Management
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 pay
$104,590
Growth to 2035
+2%
little or no change
Openings a year
14,500
Time to qualify*
4 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Education administrators, postsecondary
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- Less than 5 years
Calculate your switch to education administrators, postsecondary
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Education administrators, postsecondary: 77% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- Formulate strategic plans for the institution.
- Establish operational policies and procedures and make any necessary modifications, based on analysis of operations, demographics, and other research information.
- Provide assistance to faculty and staff in duties such as teaching classes, conducting orientation programs, issuing transcripts, and scheduling events.
Also called: Academic Affairs Vice President (Academic Affairs VP) · Academic Dean · Admissions Director · College President · Dean · Financial Aid Director · Institutional Research Director · Provost
Outlook and AI
Education administrators, postsecondary held 231,800 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 235,900 by 2035 (+2%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
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