptance Rate

34.23

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Founded in 1853, this public university is located in Gainsville, Florida. Having only one campus, this university admits about 50,000 students annually. It has 16 academic schools and 150 research centers and institutes, covering about 87 schools and departments. Moreover, it currently has 123 master's and 76 doctoral degree programs. Sitting on 2000 acres of land, it’s research centered university and considerably, one of the best universities in Florida. Among its faculty and alumni are Pulitzer prize winners and Nobel prize awardees.

The Warrington College of Business offers various undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees to its potential students. It has diverse tracks of specializations for graduates who want to focus on finance, management, and administration. Moreover, it offers minor undergraduate programs and certificates for those who opt for short term courses.

Acceptance Rate

36.58

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

Often referred to as UMiami or UM, this private university is located in Coral Gables, Florida with almost 20,000 students enrolled. The university currently offers 132 undergraduate, 148 masters, and 67 doctoral degree programs on its 12 separate colleges and schools. It has a total of four campuses, its main campus which spans 239 acres, the medical campus, the marine research campus, and the Richmond campus. Being a research university, it exceptionally has a large library system with over 3.9 million volumes.

Established in 1929, the Miami Herbert Business School provides BS, MBA, MS, and Ph.D. degrees to aspirants who want to enter the world of business and administration. As of now, the school has about 2300 undergraduates and 1000 graduate students enrolled in their programs. Specialized Master's and certificate programs are also being offered to take flexibility in educational learning.

Acceptance Rate

27.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

The oldest higher education institution in the state of Florida, this public university was established in 1851. It's situated in Tallahassee, Florida with an area of about 1,650 acres. It comprises 16 schools and colleges offering 104 baccalaureate programs, 112 master's degrees, and 70 doctorate programs. Ranked 19th on the best public university in the USA, it has a national high magnetic field laboratory that discovers the anti-cancer drug Taxol.

The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship offers business courses including undergraduate and master’s degree programs. Having two campuses, the other in Panama, its limited access programs are designed to learn entrepreneurship in a retail and commercial setup. Otherwise, its graduates will receive a bachelor of arts degree from the institution. Nonetheless, its master's programs are tailored from the Bachelor's degrees offered.

Acceptance Rate

35.97

Student to Faculty Ratio

21:1

One of the oldest public universities in the USA, this institution was founded in Athens, Georgia. It has three existing campuses, including the Athens campus and two satellite campuses located in Atlanta and Lawrenceville. Spanning a total of 41, 539 acres in counting all its campuses, the university caters to about 40,000 students yearly. UGA was the home of renowned alumni including best-selling authors, CEOs, Grammy, Emmy, and Pulitzer award winners.

The Terry College of Business provides a diverse degree of study for its potential students. Currently, it offers undergraduate, specialized masters, full time or executive MBA, and Ph.D. programs. Founded in 1912, the college maintains a high-employment at least 3 months after their graduation. Moreover, the college also offers certificate and specialization programs mostly given to its undergraduate students.

Acceptance Rate

45.3

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

Formerly known as the Columbian College, this university was established in 1821 in Washington, DC. It’s a private university with about 30,000 students enrolled for which about half of the population are taking undergraduate degrees. It consists of 14 schools and colleges with a total of 71 programs offered in this university. Consistently top as ‘The Most Politically Active’ school, the university has involved in various external activities including presidential debates, sports events, and academic symposiums.

Voted as the best school for international business in the USA, the GW School of Business offers various degree, post-degree, and certificate programs for students who want to pursue courses related to business and administration. Moreover, the school provides specialized master’s degrees for those who want to focus on a certain discipline of choice. Also, they offer a part-time and online option for continuous and flexible learning.

Acceptance Rate

40.84

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Dubbed as the best public university in the northeast USA, this institution was established in 1946 with three existing campuses in Binghamton, Vestal, and Johnson City, New York. Historically, this university started as a small liberal arts college grown to now a renowned research university. Its main campus, Binghamton, spans about 930 acres admitting at least 18,000 students including undergraduates and post-degree graduates. Also, it has a 190-acre nature preserve area kept with lakes, ponds, and hill-top meadows.

The School of Management, established in 1970 offers undergraduate and post-graduate degrees to its students. Currently, the school has five-degree programs to choose including MBA and doctoral degrees.  Moreover, the school is offering short term courses focusing on tech-related areas including data mining, analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Acceptance Rate

40.53

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

Established in 1831 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, this private university is located in Lima, New York. The campus situating on University Hill spans about 600 acres organized into 13 schools and colleges. Yearly enrollment goes by 22,000, all divided into 200 customizable majors and minors, and more than 300 organizations connected within the university. Apart from that, it has five award-winning study programs for which are readily accessible by potential students of 60 countries.

The Whitman School of Management and Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs are two schools to choose from to enroll in higher educated as related to public or private administration. Both offer a competitive avenue of postgraduate courses, mostly research centered. Both schools have consistently been ranked highly as top schools to enroll with. Moreover, both schools provide online programs to those who opt to study at this school.

Acceptance Rate

44.38

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

This private Catholic university was founded as an all-male school in 1917 through the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. It's situated in Providence, Rhode Island standing on a 105-acre urban land. Administered by the Dominican friars, this institution offers about 49 majors and 34 minors organized into four academic schools. Student enrollment is more than 5,000 with 4,300 taking undergraduate degrees. Notable alumni from this university include prominent local and national politicians including former US Senator Chris Dodd.

The BS Administration Management diversely comprises of a curriculum incorporating competence in management knowledge, oral and written communication, and information technology. This 120 credit hours curriculum develops every student’s analytical and critical skills towards taking global leadership positions in a variety of organizations. It’s a highly accredited institution from AACSB International and listed as one of the best management schools by Poets and Quants.

Acceptance Rate

47.46

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

The largest university in the Carolina region, this public institution is founded in 1887 as a land grant college. Its located in Rayleigh, North Carolina, and spans about 2100 acres. It accepts approximately more than 36,000 students yearly who attend 11 academic colleges.  Being a research university, the institution makes efforts on innovation through developing technologies to combat climate change and sustainability. The award-winning Centennial Campus is the home of more than 70 public and private partnerships that the university makes.

Named after its major benefactor who donated $40 million, The Poole College of Management offers a variety of undergraduate and post-degree programs for students seeking an education in business, administration, and management. Pursuing a master's or MBA program could be taken through full-time, online, and evening classes. Moreover, the college offers a certificate program which could be only limited to students enrolled in the university.

Acceptance Rate

45.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

This private Christian university was founded in 1873 by the brothers Addison and Randolph Clark who were members of the Disciples of Christ denomination. Situated in Fort Worth, Texas, this university sits in a 325-acre urban campus consisting of eight colleges and schools offering 117 undergraduate majors, 62 master's programs, and 25 doctoral programs. Having 11,000 students, the university sponsors more than 200 official student organizations. Alumni who went into this university include a few business and community leaders, actors, and athletes.

The Neeley School of Business offers a four-year undergraduate degree in a higher education management degree that is designed to prepare students in a leadership mindset with efficient communication skills and strategic planning. The 124 credit hours curriculum plan includes core concentration and elective courses that focus on tech-based learning instructions. Moreover, a double major in management could be taken that could be finished for four to five years depending on the plan chosen. Graduates from this program are employed in respected companies including Amazon, IBM, Accenture, and JTaylor. 

Acceptance Rate

47.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

UConn is a public land-grant university established in 1881. Standing in a 4400-acre main campus, the university admits about 30,000 students including undergraduate and post-graduate students. Also dubbed as ‘Public Ivy’, this research university is comparably associated with private Ivy League university in terms of the quality of education it provides. UConn has six existing campuses, the largest one in Storrs for which is known to hold the largest public research collection in the state.

The UConn’s School of Business offers undergraduate, MBA, Ph.D., and specialized master’s programs for those looking for a specific field of study. Moreover, the school also offers certificate programs as a requisite for masters or MBA courses. Having admitted about 5000 students, a yearly 31% increase of enrolment was seen for the last seven years. Graduates from its programs are employed in high-tech firms including Goldman Sachs, IBM, and the Bank of America.

Acceptance Rate

49.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

Founded in 1861, this public research university resides in Seattle, Washington. It has four existing campuses, for which its main campus is the biggest which is sized at 703 acres. About 50,000 students are enrolled in 11 schools and colleges or 140 departments. Ranked 5th in the USA with the biggest spending on research and development, it continuously collaborates with the biggest tech corporations such as Amazon, Nintendo, and Microsoft.

Denoted as the best school for MBA job placement according to Financial Times, the Foster School of Business offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and certificate programs to its students. Currently, it flexibly offers online and evening MBA to those who want to study at their own pace. Moreover, the school has various master specializations such as business analytics, accounting, and supply chain management.

Acceptance Rate

51.76

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

This private research university was founded in 1911 by the southern denomination of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It has three existing campuses, where its main campus is located in the Highland and University Park in Dallas, Texas. Moreover, it has 11 research institutes and a lot of libraries and museums.   Occupying about 237 acres, this non-secular university offers more than 3,800 major programs including 300 doctorates, 1,659 masters, and 1,800 bachelor's degrees divided into eight schools or colleges. As of fall 2020, student enrollment is at 12,300 with 6,800 taking undergraduate programs.

The Cox School of Business has undergraduate and master's degree programs for students who want to pursue a career in management. The BS Business Administration incorporates an 11 core course curriculum with seven specializations for students to choose from including management, accounting, and real estate. Along with that, an internship is included in its curriculum for full immersion into the career path. An option to take a master's or MBA degree after graduation could be provided. Currently, the university has six MBA programs and an MS management program that could be finished in a minimum of two years of study.

Acceptance Rate

47.29

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

Amongst the most beautiful university in the USA, this private Catholic university is situated in San Diego, California. It's founded in 1949 as a college exclusively for women and consequently, became a university in 1972. Currently, the university comprises nine undergraduate and graduate courses for which 43 bachelor’s and 34 master’s degrees are offered. It admits about 8000 students including minority and international students.

The School of Business offers 8 undergraduate business majors and 7 specialty master's programs to its students. Having an MBA program that’s very acclaimed by Financial Times, it has a flexible evening and full-time program for those opting to study MBA. Moreover, the school provides study abroad programs for international students in 27 countries worldwide. 

Acceptance Rate

48.69

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Top Higher Education Administration Degrees

The predominant degrees in higher education administration are graduate degrees.  More specifically, degrees conferred in this field of study are either a master’s degree or doctorate degree.  While the specialization may vary slightly, the emphasis is weighted heavily on upper-level classes designed for professional educators.  We have outlined these graduate degrees below to help you better understand each track.

Higher Education Administration Master’s Degree

Earning a master’s degree in higher education administration will typically take students 2-3 years of full time work or longer based on course load and the curricular design of the program.  Graduate students must qualify for programs at this level by meeting or exceeding the minimum academic and professional qualifications set forth by the college or university.

Students may elect to generalize or specialize in this field of study.  For those interested in specializing, degree tracks may include the following paths of study:

  • Organizational Leadership & Administration
  • College Teaching & Learning
  • Global Higher Education
  • Adult Learning
  • Enrollment Management
  • Innovation & Technology
  • Institutional Marketing
  • Integrative Studies

Classes you can expect to see in a course catalog for the an MA program in Higher Education include the following type of classes: learning and developing, organizational behavior, student success best practices, managing resources, institutional behavior analysis, program planning, understanding assessments, globalization, foundations of research, financial management, and trends in higher education.

Higher Education Administration Doctorate Degree

Doctorate degrees in education can be conferred in three primary forms: PhD in Education, Doctor of Education (EdD), or an Education Specialist (EdS).  In virtually all cases, students will be tasked to successfully complete an array of upper-level courses plus an approved dissertation project.

A dissertation is required to substantially contribute to the higher education field of study with in-depth research, unique insights, and a compelling understanding of the industry.  A doctoral degree can take students three to five years to complete as a function of course load and program pace.

Requirements in Higher Education Administration

In terms of educational requirements, Higher Education Administration degree holders will have typically studied the following courses while in college:

Employment in Higher Education Administration

For students that earn a college degree in Higher Education Administration, there are several fields of specialization that one can pursue. The options range from registration, enrollment, finance, facilities, management, leadership, student life, admissions, housing, operations, and fundraising to name a few possible specialty tracks within higher education administration.

Higher Education Administration Jobs

Job growth for administrators in higher education are trending over the national average of six percent.  In fact, the projected employment growth in higher ed administration is expected to rise 10% in the upcoming decade.  To put this growth in real terms, an additional 10,200 jobs will be created as a result of this market-based need.  Similarly, the job outlook for college professors is expected to rise 15% creating over 197,000 new jobs to our economy.

The mean annual income for a higher education administrator is $107,670 or nearly fifty-two dollars an hour.  The average pay range is immense in this field.  To illustrate, the bottom 10% of administrators average $52,960 while the top ten percent average nearly $183,000 a year.  States employing the most post-secondary administrators include California, New York, Illinois, Texas, and Michigan.  Meanwhile, states paying the highest wage for higher education administrators is New Jersey and Delaware followed by Maryland, California, and Hawaii.

Resource for Higher Education Administrators

The following represents a list of associations and organizations in the United States that may be of interest to students and professionals in higher education.  The list, in no particular order, includes the following entities:

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