by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Elementary & Middle School Administration/Principalship covers Elementary And Middle School Administration/principalship. A Program That Focuses On Educational Administration At The Elementary And Middle School (K-7) Levels And Prepares Individuals To Serve As Principals And Masters Of Elementary And Middle Schools. Includes Instruction In Elementary And/or Middle School Education, Program And Facilities Planning, Budgeting And Administration, Public Relations, Human Resources Management, Childhood And Pre-Adolescent Growth And Development, Counseling Skills, Applicable Law And Regulations, School Safety, Policy Studies, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Read on to learn the essential details every elementary & middle school administration/principalship student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering elementary & middle school administration/principalship programs.
Nationwide, elementary & middle school administration/principalship draws strong interest, with 1,258 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Elementary & Middle School Administration/Principalship Schools ranking analyzes these 27 schools to determine the best overall colleges for elementary & middle school administration/principalship students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of elementary & middle school administration/principalship programs later in this article.
Programs in Elementary & Middle School Administration/Principalship emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations elementary & middle school administration/principalship graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a elementary & middle school administration/principalship program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a elementary & middle school administration/principalship major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several elementary & middle school administration/principalship 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 189 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,060 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 9 |
People currently working in careers related to elementary & middle school administration/principalship tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 60.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 15.6% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in elementary & middle school administration/principalship careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in elementary & middle school administration/principalship opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to elementary & middle school administration/principalship.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to elementary & middle school administration/principalship.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 309,910 | 7.7% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of elementary & middle school administration/principalship graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 elementary & middle school administration/principalship graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers elementary & middle school administration/principalship grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $129,049 |
With 27 different elementary & middle school administration/principalship programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased elementary & middle school administration/principalship school rankings to help you.
Students interested in elementary & middle school administration/principalship, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
