What’s the Average Salary with a Masters in Higher Education?

A master’s degree in higher education prepares you for managing the administrative affairs in colleges and universities, working with educational organizations and non-profits, working with government departments to create policy, and more. Your master’s degree education will cover topics such as student aid, curriculum, admission and registration, educational counseling, and more. While you can get started working in higher education with just a bachelor’s degree, the highest paying positions require you to have at least a master’s degree in this field. Let’s look at the salary you can expect with this type of degree and how you can make more money working in higher education.

Salary by Position

The type of positions you take after you graduate plays a huge role in the salary you’ll make. For example, as a post-secondary education administrator, you can expect to make an average salary of around $80,000 annually and as a director of financial aid or registrar, you can expect to make around $60,000. You can also work as an academic adviser, a position in which you can expect to earn around $50,000 annually. Are you already working as an educator? If you already have a master’s degree or doctorate in your field of choice, earning a masters in higher education can help you qualify for positions like department chair, committee director, or dean, positions where you have the potential to earn a six-figure salary.

Salary by Employer

In higher education, you can often more money by working with certain employers. You can usually earn more by working at private schools rather than government-funded public colleges, and you can also earn more money, in some cases, working outside of the college world. A masters in higher education also qualifies you to work for local, state, and federal government educational departments, for example, or you can work for an educational-related organization.

Earning More Money in Higher Education

Along with getting your advanced degree and working with a high-paying location, you can also earn more money with your master’s degree in higher education by working in a high-paying location, going through continuing education and training programs, and simply by working in the industry to gain experience.

Top Online Master's Degrees in Higher Education

Higher education refers to college education and adult learning. Master's degree programs in the subject will pertain to curriculum development, administration, and teaching in such environments, whether at a traditional college, adult learning center, or online university. Below are some of the best colleges that offer graduate degrees in higher education.

MS: Higher Education	Drexel University – Drexel University's MS in Higher Education prepares students to become managers and leaders in education institutions as well as government policy agencies and education-related organizations. The program, taught in groups of under 25 students, is completely online. Concentrations are offered in seven areas, ranging from Enrollment Management to Student Development and Affairs.
MS: Higher Ed. Leadership MS: Postsecondary/Adult Ed.	Capella University – Capella University's MS in Leadership for Higher Education teaches effective management of student services departments within colleges. Students learn about funding and legal issues, in addition to educational politics and best practices. The MS in Postsecondary & Adult Education is more teaching-focused, giving students the tools to design and deliver instruction programs for adults in a variety of settings.
MS: Higher Education MS: College Teaching MS: Enrollment Mgmt MS: Global Higher Ed. MS: Edu. Leadership MS: Online Learning	Walden University – Walden University's Higher Education masters program offers specializations that allow the next generation of professors and college leaders to create top learning environments. The general program focuses on crafting student programs and services from a management perspective. The College Teaching and Learning specialization trains teachers to plan and assess learning experiences. Enrollment Management and Marketing trains employees to effectively promote universities. Global Higher Education teaches strategies for serving international students. Leadership for Student Success teaches program evaluation and best practices for improving student engagement and retention. Online and Distance Learning teaches online classroom technology and program evaluation.
MA: Edu & Human Dev	George Washington University – Located in the George Washington University School of Education and Human Development, the MA in education & human development program offers graduate students and unparalleled look into how education can shape human development. Students rave at the numerous course offerings and dynamic professors. Graduates excel throughout the educational field.
MS: College Administration MS: College Teaching MS: Online Teaching MS: Student Affairs MS: Adult Learning	Kaplan University – Kaplan's MS in Higher Education prepares college leaders and teachers to handle diverse student bodies, education technology, public policy, and finances vital to running universities. The College Administration and Leadership specialty focuses on effective management and evaluation of programs. Online College Teaching students learn distance learning techniques and technologies. The College Teaching and Learning specialization focuses on curriculum design and assessment. Student Affairs students learn to create student services and work in administration.
MEd: Higher Ed. Leadership	Northcentral University – Northcentral University's M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership is aimed at aspiring higher education specialists and managers. The program focuses on legal issues, finance and organizational leadership, while incorporating a strong base of philosophical and historical knowledge about the education field. Adult learning and development, along with organization and administration of adult programs is also covered.
MA: Edu - Adult Education MA: Edu - Administration	University of Phoenix – With the University of Phoenix, your path to higher education is an easy, convenient one. The online MA in education programs include the administration & supervision specialization and the adult education & training specialization, which provide educators with the advanced training they need to advance in their career and provide their students with the very best educational experience.
MEd: Educational Admin	University of Massachusetts – The University of Massachusetts M.Ed. in educational administration is designed to impart advanced skills in education. The thirty credit program caters to experienced teachers who wish to broaden and deepen their professional knowledge. Students should hold a teaching license in their state or have K-12 classroom teaching experience.
MA: Higher Education	Ashford University – Ashford University's MA in Education with a specialization in Higher Education prepares future college and university teachers to plan and evaluate lessons, courses and programs for the adult learner. The Higher Education program looks at factors that can inhibit or improve learning, such as organizational cultures and post-secondary classroom environments.
MS: College Administration	Keiser University – Keiser University's MS in Education with a focus on College Administration is designed to help administrators reach the next level in their careers by learning skills in enrollment management theory and practice, marketing and recruitment, managing campus operations, student retention, and personnel selection and development. Students must also complete a research project or internship.
MEd: Teaching	Liberty University – Liberty University's M.Ed. in Teaching & Learning with the Technology & Online concentration prepares the next instructors of distance learning programs to effectively create online coursework and teaching aids using the latest technology. Incorporating technology into the classroom is useful for all instructors, but online teachers especially have to know which programs will maximize the potential for learning.
MEd: Higher Education MEd: Adult Education	Jones International University – Jones International University's M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership & Administration and the M.Ed. in Adult Education are both for professionals who want to improve their understanding of adult learning, public policy, and leadership in education. Students learn to apply research methods, need assessments, and strategic planning to improve college programs and learning environments.
MS: Higher Ed. Admin.	Bay Path College – Bay Path College's MS in Higher Education Administration prepares future administrators, faculty, policy makers and leaders to manage college finances, marketing, fundraising, administrative offices and programs effectively. Students within this program will also study enrollment management, institutional advancement, and general nonprofit administration.
MEd: Curriculum	American InterContinental University – American InterContinental University's M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction is a top program for aspiring instructors offering the latest in educational theory, learning styles, and course development. Students will learn to engage students through creative and innovative program design that will not only enable them to teach more effectively, but also to go on to careers as course designers, education consultants, and training and development advisors.
MEd: Adult Education	Strayer University – Strayer University's M.Ed. in Adult Education & Development trains teachers, professionals, human resource managers and others who choose careers in education the business skills and technology tools they will need to advance. Adult learning theory, practical knowledge of leadership and organizational behavior combine with curriculum design and assessment to create a well-rounded program that will prepare students to move up the job ladder.
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