by our College Data Analytics TeamWould you describe yourself as the teacher's pet? If you find the field of education fascinating and rewarding, you might want a career as a principal or superintendent. A major in Educational Administration will be the ideal preparation for this career. In this major you will be prepared to lead schools ranging from elementary to high school level. This path is can be very different from classroom teaching. You manage the day to day operations of the school and help the school move towards the set goals and objectives.
This major will require you to take classes such as counseling, education, law, curriculum development, ethics, management and psychology.
There are many different concentrations under this major. Some of the more popular concentrations are Educational Leadership and Administration, Adult and Continuing Education, Curriculum Supervision, Higher Education Administration, and Elementary and Middle School Administration.
In 2021-2022, educational administration was the 27th most popular major nationwide with 46,975 degrees awarded. Our 2025 Best Educational Administration Schools ranking analyzes 364 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for educational administration students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of education admin programs later in this article.
As an administrator or principal you need excellent communication and leadership skills. As a person in the leadership position you will be managing resources, personnel, and school finance and law. Administrators must be organized, computer savvy and up-to-date on recent technology.
As well as being an effective leader to your staff, you will also make decisions that impact the school. As an administrator you will share your perspective and ideas on factors like politics and economics. You will use others to help develop your ideas and broaden your perspectives. You need to have an open mind to hear others, but also have the ability to make hard decisions. Those who do well in this field have a heard for service as well as a vision of the future of education. This person should also be someone who likes to take charge and have ideas on how to get their vision accomplished.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most education admin degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic educational administration program qualifications, to serve in some education admin careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different education admin degree levels. Educational Administration programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest education admin degree you can get. The type of education admin degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to education admin, with approximately 35.6% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for education admin workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 36.2% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 22.3% |
| Doctoral Degree | 11.6% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 8.0% |
| High School Diploma | 6.7% |
54.8% of education admin workers have at least a master's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in educational administration have received.
The education level required is different depending on the education admin career you are seeking.
As an educational administrator you can become a principal, superintendent, or another type of school official. You may also work in law or school policy. In order to become an educational administrator, you need a minimum of your master's degree and a certain number of years as a teacher.
Want a job when you graduate with your education admin degree? Educational Administration careers are expected to grow 9.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to educational administration.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary and Secondary School Education Administrators | 271,100 | 7.9% |
| Postsecondary Education Administrators | 198,300 | 10.1% |
| Preschool Education Administrators | 68,500 | 10.8% |
| Education Administrators | 42,500 | 10.7% |
Recently graduated educational administration students earned an average of $64,317 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $24,257 to as high as $179,414. As you might expect, salaries for education admin graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for educational administration graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers education admin grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary Education Administrators | $111,210 |
| Elementary and Secondary School Education Administrators | $98,750 |
| Education Administrators | $89,570 |
| Preschool Education Administrators | $53,990 |
With over 2,651 different education admin degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased education admin school rankings to help you with this.
One of 14 majors within the Education area of study, Educational Administration has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education Grade Specific | 110,770 |
| Teacher Education Subject Specific | 42,343 |
| Special Education | 35,973 |
| General Education | 29,389 |
| Curriculum & Instruction | 19,217 |
