Higher Education Administration: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Higher Education Administration prepares professionals to lead and manage complex academic institutions through a rigorous blend of administrative practice and scholarly inquiry. This program equips students with the strategic insight and operational expertise needed to navigate the evolving landscape of postsecondary education, from university leadership to system-wide policy development.
- Higher Education Economics and Finance: Explores budgeting, resource allocation, and financial planning within academic institutions, emphasizing sustainable fiscal management and economic modeling.
- Policy and Planning Studies: Focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of institutional and systemic policies that shape educational outcomes and organizational direction.
- Curriculum Development and Academic Design: Investigates the design, assessment, and innovation of academic programs to meet student needs and institutional goals.
- Faculty and Labor Relations: Addresses recruitment, retention, collective bargaining, and workplace dynamics involving academic staff and higher education professionals.
- Higher Education Law: Covers legal frameworks governing institutions, including compliance, student rights, Title IX, and institutional governance structures.
- College Student Services: Examines support systems such as advising, counseling, diversity initiatives, and student affairs programming that enhance the collegiate experience.
- Research on Higher Education: Engages with empirical and theoretical studies focused on institutional effectiveness, access, equity, and student success.
- Institutional Research: Trains students in data collection, analysis, and reporting to inform decision-making and strategic planning.
- Marketing and Promotion: Develops strategies for brand development, enrollment management, and communication tailored to academic institutions.
- Evaluation, Accountability, and Educational Philosophy: Examines methods for assessing institutional performance, ethical leadership, and the foundational values guiding higher education practice.
Higher Education Administration Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Higher Education Administration Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Higher Education Administration degrees, including 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 229,750 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Higher Education Administration Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $75,425 in Arkansas to $120,105 in District of Columbia—a 59% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Maryland, and Delaware. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 229,750 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 Higher Education Administration by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Higher Education 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 Higher Education Administration is found at Liberty University (318 graduates), University of Louisville (UofL) (189 graduates), University of Southern Mississippi (USM) (126 graduates), The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) (93 graduates), and Grand Canyon University (GCU) (92 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 3,447 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
318 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
189 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| University of Southern Mississippi (USM) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
126 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Public | usm.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Master's
|
93 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Master's
|
92 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Master's
|
77 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
64 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
63 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis |
Doctorate (Research)
|
61 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | maryville.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
59 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Boston College (BC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
56 | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | Private | bc.edu |
| Humphreys University |
Master's
|
54 | Stockton, California | Private | humphreys.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
51 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Master's
|
47 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| University of Maine (UMF) |
Master's
|
46 | Farmington, Maine | Public | umf.maine.edu |
| Kent State University |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
42 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Master's
|
41 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
|
41 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
41 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
41 | Commerce, Texas | Public | tamuc.edu |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College |
Master's
|
40 | New York, New York | Public | baruch.cuny.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
39 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
39 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| Walden University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
37 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | waldenu.edu |
| Bay Path University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
37 | Longmeadow, Massachusetts | Private | baypath.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
|
37 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Wilmington University (WilmU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | New Castle, Delaware | Private | wilmu.edu |
| Northeastern University Professional Programs |
Master's
|
36 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWL) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
35 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Public | uwlax.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Master's
|
33 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Master's
|
32 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
32 | San Marcos, California | Private | usa.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
30 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Saint Peter's University (SPU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
29 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Private | saintpeters.edu |
| American College of Education (ACE) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
29 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | ace.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
27 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional)
|
27 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Teachers College at Columbia University (TC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
27 | New York, New York | Private | tc.columbia.edu |
| Temple University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
27 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| University of West Alabama (UWA) |
Master's
|
26 | Livingston, Alabama | Public | uwa.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
26 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| National Louis University (NLU) |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | nl.edu |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU Metro) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Teaneck, New Jersey | Private | fdu.edu |
| Northeastern State University (NSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
25 | Tahlequah, Oklahoma | Public | nsuok.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Master's
|
22 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Mercer University |
Master's
|
22 | Macon, Georgia | Private | mercer.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
21 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
21 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Master's
|
20 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Capella University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | capella.edu |
| Canisius University |
Master's
|
18 | Buffalo, New York | Private | canisius.edu |
| Abilene Christian University (ACU) |
Master's
|
18 | Abilene, Texas | Private | acu.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Master's
|
17 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| Tiffin University (TU) |
Master's
|
17 | Tiffin, Ohio | Private | tiffin.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Postbac Cert.
|
17 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Seattle University (Seattle U) |
Master's
|
17 | Seattle, Washington | Private | seattleu.edu |
| University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) |
Postbac Cert.
|
16 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Public | umsl.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Master's
|
16 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
16 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| National University (NU) |
Master's
|
15 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Lansing Community College (LCC) |
Associate's
|
15 | Lansing, Michigan | Public | lcc.edu |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey |
Master's
|
15 | Wayne, New Jersey | Public | wpunj.edu |
| Pace University |
Master's
|
15 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Master's
|
15 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Master's
|
15 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
14 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Master's
|
14 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Master's
|
14 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Merrimack College |
Master's
|
14 | North Andover, Massachusetts | Private | merrimack.edu |
| Jackson State University (JSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Jackson, Mississippi | Public | jsums.edu |
| Howard University (HU) |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | howard.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Master's
|
13 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Higher Education Administration programs
How much can I earn with a Higher Education Administration degree?
Salaries for Higher Education Administration graduates vary by role and location. Education Administrators, Postsecondary earn a median of $103,960 annually, while Education Administrators, All Other earn around $89,040. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $120,105 compared to $75,425 in Arkansas. Approximately 229,750 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 Higher Education Administration programs?
Currently 254 accredited institutions offer Higher Education Administration degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Liberty University (318 graduates), University of Louisville (UofL) (189 graduates), and University of Southern Mississippi (USM) (126 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 Higher Education Administration growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 2,950 in 2010 to 4,404 in 2023-24. This represents a 49% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, 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 Higher Education Administration degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Education Administrators, Postsecondary, Education Administrators, All Other, . Related occupations employ approximately 229,750 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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