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The Master of Arts in Higher Education Student Affairs degree program at Grand Canyon University can prepare you to position yourself for a possible career in student affairs administration at higher education institutions. Coursework is designed to teach graduates how student affairs administrators directly contribute to the social development, academic success and overall well-being of students.
You will be taught to manage resources and seek new opportunities that support the institution’s mission and vision. Within this field, a strong emphasis is placed on cultivating collaborative relationships with students, families, colleagues, school professionals and community members. These relationships may contribute to the promotion of a supportive, challenging and modern higher education environment, fostering student growth and facilitating professional advancement.
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
This master’s in higher education degree may serve as a step to potential career advancement for teachers and education professionals who wish to take on a leadership role at the administrative level. Graduates of this program may go on to pursue various education administration roles, including postsecondary education administration.
Median annual salary of postsecondary education administrators in May 20212
If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the Accreditation and Compliance/State disclosures link for the specific program of interest’s website for your location and/or employment state licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c).
1 Candidates must have access to an institute of higher education to complete program assignments. GCU is unable to offer/guarantee practicum/field experience access to institutions of higher education.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Postsecondary Education Administrators, as of May 2021, retrieved on May 23, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as postsecondary education administrators. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.
3 Best College Reviews (2022, Oct, 12). What is Student Affairs? Retrieved on June 2, 2023.
4 Professional Competencies Task Force (August 2015). Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Educators. NASPA.com. Retrieved on June 2, 2023.
5 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2022, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Postsecondary Education Administrators, retrieved on May 23, 2023.
In the College of Education, courses are led by professionals in their respective fields who share their knowledge and experience in all areas of higher education student affairs.
Coursework in this student affairs program covers the following topics:
Servant leadership
Student development and student leadership development
Building team culture
Laws and ethics
Managing operational resources
Crisis management
Community development and engagement
As a Christian university, GCU programs are values-oriented and based on a Christian worldview, so students have the opportunity to develop personal ethics and servant leadership practices that are often relevant to student affairs. This Master of Arts in Higher Education Student Affairs degree empowers students with the potential to lead with kindness, compassion and justice for making the greatest difference.
The master’s degree in higher education can be a great fit for professionals looking to have an impact within various student populations in postsecondary settings. Establishing and maintaining positive relationships through servant leadership is a focal point throughout the program, as relationship building helps better meet the needs of postsecondary students. In addition, you may have the opportunity to learn about crisis management and intervention, operational resource management, and laws and ethics; these subject matters can prepare you to make sound decisions within a higher education setting.
Advance your education to help shape the future of student engagement — enroll in a master's in higher education student affairs today.
In order to gain experiences within higher education student affairs departments, you will be required to complete 100 hours of practicum/internship hours in the last three courses of your program of study. These experiences will directly relate to the concepts taught throughout the program and help inform a culminating capstone course. During an on-campus internship, you have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in leadership, critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration. You must have access to an institute of higher learning to complete program assignments.1
At GCU, you can complete your higher education student affairs graduate program online. With online learning, you may be offered the flexibility and convenience that can be more appropriate for adult learners and busy professionals. As an online student, you have access to a range of online learning resources, including tutoring for new students, support services, as well as the opportunity to interact with your instructors and fellow classmates.
Graduates from this master’s in higher education student affairs degree program will be taught:
Foundational knowledge that encompasses student development theory
History of student affairs, leadership, engagement and organizational processes
Understanding of topics relevant to the major service areas within student affairs
Focused knowledge of operations, campus community, health, safety and crisis management
Competence in spiritual life, housing, legal aspects and campus partnerships
Read through our frequently asked questions to learn more about a career in student affairs in higher education and pursuing a graduate program.
Graduate coursework is meant to challenge you to help you develop as a professional in your field. When working as a student affairs professional and with student development in higher education, there is a lot of information to learn, such as how to lead and help others develop. You may study topics such as laws and ethics, crisis management and culture and team building. While in your program, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification and specific examples to help you absorb the information to be able to apply it in your work.
Your specific salary will vary depending on many factors and the specific role you end up in, however, we can look at the median salary of education administrators for reference. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, postsecondary education administrators had a median annual salary of $96,910 in May 2021.2
The study of student affairs provides an understanding of leadership as service to positively influence the educational community.3 By identifying student and organizational needs, student affairs professionals can develop goals, create and implement plans for achieving those goals, assess results and evaluate effectiveness and efficiency.4
Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for postsecondary education administrators to increase by about 7% from 2021 to 2031, as fast as average, accounting for an estimated increase of 15,500 jobs in the field.5
