How to become a Postsecondary Education Administrator

Official title: Education Administrators, Postsecondary

Also called: Academic Affairs Vice President (Academic Affairs VP), Academic Dean, Admissions Director, College President, Dean, Financial Aid Director, Institutional Research Director, Provost, Registrar, Students Dean

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.

Main 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.

How to become one

Postsecondary education administrators typically need a master's degree. However, there will be some opportunities for those with a bachelor's degree. Employers typically prefer to hire candidates who have experience working in a postsecondary education administrative office, especially for occupations such as registrars and academic deans.

Typical education to start: Master's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• College: Education & Teaching degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $104,590 a year The middle half earn $80,870 to $144,370.
• About 231,800 people work in this job now, and about 235,900 are projected by 2035. (+1.8%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Postsecondary Education Administrator?

Postsecondary education administrators typically need a master's degree. However, there will be some opportunities for those with a bachelor's degree. Employers typically prefer to hire candidates who have experience working in a postsecondary education administrative office, especially for occupations such as registrars and academic deans.

How much does a Postsecondary Education Administrator earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $104,590 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $80,870 to $144,370.

Is a Postsecondary Education Administrator a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 231,800 people now and 235,900 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Postsecondary Education Administrator?

Usually. 83% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Postsecondary Education Administrator?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.