Higher Education Administration & Student Support

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Background –

Those in Higher Education Administration and Student Support generally oversee student services, faculty research and academics at colleges and universities. The duties of someone in this position depend on their department. Usually if you work in Higher Education Administration you may work within Student Affairs or the registrar’s office. You may have the title “Provost” or “Academic Dean”.

What is a possible salary for someone in this field? $90,760*

What classes at GVSU may help me in this career?

  1. PSY 304 – Psychology & the Exceptional Child
  2. PSY 325 – Educational Psychology
  3. PSY 326 – Intellectual Disabilities
  4. SOC 301 – Interpersonal Communication
  5. SOC 303 – Small Group Communication
image of higher ed building

What additional education may be required in this field? A Master’s degree in College Student Affairs and Leadership may be required to advance your career in higher education administration.

What skills are applicable to this field of work? Organization, leadership, computer skills and problem solving skills are all important for someone in higher education administration to acquire. In addition, the ability to work independently or as a team will be important. Someone in this field will also be required to work with individual students, colleagues and parents, so interpersonal skills and the ability to build good relationships are important.

Employer Possibilities–Generally work at the college and university level; departmental positions vary depending on position type and the location of hire.


*bls.gov (2016) “post-secondary education administrators”



Page last modified November 27, 2018