← All careers

Education

Education Administrators, Postsecondary

Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.

Median salary (BLS)

$104,590

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$65k – $216k

Job outlook

+2% (about average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $85,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Education Administrators, Postsecondary

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Master's degree

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$64,100–$230,700

Time to qualify

6.3 yr

Renewal

$20/yr

  1. 1

    Bachelor's degree

    Degree

    Four years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.

    $40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source

  2. 2

    Master's degree

    Degree

    Typically two years; average graduate tuition ≈ $20,000/yr at public universities (NCES).

    $24,000–$80,000 · 2 years source

  3. 3

    State teaching certification

    License

    Approved educator-prep program, pedagogy & subject exams, background check, and a state application.

    $100–$700 · 3 months · varies by state · renews every 5 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Education Administrators, Postsecondary" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Education Administrators, Postsecondary

    Entry / Junior

    $64,560

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Education Administrators, Postsecondary

    Established

    $104,590

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Education Administrators, Postsecondary

    Senior

    $160,105

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Design or use assessments to monitor student learning outcomes.
  • •Recruit, hire, train, and terminate departmental personnel.
  • •Direct, coordinate, and evaluate the activities of personnel, including support staff engaged in administering academic institutions, departments, or alumni organizations.
  • •Advise students on issues such as course selection, progress toward graduation, and career decisions.
  • •Plan, administer, and control budgets, maintain financial records, and produce financial reports.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Education

Explore all

Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.