Higher Education/Higher Education Administration degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 291 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for higher education/higher education administration students pursuing a degree.
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Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 school for higher education/higher education administration. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 45 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $65,568 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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Students looking for a strong higher education/higher education administration program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 33 higher education/higher education administration degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their higher education/higher education administration degree from Northwestern University earn around $60,945 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best higher education/higher education administration schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 63 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their higher education/higher education administration degree from University Of Southern California earn around $53,366 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
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California State University Fullerton is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in higher education/higher education administration, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 41 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $67,303. Typical student debt for the program is $15,525.
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Students looking for a strong higher education/higher education administration program will find one at Georgetown University, which ranked #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 41 higher education/higher education administration degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their higher education/higher education administration degree from Georgetown University earn around $79,632 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for higher education/higher education administration this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 10 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year.
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George Mason University came in at #7 for higher education/higher education administration this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. George Mason University awarded about 10 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $78,535 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best higher education/higher education administration schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 10 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year.
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Boston College placed #9 among the best higher education/higher education administration schools. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Boston College graduates 91% of students within six years. About 34 higher education/higher education administration degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Boston College earn a median of $59,836 early in their careers. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans.
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California State University Northridge landed the #10 spot for higher education/higher education administration this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. About 17 higher education/higher education administration degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $84,058 in their early career. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans.
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George Washington University landed the #11 spot for higher education/higher education administration this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 22 higher education/higher education administration degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $75,751 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Bernard M Baruch College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best higher education/higher education administration schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. About 72% of students finish within six years. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College awarded about 40 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their higher education/higher education administration degree from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn around $65,726 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,691.
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California State University Fresno ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best higher education/higher education administration schools. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fresno in the most recent data year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $113,758 in their early career. California State University Fresno graduates carry a median of $15,598 in student loans.
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Providence College placed #14 among the best higher education/higher education administration schools. Providence College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 11 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at Providence College in the most recent data year. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Providence College earn a median of $73,531 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,833 to complete this degree.
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Montclair State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best higher education/higher education administration schools. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. Montclair State University graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at Montclair State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their higher education/higher education administration degree from Montclair State University earn around $74,437 in the first couple years of their career. Montclair State University graduates carry a median of $25,286 in student loans.
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University Of Florida earned the #16 position for higher education/higher education administration this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $59,791. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
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National University placed #17 among the best higher education/higher education administration schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their higher education/higher education administration degree from National University earn around $94,937 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete this degree.
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Elon University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best higher education/higher education administration schools. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at Elon University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $50,463. Typical student debt for the program is $21,619.
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Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #19 among the best higher education/higher education administration schools. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 34% of students finish within six years. About 37 higher education/higher education administration degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year.
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Pace University New York landed the #20 spot for higher education/higher education administration this year. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pace University New York awarded about 15 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $59,662 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,670.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #21 for higher education/higher education administration this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 16 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $62,324 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,113.
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Vanderbilt University earned the #22 position for higher education/higher education administration this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 16 higher education/higher education administration degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $59,445. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #23 for higher education/higher education administration this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,834. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #24 among the best higher education/higher education administration schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. About 17 higher education/higher education administration degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $63,369 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree.
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William Paterson University Of New Jersey came in at #25 for higher education/higher education administration this year. Located in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public university. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at William Paterson University Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Students who receive their higher education/higher education administration degree from William Paterson University Of New Jersey earn around $61,997 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,644 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools
These schools also placed among the best for higher education/higher education administration this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 291 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
