With a Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Administration, you may be prepared to pursue leadership roles as principal, dean or district superintendent, and apply your skills in educational leadership, school management and policy implementation. Education administrators work across a variety of academic settings, from preschool and secondary school to postsecondary institutions.  

Education administration involves the daily operations and strategic planning of academic institutions. Education administrators may handle everything from budgeting to staff development. If you’re currently working in education and interested in positioning yourself to move into a leadership position, take a closer look at the MEd in Educational Administration to get a sense of the curriculum and focus. Then, consider whether advancing your education with this MEd could be the right move for you based on your ideal career path.

The Master of Education in Educational Administration is a graduate-level degree that focuses on school management, operations and policy. It’s often earned by teachers or postsecondary professors who already have teaching experience and who want to position themselves for possible leadership roles within the school’s administration.^{(See disclaimer 1 )}The purpose of attaining this degree would be to specifically work towards principal licensure in this area. The curriculum can vary from one school to the next.

At GCU, the MEd in Educational Administration covers a wide range of topics pertinent to school leadership, including:

• U.S. laws and policies pertaining to pre-K-12 education, with a look at ethical decision-making, social justice and diverse communities
• The financial and budgeting issues and practices affecting pre-K-12 schools
• Organizational and management issues for education administration, including human resources functions and resource allocation
• The evaluation and improvement of curricula to meet academic goals
• Inclusive leadership and professionalism for instructional leaders

This degree program also explores how instructional leaders can use coaching and mentoring strategies to nurture the success of teachers. Additionally, candidates will explore ways to promote safe and effective learning environments within their school. In short, the MEd curriculum at GCU covers all of the topics that are essential for future education administrators to serve as effective leaders in educational institutions.

What is a master’s in education administration degree program like? Along with the didactic coursework, which you might complete online or during evening classes, you can expect to complete multiple field practicum/internship experiences. At GCU, our education administration candidates complete three clinical internships in different settings.

These clinical internships provide an immersive, hands-on experience for learners, enabling them to see firsthand how education administrators can serve as a positive influence within school systems. There is a focus not only on observing the work of experienced administrators, but also on directly participating in various leadership activities. Learners will be challenged to apply their leadership skills in a way that nurtures the academic outcomes of the students and cultivates a positive learning environment.

The MEd in Educational Administration may be worth it for you if you’d like to take the next step in your own education. This degree program offers the opportunity to examine advanced leadership skills and other foundational competencies that are essential for education administration, ranging from financial management to mentorship to education law and beyond.

You may feel that graduate-level education in this area is worth it if you aspire to become a more effective and skilled servant leader in your school system. A master’s degree in education administration teaches leadership skills that may be applicable to multiple academic settings. It could also provide a pathway toward having a broader and more meaningful impact on education systems.

You might also consider whether this degree is worth it for you with respect to your potential salary expectations and the job growth rate in the education administration field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 15,100 openings for postsecondary education administrators are projected each year, on average, from 2024 to 2034.^{(See disclaimer 2)}

The BLS reports that postsecondary education administrators earned a median annual salary of $103,960 as of May 2024.^{(See disclaimer 3)} There are many factors that can influence salary expectations, including geographic location, employer, years of experience and other credentials.

What can you do with a master’s in education administration? The blend of didactic coursework and field practicum experiences may help you prepare yourself to pursue potential leadership roles in the education field. Specifically, you may apply to positions as an education administrator in settings ranging from preschool to kindergarten to secondary education to postsecondary education institutions.

One way to determine whether a master’s in education administration degree could be the right choice for you is to consider what education administrators typically do in different academic settings.

Education Administration in Secondary Settings

At the secondary level, education administration professionals will typically oversee all school operations. They are tasked with creating a safe and effective learning environment in order to improve student outcomes, as well as establishing and overseeing security procedures to keep students and staff safe.

Other tasks may include the following:

• Developing and implementing standards for curricula
• Managing school activities, including overseeing class schedules
• Counseling and disciplining students who are experiencing behavioral issues
• Meeting with teachers and parents
• Developing reports on student achievement
• Arranging for professional development programs for faculty members
• Managing the budget and allocating resources

Education administrators in secondary settings establish a strategic vision for the school, such as academic goals.

Education Administration in Postsecondary Settings

Postsecondary education institutions are intended to teach advanced hard and soft skills while preparing students to pursue careers in various fields. At this level, education administration professionals may have different job responsibilities depending on which department they work in.

For example, some postsecondary education administrators work in admissions, student affairs, housing, multicultural or other departments. Because of the differences in departmental missions and goals, administrators may find themselves doing anything from overseeing student athletics to establishing admission requirements to planning student cultural events.

Some specific job tasks could include the following:

• In admissions: Meeting with prospective students, reviewing applications and analyzing admission data
• In the registrar’s office: Scheduling course offerings, overseeing student registration and preparing transcripts
• In student affairs: Scheduling events and activities, creating nonacademic programs and advising students on campus life matters
   

Grand Canyon University provides a path forward for educators who are interested in making an impact beyond the classroom. The College of Education’s Master of Education in Educational Administration degree program offers a flexible approach to learning, with online and evening classes available, along with in-person learning components. Through coursework and in-person field practicum hours, which are completed locally, you can explore ways of serving as a positive influence on educational leadership.