Educational Leadership and Administration: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for aspiring leaders in the education sector, this program equips learners with the strategic frameworks and practical skills needed to manage diverse educational institutions effectively. It emphasizes leadership, policy implementation, and organizational development within K–12 schools, higher education settings, and other learning environments.
- Organizational Leadership in Education – Explores the dynamics of leading educational institutions through vision-setting, decision-making, and adaptive management strategies.
- Instructional Supervision and Evaluation – Focuses on assessing teaching effectiveness, supporting professional growth, and improving classroom practices through evidence-based feedback.
- Educational Policy and Governance – Examines the development, analysis, and implementation of policies that shape school operations, equity, and compliance with legal standards.
- Human Resources Management in Education – Covers recruitment, retention, performance management, and labor relations specific to educational staff and leadership teams.
- Curriculum Development and Academic Planning – Addresses the design, alignment, and evaluation of curricula to meet institutional goals and student achievement standards.
- Financial and Resource Management – Teaches budgeting, fiscal accountability, and strategic allocation of resources across educational settings.
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in School Leadership – Investigates practices to foster inclusive environments, address systemic disparities, and promote access for all learners.
Educational Leadership and Administration Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Educational Leadership and Administration Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Educational Leadership and Administration degrees, including Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary, Education Administrators, Postsecondary and Education Administrators, All Other. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 621,000 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary 11-9032 | $104,070 | $72,400 - $165,820 | 319,630 | N/A |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary 11-9033 | $103,960 | $63,820 - $212,420 | 176,420 | $49.98 |
| Education Administrators, All Other 11-9039 | $89,040 | $49,490 - $158,050 | 53,330 | $42.81 |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare 11-9031 | $56,270 | $37,060 - $96,400 | 71,620 | $27.05 |
Educational Leadership and Administration Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $69,823 in Arkansas to $122,380 in Maryland—a 75% difference. The highest-paying states include Maryland, Alaska, and District of Columbia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 621,000 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Educational Leadership and Administration by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Educational Leadership and Administration programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Educational Leadership and Administration is found at American College of Education (ACE) (1,471 graduates), Lamar University (LU) (1,250 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (936 graduates), Liberty University (698 graduates), and Western Governors University (WGU) (623 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 16,340 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American College of Education (ACE) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
1,471 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | ace.edu |
| Lamar University (LU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
1,250 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lamar.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
936 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Liberty University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
698 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Western Governors University (WGU) |
Master's
|
623 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | wgu.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
471 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
394 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
316 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Concordia University (CUC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
254 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | cuchicago.edu |
| Southeastern Oklahoma State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
235 | Durant, Oklahoma | Public | se.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
203 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| Louisiana State University (LSUS) |
Master's
|
197 | Shreveport, Louisiana | Public | lsus.edu |
| Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
196 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | snhu.edu |
| Point Park University |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
185 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | pointpark.edu |
| Concordia University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
177 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | csp.edu |
| University of Phoenix (UOPX) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
163 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | phoenix.edu |
| University of West Alabama (UWA) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
162 | Livingston, Alabama | Public | uwa.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Master's
|
156 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| Concordia University (CUI) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
152 | Irvine, California | Private | cui.edu |
| Emporia State University (ESU) |
Master's
|
148 | Emporia, Kansas | Public | emporia.edu |
| McDaniel College |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
146 | Westminster, Maryland | Private | mcdaniel.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
146 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Viterbo University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
141 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Private | viterbo.edu |
| Drake University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
137 | Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| Gardner-Webb University (GWU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
137 | Boiling Springs, North Carolina | Private | gardner-webb.edu |
| Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
134 | New Britain, Connecticut | Public | ccsu.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Post-Master's
|
133 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
127 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.edu |
| William Carey University (WCU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
126 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Private | wmcarey.edu |
| Wilmington University (WilmU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
125 | New Castle, Delaware | Private | wilmu.edu |
| Rasmussen University |
Bachelor's
|
125 | Ocala, Florida | Private | rasmussen.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
125 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
125 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
124 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Tennessee State University (TSU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
120 | Nashville, Tennessee | Public | tnstate.edu |
| Southern Illinois University (SIUE) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
119 | Edwardsville, Illinois | Public | siue.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
118 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
118 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
117 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Public | mnstate.edu |
| Bank Street College of Education |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
117 | New York, New York | Private | bankstreet.edu |
| William Woods University (WWU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
114 | Fulton, Missouri | Private | williamwoods.edu |
| Molloy College |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
114 | Rockville Centre, New York | Private | molloy.edu |
| Eastern Washington University (EWU) |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
113 | Cheney, Washington | Public | ewu.edu |
| Capella University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
112 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | capella.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Bachelor's
|
112 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| High Point University (HPU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
108 | High Point, North Carolina | Private | highpoint.edu |
| Mississippi College (MC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
107 | Clinton, Mississippi | Private | mc.edu |
| Saint Leo University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
104 | Saint Leo, Florida | Private | saintleo.edu |
| Fitchburg State University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
104 | Fitchburg, Massachusetts | Public | fitchburgstate.edu |
| Creighton University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
104 | Omaha, Nebraska | Private | creighton.edu |
| Marymount University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
104 | Arlington, Virginia | Private | marymount.edu |
| Boston College (BC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
102 | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | Private | bc.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
101 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
101 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| Pepperdine University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
100 | Malibu, California | Private | pepperdine.edu |
| Ashford University (UAGC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
100 | San Diego, California | Private | uagc.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
98 | Tyler, Texas | Public | uttyler.edu |
| Northwestern College (NWC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
97 | Orange City, Iowa | Private | nwciowa.edu |
| Austin Peay State University (APSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
97 | Clarksville, Tennessee | Public | apsu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
96 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Drexel University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
94 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
92 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
92 | Harrogate, Tennessee | Private | lmunet.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
92 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
92 | Irvine, California | Public | umassglobal.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
90 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Northcentral University (NCU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
90 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| National University (NU) |
Master's
|
88 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| National Louis University (NLU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
88 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | nl.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
88 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Thomas University (TU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
87 | Thomasville, Georgia | Private | thomasu.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
87 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
87 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
84 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
84 | Wayne, New Jersey | Public | wpunj.edu |
| George Mason University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
84 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Master's
|
83 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
83 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) |
Other Award
|
83 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | cpcc.edu |
| University of North Florida (UNF) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
82 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | unf.edu |
| University of West Florida (UWF) |
Master's
|
82 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | uwf.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
82 | Commerce, Texas | Public | tamuc.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
81 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
80 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
80 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
80 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Aspen University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
80 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | aspen.edu |
| California State University (CSUDH) |
Master's
|
79 | Carson, California | Public | csudh.edu |
| Southern Nazarene University (SNU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
79 | Bethany, Oklahoma | Private | snu.edu |
| Fort Hays State University (FHSU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
78 | Hays, Kansas | Public | fhsu.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
77 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
77 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| Immaculata University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
77 | Immaculata, Pennsylvania | Private | immaculata.edu |
| Abilene Christian University (ACU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
77 | Abilene, Texas | Private | acu.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
76 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
75 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Ashland University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
74 | Ashland, Ohio | Private | ashland.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
74 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
74 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
73 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Educational Leadership and Administration programs
How much can I earn with a Educational Leadership and Administration degree?
Salaries for Educational Leadership and Administration graduates vary by role and location. Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary earn a median of $104,070 annually, while Education Administrators, Postsecondary earn around $103,960. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Maryland average $122,380 compared to $69,823 in Arkansas. Approximately 621,000 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Educational Leadership and Administration programs?
Currently 706 accredited institutions offer Educational Leadership and Administration degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include American College of Education (ACE) (1,471 graduates), Lamar University (LU) (1,250 graduates), and Grand Canyon University (GCU) (936 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Educational Leadership and Administration growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 31,065 in 2010 to a peak of 32,658 in 2020, before declining slightly to 29,806 in 2023-24. This represents a 4% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Educational Leadership and Administration degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary, Education Administrators, Postsecondary, and Education Administrators, All Other. Related occupations employ approximately 621,000 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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