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The Master of Education in Educational Administration degree program at Grand Canyon University is designed to help you position yourself to potentially pursue a leadership role in school administration. This graduate program offers a comprehensive curriculum that delves into the intricacies of educational management, policy development and leadership strategies. For those who wish to pursue licensure to become school principals, this program teaches concepts that can offer a well-rounded education for future educational leaders.
This MEd in Educational Administration can be completed online.2 The program covers topics chosen to help prepare you to be an impactful leader, who works to prepare future generations for life beyond school. The curriculum integrates the principles of servant leadership and a Christian worldview, empowering learners to serve school communities with integrity and ethical judgment.
You will be introduced to engaging coursework and hands-on applications, which includes internships that allow you to apply theory in practice. Knowledgeable faculty will cover topics that include the skills and insights necessary for educational leadership.
You can work toward earning your master’s in educational administration online with GCU. Enjoy engaging discussions with your peers on our e-learning platform and take advantage of professional networking opportunities.
As an online learner, you can benefit from the convenience of accessing the learning materials anytime and anywhere.2 This flexibility allows you to continue working in your current job while being taught by knowledgeable instructors in the field.
This educational administration master’s program includes a total of 300 internship hours as part of the core curriculum. As a candidate for principalship, you are required to complete three internships, which are designed to enhance your leadership competencies.
Candidates must verify their years of teaching experience, obtain any necessary certifications or licenses, and complete any state-mandated certification exams for the education department where they intend to work.1,3
This master’s degree in educational administration will teach you how to positively influence educational culture and achievements.
The program covers specific topics, including:
Foundations of school administration, preparing leaders for graduate-level education
Education law, addressing issues such as student rights
Shaping school culture through leadership styles and creating favorable workplace conditions
Enhancing educational programs to promote continuous school improvement
Improving teacher performance and self-efficacy while empowering instructional leaders
Strategic direction and administration in principalship
Practicum/field experiences focused on learner-centered leadership
This master’s in educational administration focuses on the skills and concepts essential to the modern education system and its institutions. It provides opportunities to enhance your leadership skills through hands-on experiences.
Some of the skills you will be taught include:
Whether you aspire to lead schools, districts or other educational organizations, this degree teaches the skills and knowledge that can lead to transformative educational experiences and foster environments that nurture growth and success. Pursuing your educational administration master’s degree can prepare you for a career as an administrator in settings ranging from preschools and daycares to primary, secondary and postsecondary institutions. Some graduates may go on to seek licensure to become school principals. School principals play a vital role in shaping the education of future leaders and innovators.1
This MEd may be a good fit for you if you are interested in working in a pre-K-12 administration role in public, private or charter schools. Leaders in this role manage educational institutions, shaping policies and leading initiatives that can contribute to the growth and success of students, educators and the entire educational community. School leadership teams and administrators must work collaboratively with teachers, support staff, students, parents and other key community stakeholders.
An effective school leader should be equal parts:4
Visionary
Changemaker
Communicator
Instructional leader
Culture builder
Servant leader
Facilitator
Median annual wage for elementary, middle and high school principals as of May 20235
Job openings for elementary, middle and high school principals projected each year from 2023 to 20336
GCU alumni have been recognized in the field of education under various subfields as of February 2024
This degree, offered by the College of Education, is an institutionally accredited program approved by the State of Arizona. It aligns with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL, 2015) led by the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA, 2018).
Further, GCU is an institutionally accredited university, having been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. Institutional accreditation is a reflection of the quality of the school as acknowledged by its peers. At GCU, we strive to deliver academically rich degree programs for graduate students who are strong critical thinkers and who are prepared to use their educational supervision skills to lead confidently.
Applying for enrollment in a graduate degree program can be an investment in your future. Before getting started, however, it’s important to gather comprehensive information about the program and its potential benefits. Explore the following frequently asked questions and answers to learn more about this program.
A school administrator fulfills a leadership position in public, private or charter schools, catering to students in preschool, K-12 or postsecondary education. They are responsible for setting the institution’s overall vision and mission, managing daily operations and ensuring effective resource allocation and staff development initiatives.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), postsecondary education administrators had a median annual wage of $102,610 in May 2023. This statistic covers most postsecondary school administrators, including those who work for public and private colleges and universities.7
A related career opportunity is that of the principal at primary and secondary schools. Principals typically need a master’s degree in education leadership or education administration, and many states also require them to obtain principal licensure.3 In May 2023, elementary, middle and high school principals had a median annual wage of $103,460, according to the BLS.5
An evening or online master’s degree in educational administration can be worth it if you are passionate about shaping a positive and achievement-oriented school culture where students, faculty and staff feel supported and empowered. While earning any graduate degree requires significant effort, it represents not just a potential investment in your future, but also in the school communities you may have the chance to influence. According to the BLS, 6,200 new jobs are estimated to open for postsecondary education administrators from 2023 to 2033.6
Lead with confidence to create a collaborative and creative learning environment.
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 GCU News. (2024, May, 20). COE Alums Add to Long List of Educator Awards. Retrieved Dec. 23, 2024.
2 Excluding observational and practice-based experiences and student teaching.
3 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). Occupational Outlook Handbook: How to Become an Elementary, Middle, or High School Principal. Retrieved on Dec. 5, 2024.
4 Parents’ Campaign. (2014, March 28). 10 Traits of Highly Effective Principals. Retrieved Dec. 5, 2024.
5 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Elementary, Middle or High School Principals as of May 2023, retrieved on Dec. 5, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as elementary, middle or high school principals, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or 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. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
6 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Elementary, Middle and High School Principals, retrieved on Dec. 5, 2024.
7 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Postsecondary Education Administrators as of May 2023, retrieved on Dec. 5, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as postsecondary education administrators, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or 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. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
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).
