by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Adult & Continuing Education Administration covers Adult And Continuing Education Administration. A Program That Focuses On The Principles And Techniques Of Administering Programs And Facilities Designed To Serve The Basic Education Needs Of Undereducated Adults, Or The Continuing Education Needs Of Adults Seeking Further Or Specialized Instruction, And That Prepares Individuals To Serve As Administrators Of Such Programs. Includes Instruction In Adult Education Principles, Program And Facilities Planning, Personnel Management, Community And Client Relations, Budgeting And Administration, Professional Standards, And Applicable Laws And Policies. Continue reading for the key facts every adult & continuing education administration major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering adult & continuing education administration programs.
Across the country, adult & continuing education administration draws strong interest, with 330 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Adult & Continuing Education Administration Schools ranking analyzes these 19 schools to determine the best overall colleges for adult & continuing education administration students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of adult & continuing education administration programs later in this article.
Programs in Adult & Continuing Education Administration emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations adult & continuing education administration graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a adult & continuing education administration program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a adult & continuing education administration major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several adult & continuing education administration degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 273 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 57 |
People currently working in careers related to adult & continuing education administration tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 71.4% |
| Master’s degree | 21.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in adult & continuing education administration careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in adult & continuing education administration prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to adult & continuing education administration.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to adult & continuing education administration.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Training and Development Managers | 394,938 | -0.4% |
| Education Administrators, All Other | 234,350 | -0.8% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of adult & continuing education administration graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $65,211 |
| 4 years | $67,022 |
| 5 years | $74,441 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for adult & continuing education administration graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers adult & continuing education administration grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $91,340 |
With 19 different adult & continuing education administration programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased adult & continuing education administration school rankings to help you.
Students interested in adult & continuing education administration, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
