What Postsecondary Education Administrators Do
Postsecondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W44AXajj8ik
Work Environment
Postsecondary education administrators work for public and private schools. Most work full time.
How to 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.
Pay
The median annual wage for postsecondary education administrators was $95,410 in May 2019.
Job Outlook
Employment of postsecondary education administrators is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Expected growth may result from increasing student enrollment in colleges and universities.
Postsecondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities. Their job duties vary depending on the department in which they work, such as admissions, student affairs, or the registrar’s office.
Duties
Education administrators’ duties depend on the size of their college or university. Small schools often have small staffs that take on many different responsibilities, but larger schools may have different offices for each of these functions. For example, at a small college, the Office of Student Life may oversee student athletics and other activities, whereas a large university may have an Athletics Department.
Postsecondary education administrators who work in admissions decide which applicants should be admitted to the school. They typically do the following:
- Determine how many students to admit to the school
- Meet with prospective students and encourage them to apply
- Review applications to determine which students should be admitted
- Analyze data about applicants and admitted students
Admissions officers also prepare promotional materials about the school. They often are assigned a region of the country to which they travel and speak to high school counselors and students.
Admissions officers who work with the financial aid department offer packages of federal and institutional financial aid to prospective students.
Postsecondary education administrators may be provosts or academic deans. Provosts, also called chief academic officers, help college presidents develop academic policies, participate in making faculty appointments and tenure decisions, and manage budgets. They also oversee faculty research at colleges and universities. Academic deans coordinate the activities of the individual colleges or schools. For example, a large university may have a separate dean for business, law, and medical schools.
Postsecondary education administrators who work in the registrar’s office, sometimes called registrars, maintain student and course records. They typically do the following:
- Schedule course offerings, including space and times for classes
- Oversee student registration for classes
- Ensure that students meet graduation requirements
- Plan commencement ceremonies
- Prepare transcripts and diplomas for students
- Produce data about students and classes
- Maintain the academic records of the institution
Registrars’ duties vary throughout the school year. During registration and at the beginning of the academic term, for example, they help students sign up for, drop, and add courses. Registrars need computer skills to create and maintain databases.
Postsecondary education administrators who work in student affairs are responsible for a variety of cocurricular school functions. They typically do the following:
- Advise students on topics such as housing, personal problems, or academics
- Communicate with parents or guardians
- Create, support, and assess nonacademic programs for students
- Schedule programs and services, such as athletic events or recreational activities
Postsecondary education administrators in student affairs may specialize in areas such as student activities, housing and residential life, or multicultural affairs. In student activities, they plan events and advise student clubs and organizations. In housing and residential life, they assign students to rooms and match them with roommates, ensure that residential facilities are well maintained, and train residential advisers. In multicultural affairs, they plan events to celebrate different cultures and diverse backgrounds. Sometimes, they manage multicultural centers on campus.
Postsecondary education administrators held about 190,500 jobs in 2019. The largest employers of postsecondary education administrators were as follows:
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 79% |
Junior colleges; state, local, and private | 13 |
Work Schedules
Postsecondary education administrators generally work full time. Most work year-round, but some administrators may reduce their hours during the summer.
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of postsecondary education administrators.
Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2019 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Administrative Services Managers |
Administrative services managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities that help an organization run efficiently. |
Bachelor’s degree | $96,940 | |
Human Resources Managers |
Human resources managers plan, coordinate, and direct the administrative functions of an organization. |
Bachelor’s degree | $116,720 | |
Postsecondary Teachers |
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and technical subjects beyond the high school level. |
See How to Become One | $79,540 | |
Public Relations and Fundraising Managers |
Public relations managers direct the creation of materials that will enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization. |
Bachelor’s degree | $116,180 | |
Public Relations Specialists |
Public relations specialists create and maintain a favorable public image for the organization they represent. |
Bachelor’s degree | $61,150 | |
School and Career Counselors |
School counselors help students develop the academic and social skills needed to succeed. Career counselors help people choose a path to employment. |
Master’s degree | $57,040 | |
Top Executives |
Top executives plan strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. |
Bachelor’s degree | $104,690 | |
Training and Development Managers |
Training and development managers plan, coordinate, and direct skills- and knowledge-enhancement programs for an organization’s staff. |
Bachelor’s degree | $113,350 | |
Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals |
Elementary, middle, and high school principals oversee all school operations, including daily school activities. |
Master’s degree | $96,400 |
For more information about registrars or admissions counselors, visit
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
For more information about education administrators specializing in student affairs, visit
NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
O*NET
Education Administrators, Postsecondary
Suggested citation:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Postsecondary Education Administrators,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm (visited ).