Urban Education and Leadership: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for professionals committed to advancing equity and excellence in metropolitan and high-need urban learning environments, this program equips students with the analytical and leadership competencies required to address systemic challenges in urban education. It emphasizes culturally responsive practices, policy innovation, and community-centered strategies to foster inclusive, resilient, and effective educational systems.
- Multicultural education: Explores curriculum design and pedagogical approaches that validate diverse cultural identities and promote equity within urban classrooms.
- At-risk studies: Investigates the social, economic, and psychological factors impacting student success in underserved urban populations and evaluates intervention strategies.
- Urban sociology: Analyzes the interplay between urbanization, social structures, and educational outcomes in metropolitan communities.
- Multilingual education: Focuses on supporting English language learners and maintaining linguistic diversity through effective instructional models and policy frameworks.
- Urban studies and planning: Examines how city infrastructure, housing, transportation, and community development influence access to quality education.
- Human services: Prepares educators and leaders to coordinate support systems that address student well-being beyond the classroom, including mental health and family engagement.
- Health services and nutrition: Integrates knowledge of physical and nutritional health as foundational components of student learning and school climate.
- Cross-cultural communication: Develops skills for effective interaction across cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic boundaries in complex urban school settings.
- Diversity studies: Examines the historical and structural dimensions of race, class, gender, and identity within urban educational institutions.
- Safety and security: Addresses strategies for creating trauma-informed, inclusive, and physically secure learning environments in high-density urban areas.
- Urban educational administration and leadership: Builds expertise in policy implementation, organizational management, and strategic decision-making tailored to the unique demands of urban schools and districts.
Urban Education and Leadership Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Urban Education and Leadership Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Urban Education and Leadership degrees, including 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 53,330 professionals.
National Average Salaries
Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
Education Administrators, All Other 11-9039 | $89,040 | $49,490 - $158,050 | 53,330 | $42.81 |
Urban Education and Leadership Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $65,210 in Montana to $133,680 in District of Columbia—a 105% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Kansas, and Virginia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 53,330 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 Urban Education and Leadership by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 36 institutions offering Urban Education and Leadership 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 Urban Education and Leadership is found at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) (117 graduates), University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (53 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) (48 graduates), University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte (47 graduates), and New Jersey City University (NJCU) (35 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 627 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) |
Master's
|
117 | Los Angeles, California | Private | lmu.edu |
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Doctorate (Research)
|
53 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
47 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
New Jersey City University (NJCU) |
Master's
|
35 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Public | njcu.edu |
Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Master's
|
28 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Master's
|
25 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
Pepperdine University |
Master's
|
21 | Malibu, California | Private | pepperdine.edu |
University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
Temple University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
21 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
CUNY Graduate School and University Center |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | New York, New York | Public | gc.cuny.edu |
Rockford University |
Master's
|
18 | Rockford, Illinois | Private | rockford.edu |
Brown University |
Master's
|
18 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
|
18 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) |
Master's
|
15 | Ewing, New Jersey | Public | tcnj.edu |
University of San Francisco (USF) |
Master's
|
14 | San Francisco, California | Private | usfca.edu |
Davenport University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
11 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | davenport.edu |
Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) |
Master's
|
10 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | neiu.edu |
Metropolitan State University |
Master's
|
8 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Public | metrostate.edu |
University of Rochester |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
Providence College |
Master's
|
7 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | providence.edu |
University of Southern California (USC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
University of the District of Columbia (UDC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Washington, District of Columbia | Public | udc.edu |
Kean University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
University of Massachusetts |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | umb.edu |
Faith International University (FIU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Tacoma, Washington | Private | faithiu.edu |
Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Post-Master's
|
3 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
Coppin State University |
Post-Master's
|
3 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | coppin.edu |
University of Massachusetts |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
University of Mount Saint Vincent (UMSV) |
Master's
|
1 | Bronx, New York | Private | mountsaintvincent.edu |
SUNY Buffalo State University |
Master's
|
1 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Other Award
|
1 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Urban Education and Leadership programs
How much can I earn with a Urban Education and Leadership degree?
Salaries for Urban Education and Leadership graduates vary by role and location. Education Administrators, All Other earn a median of $89,040 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $133,680 compared to $65,210 in Montana. Approximately 53,330 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 Urban Education and Leadership programs?
Currently 36 accredited institutions offer Urban Education and Leadership degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Loyola Marymount University (LMU) (117 graduates), University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus (53 graduates), and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) (48 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 Urban Education and Leadership growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 403 in 2010 to a peak of 810 in 2020, before declining slightly to 627 in 2023-24. This represents a 56% 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 Urban Education and Leadership degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Education Administrators, All Other. Related occupations employ approximately 53,330 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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