To meet their needs, colleges and universities around the country are staffed by an equally diverse and multitalented group of deans, admissions officers, registrars and other professionals. Each one plays a pivotal role in ensuring young and nontraditional students alike receive the enriching experiences they deserve. 

For those interested in being a part of that effort, here’s what it takes to become a college administrator, a few higher education administration career paths to consider and insights into the salary and job market outlook for these professionals. 

How to Prepare for a Career in Higher Education Administration 

While each role in higher education administration comes with its own specific requirements, future professionals often prepare for their careers by earning a bachelor’s degree, gaining some relevant experience and earning an advanced degree. 

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree 

Higher education administrators come from many different academic backgrounds. Some earn a bachelor’s degree in education or a related field while others major in business administration, organizational psychology or another discipline that emphasizes leadership. However, a bachelor’s degree in a more specialized field such as marketing, communications or accounting can also be helpful. 

Step 2: Gain Relevant Work Experience 

Experience requirements vary among schools and positions, but senior higher education administrators often have a few years of experience working for colleges and universities before advancing into their roles. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of positions available to early career professionals, such as the following: 

• Admissions assistant or counselor 

• Program management specialist 

• Administrative assistant 

• Faculty affairs manager 

• Career services advisor 

• Fundraising, giving and philanthropy manager 

• Human resource manager 

• Fundraising coordinator 

• Accounting associate 

• Marketing associate 

Some administrators work in business or nonprofit administration before pivoting to higher education, while others may start out as university professors. Wherever they begin, professionals often hold these positions for a few years and pursue promotions into management before becoming high-level administrators. This allows them to gain experience managing people, programs and resources. 

Step 3: Earn a Master’s Degree 

After gaining experience, midcareer higher education administrators can prepare for more senior roles by earning an advanced degree. While there are many different types of master’s degrees to consider, a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration can be especially helpful. Some employers may require applicants to have this type of degree to be considered for high-level positions. 

Master’s-level higher education administration programs typically take about two years to complete and feature courses covering key topics such as: 

• Public speaking and organizational communication 

• The historical and philosophical underpinnings of higher education 

• Collegiate governance and management principles 

• Organizational behavior and theory 

• Student development and enrichment 

• Legal issues and ethics 

• Conducting research and implementing evidence-based policies 

Outside of offering classes on these core subjects, these programs usually also allow individuals to take elective classes on sports management, campus safety or other topics relevant to higher education students’ specific needs. With this background, professionals can begin pursuing high-level higher education administration positions. 

Current working professionals can explore online master’s programs so they can pursue their degree while meeting their other commitments. Some online programs offer hands-on internships so individuals can gain insights, network with working professionals and learn more about their career options. 

High-Level Higher Education Administration Career Paths for Experienced Professionals 

With the right education and experience, administrators can be strong candidates for a wide range of high-level positions. This includes provost, dean, registrar and a number of more specialized roles in areas such as athletics and admissions.  

To help professionals plan their own higher education administration career paths, here are some insights about the duties of different types of administrators as well as the skills and experience typically required to take on each position. 

How to Become a Registrar 

Registrars are part of a college or university’s record-keeping team and are a source of support for both students and faculty.  

Common duties for registrars include: 

• Organizing class schedules and facilitating schedule changes 

• Responding to transcript requests 

• Helping students register for classes 

• Maintaining school documents related to safety, admissions, licensing and other important information 

• Ensuring students receive the scholarships and aid they are due 

• Preparing course catalogs, diplomas and other important documents 

• Helping faculty prepare press releases and communications 

• Making sure the school is in compliance with educational law and record-keeping regulations 

Registrars often begin their careers in admissions, student advisement or enrollment. Others serve in administrative assistant or similar positions in the registrar’s office before becoming registrars themselves. Organizational skills and strong computer skills are key to succeeding in this role. 

How to Become a Dean 

Postsecondary institutions typically have multiple deans, each in charge of their own area. For example, deans of students oversee all aspects of student life and services, academic deans oversee specific departments and faculty deans manage professors and other instructors. Each institution’s hierarchy differs depending on its size and structure. 

Specific duties vary among different types of deans, but typically include: 

• Gathering input about and implementing new department policies 

• Serving as liaisons between the populations they serve and high-level administrators 

• Managing budgets and leading fundraising efforts 

• Overseeing staffing and hiring 

• Analyzing metrics such as admission rates and class sizes 

• Making reports and recommendations to other administrators 

Requirements vary, but non-academic deans typically enter their roles with experience in the area they’re charged with leading, such as admissions or fundraising. Academic deans are often experienced professors with doctorates. Working as an associate dean — a professional who handles day-to-day matters and reports directly to the dean — can be a great way to prepare to become a dean. 

How to Become an Athletics Director 

Athletics directors oversee a college’s or university’s sports and recreation program. While this typically includes a school’s sports teams, these professionals often also oversee club sports, campus gyms, intramural activities and physical wellness campaigns. 

Athletics directors carry out a wide range of duties such as: 

• Managing athletic staff, including coaches 

• Ensuring compliance with regulations related to college athletes and athletics 

• Overseeing fundraising, budgeting and other financial aspects of the athletics department 

• Helping coaches and other staff create game, practice and travel schedules 

• Overseeing the purchase and maintenance of facilities and equipment 

• Leading recruitment initiatives 

• Setting academic policies for student athletes 

To prepare for this higher education administration career path, professionals often earn a bachelor’s degree in a sports- or business-related field and a graduate degree in higher education administration. Gaining experience in sports management as a coach, marketing manager or other type of professional can also be helpful. 

How to Become a Director of Fundraising, Philanthropy or Giving 

For many colleges and universities, donations and gifts play a massive role in their operations. The directors who oversee these efforts go by many different names, but their work typically requires a combination of marketing, financial and administrative skills. 

School fundraising, philanthropy and development directors’ responsibilities often include: 

• Creating and planning fundraising events 

• Developing fundraising strategies focused on different groups such as alumni, parents and community stakeholders 

• Working closely with other administrators to assess the school’s financial needs 

• Ensuring funds are handled in compliance with laws and regulations 

• Analyzing metrics based on different income sources 

Philanthropy and giving professionals can gain experience by working in an area such as alumni relations or marketing. Some also start out in the nonprofit sector. Before earning a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration, these professionals often earn a bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management. 

How to Become an Admissions Director 

Admissions directors oversee all efforts involved in attracting potential students and helping them navigate the admissions process. This means their expertise must involve a combination of marketing and data analysis skills. 

In addition to overseeing admissions officers and advisors, admissions directors’ work includes: 

• Establishing methods of collecting data on potential students, such as through websites and ads 

• Reaching out to applicants after they express interest and request information 

• Working on admission criteria with professors, deans and executive leadership 

• Facilitating tours, visits and partnerships with high schools and other sources of potential students 

• Maintaining documents for internal and external use, such as applicant data registries and informational pamphlets 

• Analyzing admissions data and sharing trends with other administrators 

Admissions directors may carry out some of these duties themselves, but day-to-day admissions department duties are often handled by officers and advisors. These positions can be a great way to prepare for a career as an admissions director. 

How to Become a Provost 

At colleges and universities, provosts are usually second in command to the president. Their primary responsibility is to create and implement policies that foster students’ academic success. 

In pursuit of this goal, a provost’s job duties often include: 

• Researching student needs and new ways to meet them 

• Coordinating among and communicating with deans, board members and other stakeholders 

• Reviewing courses and curricula 

• Overseeing faculty employment and the tenure process 

• Helping faculty develop curricula in accordance with school standards 

• Allocating funds 

• Regularly reviewing performance metrics 

In addition to holding a master’s degree, individuals interested in becoming a provost typically need to earn a doctorate in a field such as educational leadership, development or administration. It can take anywhere from four to seven years to earn a doctorate, depending on the program. 

How to Become a Professor 

After serving in leadership positions, some higher education administrators choose to share their expertise by becoming a professor or a lecturer. Becoming a professor typically requires earning a doctorate. This can be a PhD in Higher Education Administration, a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Organizational Leadership or a doctorate in their chosen subject area. 

Professors with a background in higher education administration can teach courses at the undergraduate or graduate level in any of a wide range of subjects, including: 

• Communications 

• Public speaking 

• Educational research 

• Curriculum design 

• Leadership in higher education and other settings 

What specific classes an administrator is qualified to teach depends on their experience and area of study. In addition to lecturing, professors typically conduct research. Some administrators become full-time professors while others split their duties between lecturing, research and administration.  

Conversely, some professors advance into higher education administration after serving for a number of years in the classroom. 

Salary and Job Market Outlook for Higher Education Administrators 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salary for all types of postsecondary administrators was $103,960 as of May 2024. Individual salaries for these professionals can vary greatly based on their location, type of school and exact position. 

For example, the highest-earning 10 percent of higher education administrators earned more than $212,420 in 2024. This indicates that experience and education are highly valued in this sector, and that early and midcareer professionals have plenty of room to increase their earning potential. 

Between 2024 and 2034, the BLS expects the higher education administration sector to grow by 2 percent, and about 15,100 job openings to be available each year. Job growth in higher education is largely tied to trends in enrollment and budget changes. 

Find Your Own Path to College Administration Excellence 

The online Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration program at SEMO Online is designed to prepare individuals for collegiate-level leadership. Delivered in a flexible online format, this program is an excellent choice for working professionals. 

While completing 36 credit hours, individuals take classes on fundamental topics such as organizational communication, governance and resource management. They also have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of electives and take part in hands-on graduate assistantships. 

Find out more about our curriculum and how SEMO Online supports future postsecondary leaders today. 

Recommended Readings 
Are Online Degree Programs Respected? 
How to Become a School Administrator 
Types of Leadership Styles in Education 

Sources: 
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, “What, Exactly, Does a Registrar Do?” 
Indeed, “20 Jobs You Can Do With a Degree in Higher Education Administration” 
Indeed, “Dean of Students Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications” 
Indeed, “How to Become a College Administrator” 
Indeed, “How to Become a Provost (With Duties, Skills and Salary)” 
Indeed, “How to Become a Registrar (Including Job Scope and Tips)” 
Indeed, “How to Become an Associate Dean in 5 Steps (With Salary)” 
Indeed, “How to Become an Athletic Director (With Steps and FAQs)” 
Indeed, “Learn About Being a Development Director” 
Inside Higher Ed, “A Pocket Guide to Academic Ranks” 
National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, Current Term Enrollment Estimates: Spring 2025 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Postsecondary Education Administrators