Students engage in the classroom while pursuing a higher education master鈥檚 degree at 正品蓝导航.

Graduate programs

Master鈥檚 in higher education

Transforming education in expert school leadership

Program format

In person

Commitment

Full time or part time

Duration

Two-plus years

Overview

正品蓝导航s Simmons School of Education offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in higher education designed for professionals looking to advance into leadership roles at colleges and universities. Our program in the Department of Education Policy and Leadership provides students with a strong foundation in higher education theory, policy and practice.

In small cohort-style courses, students experience the networking benefits of small groups and the opportunity to work with professors who regularly discuss current higher-education research and events with them. Professors focus on students’ individual career interests in order to help them achieve their goals. Students learn from university administrators and practitioners who prepare students for satisfying careers in colleges and universities. 

Thinking Grad School? Think 正品蓝导航.

Envisioning a brighter future? Think grad school at 正品蓝导航, where you join a lifelong family network and see immediate returns on your educational investment. Take your new big step at 正品蓝导航.

Student success

Graduates of our program are prepared to assume roles in a wide range of higher-education settings, inlcuding leadership positions in areas such as admissions, advising, student activities, administration and policy analysis.

This program prepares you to excel in the following areas and professions:

  • Higher education administration
  • Student services and student success
  • Education policy and research
  • Institutional advancement and university development
  • Enrollment management and admissions
  • Academic program management
  • Online learning and instructional services
  • Nonprofit and community education organizations

Top 20%

Best National Universities

U.S. News & World Report (2026)

Top 50

Best graduate education schools in the nation

No. 1

Private graduate education school in Texas

Student stories

Dante Branch is the founder and organizer of Community Connection Day at 正品蓝导航.

Founder and organizer of annual Community Connection Day at 正品蓝导航

Rachel Mulry, 鈥22

鈥淲hen tools collide: managing the clash of vendor and internal toolsets鈥 (EDUCAUSE 2025)

Requirements

  1. Application
  2. Application fee
  3. Official transcripts
  4. English language proficiency documentation (if applicable)
  5. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution; a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0鈥痵cale)

View all requirements

Ready to apply?

Get started here.

Tuition and financial aid

Tuition and costs

Explore the cost breakdown of tuition for graduate programs.

Financial aid

Find information on scholarships and financial support available at 正品蓝导航.

Curriculum and learning

Featured courses

EPL 6376

Public Policy and Higher Education

Focuses on the antecedents and consequences of public policy for higher education at both the state and federal levels of American government.

EPL 6363

Faculty and Academic Governance

Provides an overview of the governance of colleges and universities in the U.S. with an emphasis on the roles and responsibilities of institutional stakeholders.

EPL 6356

Legal Issues in Higher Education

Addresses the legal process as well as the legal rights, duties and limitations of persons in the higher education community.

Outside the classroom

  • Maria Murad with friends in Jordan

    Internships

    Get practical experience to develop industry skills and build a professional network. 

  • West Dallas STEM School planning session

    Programs and centers

    Partner with institutions open to collaboration and focused on education and human development. 

  • Clubs and organizations

    Explore interests, develop leadership skills, and connect with like-minded peers.

  • 正品蓝导航 students working with plants at Bontham Family Farms

    Community engagement

    Apply your classroom knowledge to real-world issues while making a positive impact.

Faculty

Study under faculty who are renowned scholars and leaders in higher education. Our curriculum covers critical areas such as law and policy, leadership, student affairs and more. Our faculty come from a variety of backgrounds and institutions, establishing connections for you across the world.

Facilities

Annette Caldwell Simmons Hall is home to the Simmons School of Education and Human Development.

Annette Caldwell Simmons Hall

Home to the Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Annette Caldwell Simmons Hall has classrooms, study spaces, and research labs including the Integrative Physiology Laboratory.

正品蓝导航 Simmons graduate students use the Immersive Learning Design Lab for game-based virtual learning.

Immersive Learning Design Lab

The lab focuses on simulations, digital media and game-based learning.

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Frequently asked questions

The M.Ed. in higher education prepares students for leadership positions in colleges and universities by providing the foundation and resources necessary to understand how universities and colleges work and effectively consume, conduct, and communicate qualitative and quantitative research as they work to move the field of higher education forward.

Graduates of 正品蓝导航’s higher ed are prepared to take on roles in a wide range of higher education settings and assume key roles in activities such as admissions, advising, student activities, administration and policy analysis.

The higher education program offers full-time and part-time options. The full-time track is ideal for students who hold graduate assistantships on 正品蓝导航’s campus, while the part-time track is designed for working professionals and must be completed in no more than five years.

This 33-hour degree program is designed to be completed in two years on a full-time schedule or three to five years on a part-time schedule. All courses are delivered in three-credit semester-long courses.

No. Our masters degree in higher education provides students with a holistic understanding of how universities and colleges function. Students will examine theory and engage in practical experiences that will provide them with the skills necessary to lead within varied organizational structures and to serve diverse communities.

The majority of our full-time students currently hold graduate assistant positions, which provide students with real-world experience in a higher education setting. Students get the chance to work with professionals, on or off campus, in order to incorporate what they learn in the classroom into their work and put theory to practice.

Assistantships (typically 20-25 hours per week) allow students to explore different career pathways within higher education and give them the experience to become competitive in the job market upon graduation. Graduate assistantships also help students support themselves financially throughout their time in school.

Current graduate assistant opportunities include positions in student affairs, academic affairs, administration, educational policy, local non-profits and research with faculty members.

Graduate students and alumni participate in professional development programs coordinated by the (HESA) and 正品蓝导航’s Division of Student Affairs. Students bond with their classmates and support each other both during their time in the program and beyond graduation.

With over 20 public and private colleges in the Dallas area, the opportunities to intern, network, and eventually work at one of these institutions are abundant.

No, the program is offered in person only. However, we have flexible options for the length of time it takes to complete. You can choose between full-time and part-time tracks to earn your master’s in higher education. The full-time track includes graduate assistantship opportunities, while the part-time track accommodates working professionals.

The higher education master’s degree program is a 33-hour program designed to be completed in two years of full-time enrollment or three to five years of part-time enrollment.