by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration covers Higher Education/higher Education Administration. A Program That Focuses On The Principles And Practice Of Administration In Four-Year Colleges, Universities And Higher Education Systems, The Study Of Higher Education As An Object Of Applied Research, And Which May Prepare Individuals To Function As Administrators In Such Settings. Includes Instruction In Higher Education Economics And Finance; Policy And Planning Studies; Curriculum; Faculty And Labor Relations; Higher Education Law; College Student Services; Research On Higher Education; Institutional Research; Marketing And Promotion; And Issues Of Evaluation, Accountability And Philosophy. Examples: [Higher Education Policy]. Continue reading for the essential details every higher education/higher education administration major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering higher education/higher education administration programs.
Nationwide, higher education/higher education administration draws strong interest, with 4,404 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools ranking analyzes these 254 schools to determine the best overall colleges for higher education/higher education administration students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of higher education/higher education administration programs later in this article.
Coursework for Higher Education/Higher Education Administration develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations higher education/higher education administration graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a higher education/higher education administration program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a higher education/higher education administration major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several higher education/higher 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 15 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,318 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,068 |
People currently working in careers related to higher education/higher education administration tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 47.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 37.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 7.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in higher education/higher education administration careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in higher education/higher education administration prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to higher education/higher education administration.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to higher education/higher education administration.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 237,062 | -1.7% |
| Education Administrators, All Other | 234,350 | -0.8% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of higher education/higher education administration 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 higher education/higher education administration graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers higher education/higher education administration grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $161,927 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $91,340 |
With 254 different higher education/higher education administration programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased higher education/higher education administration school rankings to help you.
Those considering higher education/higher 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.
