UnisHub University Compass

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)

29,806
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
706
Universities & Colleges
4
Career Pathways
Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

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

Salary Comparison

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 Admissions Location Control Website
American College of Education (ACE)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 1,471 N/A Indianapolis, Indiana Private ace.edu
Lamar University (LU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 1,250 SAT: 910-1130
ACT: 18-24 		Beaumont, Texas Public lamar.edu
Grand Canyon University (GCU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 936 SAT: 1058-1175
ACT: 19-24 		Phoenix, Arizona Private gcu.edu
Liberty University
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 698 N/A Lynchburg, Virginia Private liberty.edu
Western Governors University (WGU)
Master's
 623 N/A Salt Lake City, Utah Private wgu.edu
Northwest Missouri State University
Master's
Post-Master's
 471 SAT: 970-1200
ACT: 18-23 		Maryville, Missouri Public nwmissouri.edu
University of West Georgia (UWG)
Master's
Post-Master's
 394 SAT: 930-1130
ACT: 17-23 		Carrollton, Georgia Public westga.edu
University of Southern California (USC)
Doctorate (R)
 316 SAT: 1440-1550
ACT: 32-35 		Los Angeles, California Private usc.edu
Concordia University (CUC)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 254 N/A River Forest, Illinois Private cuchicago.edu
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Postbac Cert.
Master's
 235 SAT: 960-1150
ACT: 18-23 		Durant, Oklahoma Public se.edu
The University of Texas
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 203 SAT: 990-1230
ACT: 18-26 		Arlington, Texas Public uta.edu
Louisiana State University (LSUS)
Master's
 197 SAT: 1000-1150
ACT: 19-24 		Shreveport, Louisiana Public lsus.edu
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 196 N/A Manchester, New Hampshire Private snhu.edu
Point Park University
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 185 SAT: 1035-1240
ACT: 19-27 		Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Private pointpark.edu
Concordia University
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 177 N/A Saint Paul, Minnesota Private csp.edu
University of Phoenix (UOPX)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 163 N/A Phoenix, Arizona Private phoenix.edu
University of West Alabama (UWA)
Master's
Post-Master's
 162 SAT: 820-978
ACT: 17-22 		Livingston, Alabama Public uwa.edu
Montclair State University
Master's
 156 SAT: 940-1225 Montclair, New Jersey Public montclair.edu
Concordia University (CUI)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 152 N/A Irvine, California Private cui.edu
Emporia State University (ESU)
Master's
 148 ACT: 18-24 Emporia, Kansas Public emporia.edu
McDaniel College
Postbac Cert.
Master's
 146 N/A Westminster, Maryland Private mcdaniel.edu
University of Oregon (UO)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 146 SAT: 1130-1360
ACT: 22-30 		Eugene, Oregon Public uoregon.edu
Viterbo University
Master's
Post-Master's
 141 SAT: 1040-1380
ACT: 22-27 		La Crosse, Wisconsin Private viterbo.edu
Drake University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 137 SAT: 1190-1390
ACT: 24-30 		Des Moines, Iowa Private drake.edu
Gardner-Webb University (GWU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 137 SAT: 1040-1260
ACT: 20-26 		Boiling Springs, North Carolina Private gardner-webb.edu
Central Connecticut State University (CCSU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 134 SAT: 960-1180
ACT: 19-29 		New Britain, Connecticut Public ccsu.edu
Stony Brook University (SBU)
Post-Master's
 133 SAT: 1320-1490
ACT: 28-33 		Stony Brook, New York Public stonybrook.edu
Old Dominion University (ODU)
Master's
Post-Master's
 127 SAT: 1110-1290
ACT: 22-27 		Norfolk, Virginia Public odu.edu
William Carey University (WCU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 126 SAT: 880-1200
ACT: 20-27 		Hattiesburg, Mississippi Private wmcarey.edu
Wilmington University (WilmU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 125 N/A New Castle, Delaware Private wilmu.edu
Rasmussen University
Bachelor's
 125 N/A Ocala, Florida Private rasmussen.edu
University of Nevada (UNLV)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 125 SAT: 980-1230
ACT: 18-24 		Las Vegas, Nevada Public unlv.edu
University of Dayton (UD)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 125 SAT: 1195-1370
ACT: 26-31 		Dayton, Ohio Private udayton.edu
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 124 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 34-35 		Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private upenn.edu
Tennessee State University (TSU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 120 SAT: 856-1068
ACT: 16-21 		Nashville, Tennessee Public tnstate.edu
Southern Illinois University (SIUE)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 119 SAT: 900-1160
ACT: 20-26 		Edwardsville, Illinois Public siue.edu
University of Central Florida (UCF)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 118 SAT: 1190-1350
ACT: 25-29 		Orlando, Florida Public ucf.edu
East Carolina University (ECU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 118 SAT: 1050-1200
ACT: 20-26 		Greenville, North Carolina Public ecu.edu
Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 117 ACT: 19-24 Moorhead, Minnesota Public mnstate.edu
Bank Street College of Education
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
 117 N/A New York, New York Private bankstreet.edu
William Woods University (WWU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 114 N/A Fulton, Missouri Private williamwoods.edu
Molloy College
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 114 SAT: 1080-1310
ACT: 24-29 		Rockville Centre, New York Private molloy.edu
Eastern Washington University (EWU)
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (R)
 113 N/A Cheney, Washington Public ewu.edu
Capella University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 112 N/A Minneapolis, Minnesota Private capella.edu
Purdue University Global
Bachelor's
 112 N/A West Lafayette, Indiana Public purdueglobal.edu
High Point University (HPU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 108 SAT: 1110-1300
ACT: 23-31 		High Point, North Carolina Private highpoint.edu
Mississippi College (MC)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 107 ACT: 19-26 Clinton, Mississippi Private mc.edu
Saint Leo University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 104 N/A Saint Leo, Florida Private saintleo.edu
Fitchburg State University
Master's
Post-Master's
 104 SAT: 1030-1220
ACT: 19-25 		Fitchburg, Massachusetts Public fitchburgstate.edu
Creighton University
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 104 SAT: 1210-1400
ACT: 24-30 		Omaha, Nebraska Private creighton.edu
Marymount University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 104 N/A Arlington, Virginia Private marymount.edu
Boston College (BC)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 102 SAT: 1430-1540
ACT: 33-34 		Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts Private bc.edu
American University (AU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 101 SAT: 1300-1450
ACT: 29-33 		Washington, District of Columbia Private american.edu
Towson University (TU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
 101 SAT: 1050-1270
ACT: 19-28 		Towson, Maryland Public towson.edu
Pepperdine University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 100 SAT: 1250-1450
ACT: 26-32 		Malibu, California Private pepperdine.edu
Ashford University (UAGC)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 100 N/A San Diego, California Private uagc.edu
The University of Texas
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 98 SAT: 1010-1220
ACT: 19-25 		Tyler, Texas Public uttyler.edu
Northwestern College (NWC)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
 97 N/A Orange City, Iowa Private nwciowa.edu
Austin Peay State University (APSU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 97 SAT: 943-1165
ACT: 18-23 		Clarksville, Tennessee Public apsu.edu
The University of Texas
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 96 SAT: 1230-1490
ACT: 27-33 		Austin, Texas Public utexas.edu
Drexel University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 94 SAT: 1230-1430
ACT: 27-33 		Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private drexel.edu
Youngstown State University (YSU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 92 SAT: 940-1210
ACT: 17-24 		Youngstown, Ohio Public ysu.edu
Lincoln Memorial University (LMU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 92 SAT: 1006-1220
ACT: 19-24 		Harrogate, Tennessee Private lmunet.edu
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 92 SAT: 1030-1270
ACT: 22-30 		Richmond, Virginia Public vcu.edu
University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 92 N/A Irvine, California Public umassglobal.edu
Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
Master's
Post-Master's
 90 SAT: 1050-1310
ACT: 21-28 		Fort Lauderdale, Florida Private nova.edu
Northcentral University (NCU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 90 N/A San Diego, California Private nu.edu
National University (NU)
Master's
 88 N/A San Diego, California Private nu.edu
National Louis University (NLU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 88 N/A Chicago, Illinois Private nl.edu
Ball State University (BSU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 88 SAT: 1080-1250
ACT: 25-30 		Muncie, Indiana Public bsu.edu
Thomas University (TU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
 87 SAT: 970-1110
ACT: 18-23 		Thomasville, Georgia Private thomasu.edu
Boston University (BU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 87 SAT: 1400-1520
ACT: 32-34 		Boston, Massachusetts Private bu.edu
University of North Texas (UNT)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 87 SAT: 980-1230
ACT: 19-27 		Denton, Texas Public unt.edu
Florida State University (FSU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 84 SAT: 1240-1390
ACT: 27-31 		Tallahassee, Florida Public fsu.edu
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
 84 N/A Wayne, New Jersey Public wpunj.edu
George Mason University
Postbac Cert.
Master's
 84 SAT: 1140-1340
ACT: 25-30 		Fairfax, Virginia Public www2.gmu.edu
Northern Arizona University (NAU)
Master's
 83 N/A Flagstaff, Arizona Public nau.edu
Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 83 SAT: 1040-1210
ACT: 20-26 		Boca Raton, Florida Public fau.edu
Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC)
Other Award
 83 N/A Charlotte, North Carolina Public cpcc.edu
University of North Florida (UNF)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 82 SAT: 990-1210
ACT: 20-26 		Jacksonville, Florida Public unf.edu
University of West Florida (UWF)
Master's
 82 SAT: 1020-1230
ACT: 20-27 		Pensacola, Florida Public uwf.edu
Texas A & M University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 82 SAT: 940-1170
ACT: 18-24 		Commerce, Texas Public tamuc.edu
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 81 SAT: 1110-1320
ACT: 21-27 		Charlotte, North Carolina Public charlotte.edu
Minnesota State University
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 80 ACT: 22-25 Mankato, Minnesota Public mnsu.edu
University of Houston (UH)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 80 SAT: 1150-1330
ACT: 23-28 		Houston, Texas Public uh.edu
Texas Tech University (TTU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 80 SAT: 1090-1270
ACT: 22-28 		Lubbock, Texas Public ttu.edu
Aspen University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 80 N/A Phoenix, Arizona Private aspen.edu
California State University (CSUDH)
Master's
 79 N/A Carson, California Public csudh.edu
Southern Nazarene University (SNU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 79 N/A Bethany, Oklahoma Private snu.edu
Fort Hays State University (FHSU)
Master's
Post-Master's
 78 SAT: 970-1200
ACT: 19-25 		Hays, Kansas Public fhsu.edu
Arkansas State University (A-State)
Doctorate (R)
 77 SAT: 1030-1180
ACT: 19-25 		Jonesboro, Arkansas Public astate.edu
Saint Louis University (SLU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 77 SAT: 1210-1430
ACT: 26-31 		Saint Louis, Missouri Private slu.edu
Immaculata University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 77 SAT: 1050-1260
ACT: 26-28 		Immaculata, Pennsylvania Private immaculata.edu
Abilene Christian University (ACU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 77 SAT: 1060-1290
ACT: 22-28 		Abilene, Texas Private acu.edu
Eastern Michigan University (EMU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 76 SAT: 910-1170
ACT: 18-26 		Ypsilanti, Michigan Public emich.edu
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 75 SAT: 1360-1510
ACT: 28-32 		Madison, Wisconsin Public wisc.edu
Ashland University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 74 SAT: 1020-1255
ACT: 20-25 		Ashland, Ohio Private ashland.edu
Oklahoma State University (OSU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 74 SAT: 1030-1240
ACT: 20-27 		Stillwater, Oklahoma Public okstate.edu
University of Oklahoma (OU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 74 SAT: 1140-1330
ACT: 23-29 		Norman, Oklahoma Public ou.edu
San Diego State University (SDSU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 73 N/A 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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