by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in International School Administration/Leadership explores A Program That Focuses On The Principles And Practice Of Administration In International Schools, The Study Of International Education As An Object Of Applied Research, And Which May Prepare Individuals To Function As Administrators In Such Settings. Includes Instruction In Culture In The Classroom, Educational Leadership, Globalization, Instructional Design And Technology, International Research Methods, Evaluation, And Education Policy. Continue reading for the key facts every international school administration/leadership student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering international school administration/leadership programs.
Across the country, international school administration/leadership draws strong interest, with 22 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best International School Administration/Leadership Schools ranking analyzes these 3 schools to determine the best overall colleges for international school administration/leadership students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of international school administration/leadership programs later in this article.
Studies in International School Administration/Leadership develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations international school administration/leadership graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a international school administration/leadership program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a international school administration/leadership major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several international school administration/leadership 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 | 10 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 12 |
People currently working in careers related to international school administration/leadership tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 46.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.2% |
| Some college courses | 3.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in international school administration/leadership careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in international school administration/leadership prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to international school administration/leadership.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to international school administration/leadership.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 309,910 | 7.7% |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 237,062 | -1.7% |
| Education Administrators, All Other | 234,350 | -0.8% |
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | 105,632 | 2.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of international school administration/leadership 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 international school administration/leadership graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers international school administration/leadership grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare | $178,795 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $161,927 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $129,049 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $91,340 |
With 3 different international school administration/leadership programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased international school administration/leadership school rankings to help you.
Students interested in international school administration/leadership, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
