Hakia Education

Best Master's in Higher Education Administration Programs by Local Teacher Pay

Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology

Published ·Last updated

Ranked by the median wage for elementary teachers in each program metro area, from BLS. The top 25 out of 193 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

  1. 1

    Loyola Marymount University

    Los Angeles, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Loyola Marymount University offers a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration structured as a two-year, 31-unit cohort that moves students through the program together. The design emphasizes reflective, justice-oriented practice, preparing administrators to serve across two- and four-year, private, and religiously affiliated postsecondary institutions. Its hybrid format balances scheduled in-person connection with the flexibility that early-career and working professionals need. Because the cohort advances as a group, students build a durable professional network alongside their coursework rather than progressing in isolation. The overall shape suggests a program built for people who want to lead campus offices with a clear ethical and equity commitment across varied institutional settings. This master's-level higher education administration program prepares graduates for work as education administrators in California.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  2. 2

    California State University-Fullerton

    Fullerton, CAPublic

    • 41Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Higher Education (MSHE)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    California State University, Fullerton offers a Master of Science in Higher Education, a 30-unit on-campus program that admits a single cohort each fall and moves it through five semesters together. The cohort structure is reinforced by peer mentoring that pairs first- and second-year students, a design that treats professional relationships as part of the training itself. Fieldwork and graduate assistantships give students applied campus experience alongside coursework, and an optional Community College Certificate lets those interested in the two-year sector add a targeted specialization. Admitting only one cohort per year and waiving the GRE signals a small, deliberately built community rather than a high-volume program. It is not a licensure program but a practice-oriented preparation for careers in college administration and student services. Graduates of this higher education administration program at the master's level often go on to work as education administrators.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 41 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  3. 3

    California State University-Northridge

    Northridge, CAPublic

    • 17Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    California State University, Northridge offers a Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership through its Educational Leadership and Policy Studies department, a 33-unit, two-year hybrid program in which roughly half of each core course meets on campus and half online. That blended rhythm, combined with an explicit orientation toward mid-career professionals, makes the degree workable for people already employed at a college who want to advance. A dedicated fieldwork course grounds the learning in practice, while the 3-unit capstone completed through Directed Comprehensive Studies asks students to synthesize the program. The design also positions the degree as preparation for later doctoral study, giving it a dual purpose as both a professional and an academic stepping stone. It is not a licensure program but a flexible route into postsecondary leadership. A master's-level path in higher education administration, it builds toward a career among education administrators in California.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 17 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  4. 4

    Boston College

    Chestnut Hill, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 34Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Higher Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Boston College offers a Master of Arts in Higher Education through its Lynch School, a 30-credit, ten-course program typically completed over two years and taught primarily on campus. A yearlong field placement of ten to twelve hours a week runs alongside coursework, and with roughly 75 percent of full-time students receiving assistantship funding, the design points to an immersive, professionally supported experience rather than a part-time credential. Students choose among concentrations in Administration, Student Affairs, International Perspectives, and Spirituality, Faith, and Formation, the last reflecting the university's Jesuit character. The program also opens onto ambitious dual-degree paths, including a J.D. and M.A. with the Law School, an M.A. and M.B.A. with the Carroll School of Management, and a joint international degree with the Universidad de Guadalajara. A comprehensive capstone portfolio ties the experience together. It prepares graduates for administrative and student affairs careers rather than a licensed role. A master's-level path in higher education administration, it builds toward a career among education administrators in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 34 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  5. 5

    Merrimack College

    North Andover, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 14Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Higher Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Merrimack College offers a Master of Education in Higher Education, a program NCES classifies as online and one the college describes as rooted in equity, social justice, and inclusion. That framing signals a degree oriented toward professionals who want to support student success and serve diverse campus communities rather than pursue a licensed role. Tuition-reducing higher education fellowships are available, which suggests the program is structured to bring students into hands-on campus work while easing cost. It prepares graduates for careers across higher education administration and student support. As a master's degree in higher education administration, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  6. 6

    Northeastern University Professional Programs

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 36Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Higher Education Administration
    • Online
    About the program

    Northeastern University offers a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration online, a program completable in as little as two years and oriented toward applied problem solving. Its signature element is a six-week capstone in which students research a real higher education challenge and present their findings to practitioners, an experience that treats the degree as preparation for immediate professional impact. An ePortfolio requirement documents that growth, while coursework grounded in diversity, equity, and inclusion reflects the priorities of contemporary campus leadership. The overall design points to working professionals who want a practice-focused credential they can apply directly to their institutions. The program is not positioned as licensure-bearing. As a master's degree in higher education administration, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 36 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  7. 7

    Salem State University

    Salem, MAPublic

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Higher Education in Student Affairs
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Salem State University offers a Master of Education in Higher Education in Student Affairs, a 30-credit HyFlex program that lets full-time students attend weekday evening classes while part-time students join in person or synchronously online, a design clearly built to accommodate people already working in the field. Described as the only such program at a public institution in the Boston metro area, it keeps its curriculum flexible with elective options rather than fixed concentrations and structures learning around the ACPA and NASPA professional competencies. A required 150-hour practicum, with a second encouraged, connects students to major regional institutions including MIT, Northeastern, Tufts, and UMass campuses, and paid graduate assistantships are common. The combination of evening scheduling, practicum partnerships, and assistantships reads as a practice-first pathway into student affairs work. It prepares graduates for the field rather than leading to a license. Graduates of this higher education administration program at the master's level often go on to work as education administrators.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  8. 8

    Lesley University

    Cambridge, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • On-campus
    About the program

    This institution offers a master's program in higher education delivered on campus. As a master's degree in higher education administration, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  9. 9

    Eastern Nazarene College

    Quincy, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Higher Education Administration
    About the program

    Eastern Nazarene College previously offered a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration through its adult studies division. The college permanently closed and ceased all academic activity in May 2025, and the program is no longer offered. Mount Vernon Nazarene University now holds Eastern Nazarene's student records. As a master's degree in higher education administration, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  10. 10

    New York University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs
    • On-campus
    About the program

    NYU Steinhardt offers a Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs, an on-campus program that prepares graduates for entry-level and middle-management roles in student affairs and administration. Rather than formal concentrations, it offers unofficial areas of study spanning student affairs, administration and academic affairs, international education, workplace learning leadership, and social justice, giving students room to angle the degree toward their interests. Full-time students complete a required paid internship of 20 hours a week that runs throughout the two-year program, so classroom theory is continuously tested against professional practice. The experience culminates in a capstone project that produces a professional portfolio, a concrete artifact graduates can carry into the job market. Part-time enrollment is reserved for those already holding a full-time higher education position, underscoring how deeply the program is tied to active work in the field. A master's-level path in higher education administration, it builds toward a career among education administrators in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  11. 11

    Hofstra University

    Hempstead, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • M.S.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Hofstra University offers an M.S.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies, a hybrid, 36-credit program that prepares students for roles ranging from entry-level positions to upper administration in colleges and universities. A single unified curriculum keeps the pathway coherent, and the absence of a specific bachelor's-degree prerequisite makes it welcoming to both recent graduates and career changers moving into the field. Flexible delivery is the defining feature: coursework can be completed on-site, fully online, or in a mix of the two, so working professionals can fit the degree around their schedules. Internships can double as the independent study requirement, letting students earn credit while building practical experience in real campus settings. Together these choices read as a program designed for accessibility and adaptability rather than a rigid, one-size-fits-all track. Graduates of this higher education administration program at the master's level often go on to work as education administrators.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  12. 12

    Teachers College at Columbia University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 26Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Higher and Postsecondary Education (also offered as Master of Education)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Teachers College, Columbia University offers a graduate program in Higher and Postsecondary Education with two distinct paths, a 32-point Master of Arts and a more extensive 60-point Master of Education, that let students calibrate the degree to the depth and length they want. M.A. students focus their study through one of three domain sequences: Academic and Developmental Analysis, Organizational and Institutional Analysis, or Social/Cultural and Civic Analysis. That structure gives the program an analytical, scholarly character, inviting candidates to examine higher education through developmental, organizational, or civic lenses. With roots preparing higher-education practitioners since 1913, it carries a long institutional tradition, and it does not require the GRE for admission. The program is not a state licensure track; it readies graduates for research, administrative, and leadership roles in postsecondary education. A master's-level path in higher education administration, it builds toward a career among education administrators in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 26 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  13. 13

    Pace University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 15Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs
    • Online
    About the program

    Pace University offers a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs, a 30-credit program delivered fully online and asynchronously for students preparing for administration and student affairs roles. Its curriculum is aligned with NASPA competencies, grounding the coursework in the professional standards of the field, and an optional internship at Pace's New York City or Westchester campuses lets distance learners add hands-on experience when they want it. The asynchronous format and the absence of a GRE or GMAT requirement make it especially accessible to working professionals balancing jobs and study. Prospective applicants should note that Pace plans to stop accepting new enrollments beginning in spring 2026, though current and admitted students can still complete the degree. That winding-down status makes this a program better suited to those already in the pipeline than to new applicants exploring their options. This master's-level higher education administration program prepares graduates for work as education administrators in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 15 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  14. 14

    William Paterson University of New Jersey

    Wayne, NJPublic

    • 15Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration
    • AAQEP accredited (through June 30, 2032)
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    William Paterson University offers a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration grounded in the ACPA/NASPA Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Practitioners, a framework that ties the coursework directly to recognized field standards. Students can choose an on-campus generalist track of 30 credits or a fully online option with a concentration in Leadership Studies, so the program serves both those near campus and those studying at a distance. Exit requirements center on a comprehensive e-portfolio and a capstone research project, asking graduates to demonstrate accumulated competencies rather than sit a single exam. Courses are taught by practitioners alongside tenure-track faculty, keeping theory close to daily campus practice. The AAQEP-accredited program prepares graduates for management and leadership roles across higher education institutions rather than K-12 licensure. Earning a master's degree in higher education administration is a common route toward becoming one of New Jersey's education administrators.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 15 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  15. 15

    State University of New York at Plattsburgh

    Plattsburgh, NYPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $85,760State teacher pay
    About the program

    This institution offers a master's degree in higher education administration. Earning a master's degree in higher education administration is a common route toward becoming one of New York's education administrators.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $85,760, roughly $79,466 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  16. 16

    Lewis & Clark College

    Portland, ORPrivate nonprofit

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $82,330Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Student Affairs Administration (Higher Education Student Affairs concentration)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Lewis & Clark College offers a Master of Arts in Student Affairs Administration with a Higher Education Student Affairs concentration, an on-campus program built around a small cohort and scheduled for working professionals. Evening and weekend classes let students complete the 39-credit degree full-time in two years or part-time in three, and two required practicums, one on campus and one off, ground the coursework in real practice. That dual-placement structure prepares graduates for roles from coordinator to director across residence life, judicial affairs, multicultural student affairs, career services, financial aid, and disability services. The curriculum is aligned to the professional standards jointly developed by ACPA and NASPA, anchoring it in the field's guiding frameworks. With no GRE required and a reported 100% job placement rate for graduates seeking the field, it reads as a focused, practitioner-oriented gateway into student affairs. As a master's degree in higher education administration, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Oregon.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $82,330, roughly $78,096 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  17. 17

    Walden University

    Minneapolis, MNPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 30Master's/yr
    • $79,730Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Higher Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Walden University offers a Master of Science in Higher Education delivered fully online with personalized coursework that fits around students' existing commitments. Learners can concentrate in College Teaching and Learning or in Leadership for Student Success, the latter explicitly designated as a non-licensure specialization. The program prepares graduates for hands-on and leadership roles that reach beyond traditional campuses into business and government training and development settings. Its online structure and applied orientation point to a degree built for working adults seeking to advance in higher education or corporate learning environments. The specialization choices let students steer the degree toward either instructional work or broader student-success leadership. As a master's degree in higher education administration, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Minnesota.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 30 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,730, roughly $76,062 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  18. 18

    University of St Thomas

    Saint Paul, MNPrivate nonprofit

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $79,730Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Leadership in Student Affairs
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of St. Thomas offers a Master of Arts in Leadership in Student Affairs, a hybrid program built around a small annual cohort of roughly ten to twenty students. Its defining feature is experiential: students complete two required internships or assistantships in different functional areas of student affairs, so they leave having practiced across more than one corner of the field before finishing a capstone course. Electives ranging from higher education law to feminist perspectives on leadership let students shape a general preparation toward their own interests rather than a fixed specialization. The intimate cohort and dual placements read as a program designed to develop reflective practitioners through mentored, hands-on work. It prepares graduates for professional student-affairs roles rather than licensure. This master's-level higher education administration program prepares graduates for work as education administrators in Minnesota.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,730, roughly $76,062 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  19. 19

    George Washington University

    Washington, DCPrivate nonprofit

    • 22Master's/yr
    • $79,470Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education and Human Development in the Field of Higher Education Administration
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The George Washington University offers a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development in the field of Higher Education Administration through its Graduate School of Education and Human Development, a 30-credit program capped by a required capstone project. Courses meet once a week in late afternoons and evenings, a schedule built to accommodate professionals already working in the field, and five optional areas of focus, from Administration, Policy and Finance to International Education, Social Justice, Student Affairs Administration, or a self-designed track, let students steer the degree toward their goals. Its Washington, D.C. location is a defining asset, opening internship and fellowship access to national higher education policy organizations, and dual-degree options with GW Law and the business school broaden the possibilities further. This administrative master's does not lead to teaching or administrator licensure. The evening schedule and policy-rich setting characterize a program for working professionals aiming at higher education leadership. Graduates of this higher education administration program at the master's level often go on to work as education administrators.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 22 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,470, roughly $72,986 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  20. 20

    University at Albany

    Albany, NYPublic

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $79,240Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Higher Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University at Albany offers a Master of Science in Higher Education, a 36-credit hybrid program available either online or on campus for students entering administrative and leadership roles in colleges and universities. Its elective options are notably wide-ranging, spanning labor relations, international education management, athletics administration, community college administration, and teaching and learning in higher education, letting students shape the degree around a particular corner of the field. Optional internships, field experiences, study abroad, and clinical components mean hands-on practice is available for those who want it without being mandatory for everyone. An accelerated undergraduate-to-graduate option lets qualifying UAlbany undergraduates with a strong GPA get a head start on the master's. The breadth of electives and flexible delivery position the program as a customizable path for a variety of higher education career interests. As a master's degree in higher education administration, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,240, roughly $79,585 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  21. 21

    University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, PAPrivate nonprofit

    • 45Master's/yr
    • $78,570Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education in Higher Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Pennsylvania offers a Master of Science in Education in Higher Education through Penn GSE, a campus-based degree that students can pursue full-time or part-time. Its range of concentrations, spanning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, University Administration, Public Policy, International Higher Education, Research, Methods, and Inquiry, and Higher Education Foundations, signals a program that treats the field as a subject for serious study as well as practice. A comprehensive examination after at least six Higher Education course units anchors the degree academically, while graduate assistantship opportunities give students hands-on institutional experience. Cross-registration for electives across any Penn graduate school lets students draw on the wider university to build their own emphasis. The program develops scholars and administrators and does not lead to licensure. Earning a master's degree in higher education administration is a common route toward becoming one of Pennsylvania's education administrators.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 45 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,570, roughly $76,613 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  22. 22

    Temple University

    Philadelphia, PAPublic

    • 13Master's/yr
    • $78,570Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Higher Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Temple University offers a Master of Education in Higher Education, a hybrid program that combines online coursework with evening face-to-face classes on the Main Campus so working professionals can keep their jobs while they study. The curriculum is distinctly urban in its concerns, centering on postsecondary access, college completion, equity in student outcomes, and the challenges of higher education in cities. Rather than formal concentrations, the program surrounds the core with related graduate certificates in areas like College Access and Success, Diversity Leadership, and Student Affairs Leadership, letting students layer on a focused credential. Its administrative and leadership orientation makes clear it is not a teaching certification. For those inclined toward doctoral study, it offers a pathway into Temple's EdD and PhD programs. This master's-level higher education administration program prepares graduates for work as education administrators in Pennsylvania.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,570, roughly $76,613 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  23. 23

    Wilmington University

    New Castle, DEPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 15Master's/yr
    • $78,570Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Higher Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Wilmington University offers a Master of Education in Higher Education built entirely online with seven-week course options, a 33-credit degree assembled from stackable certificates. Students first complete a 15-credit Foundations of Higher Education certificate, then add a 15-credit concentration in Teaching in Higher Education, Student Affairs in Higher Education, or Administration in Higher Education, a structure that lets them earn recognized credentials along the way to the master's. Each concentration includes a three-credit field experience totaling 120 hours plus a professional portfolio, keeping applied work at the center even in an online format. The degree can be finished in as little as 14 months, appealing to working professionals who want a fast, flexible route into a specific higher education role. The program is described as accredited without naming its accreditor, and it is not presented as a licensure pathway. As a master's degree in higher education administration, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Delaware.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 15 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,570, roughly $76,613 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  24. 24

    Syracuse University

    Syracuse, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 13Master's/yr
    • $78,560Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Higher Education (Higher/Postsecondary Education)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Syracuse University offers a Master of Science in Higher Education that immerses students in the practice of postsecondary leadership through a cohort model and close one-on-one mentoring. The curriculum is aligned with the professional standards of CAS, ACPA, and NASPA, anchoring classroom study in the frameworks that shape student affairs and administration. Students complete intensive practica and internships in areas such as academic advising, admissions, and residential life, then pull their learning together in a capstone Laboratory in Learning Communities course. The degree requires a minimum of 36 credits, with 42 recommended, and can be pursued full-time over two years or part-time over three to four. Rather than leading to a state license, it prepares practitioners for academic, student-affairs, and administrative careers across colleges and universities. Earning a master's degree in higher education administration is a common route toward becoming one of New York's education administrators.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Syracuse, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,560, roughly $82,054 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
  25. 25

    Northwestern University

    Evanston, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 33Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Higher Education Administration and Policy
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Northwestern University offers a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration and Policy, a 12-course cohort program on the Evanston campus that reads as an intensive professional preparation for the administrative core of colleges and universities. The curriculum ranges across enrollment management, global partnerships, and crisis management, giving students a broad command of the functional areas that keep an institution running. A three-term master's research project builds sustained analytic work into the degree, while a 400-hour internship grounds the study in practice, with a waiver available for those who already bring substantial experience. Evening class meetings make the on-campus format workable for professionals staying in their jobs. The program targets administrative and policy careers and does not lead to licensure. Earning a master's degree in higher education administration is a common route toward becoming one of Illinois's education administrators.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 33 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,390, roughly $75,670 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site

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