Master of Education in Higher Education
Prepare for jobs in higher education administration, leadership and reform.
Finish in as little as 12 months. Full-tuition fellowship opportunities available.
Coffee With A Graduate Admission Counselor
Saturday, March 25 , 2023
from 10:00 am
to 11:00 am
Master’s Degree in Higher Education: Why Merrimack College?
We designed our higher education master’s degree for professionals who are passionate about the transformative power of education. The program excels for its:
Superior fellowship opportunities.
Merrimack College’s selective higher education fellowships cover 100 percent of your tuition and provide nine months of intensive training for jobs in higher education. Working at Merrimack or a partner institution, you’ll acquire first-rate professional experience in educational administration, building skills and achievements that set you apart in the higher education job market.
Rigorous, relevant instruction.
Whether or not you apply for a fellowship, you’ll get a hands-on education that equips you to solve problems and deliver outcomes. Our master’s in higher education addresses real-world challenges confronting educational administrators and stakeholders, using a practical framework that’s rooted in theory, informed by research and aligned with evidence-based practice.
Individualized study.
You can tailor Merrimack’s flexible higher ed master’s degree to fit your interests and passions. Our program plays a dynamic role in the community and offers excellent opportunities for meaningful civic engagement and faculty-supervised research. The master’s degree in higher education concludes with a self-designed capstone project on an issue that matters deeply to you.
Exceptional faculty.
Our higher education graduate program is led by nationally recognized scholars, researchers and innovators, including many who have affiliations with Harvard, MIT and other high-profile institutions. Merrimack’s small classes and high-touch culture enable you to work closely with leading experts on a wide range of higher ed frontiers, including LGBTQ+ equity, feminism, counseling, social equity and digital technology.
Active alumni network.
Graduates of our higher ed master’s degree program hold jobs in higher education institutions all over the country. You’ll start your career with a built-in network of colleagues who recognize the value of Merrimack-trained educational administrators.
Flexible timetable.
You can complete the program in one academic year as a full-time student, or study part-time and earn the degree over 18 to 24 months.
Program Format
- On-campus
- 36 credits
Higher Education Leadership That Makes a Difference
Merrimack’s Winston School of Education and Social Policy promotes impactful higher education leadership that can transform individual lives and whole communities.
Our master’s degree in higher education goes far beyond basic preparation for higher education jobs. You’ll be empowered to advocate for higher education administrative reforms such as:
- Broadening access for historically underrepresented communities
- Improving academic outcomes and lowering barriers to student success
- Creating diverse campus populations that support students of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, first-generation college students, military veterans, working adults and international students.
- Aligning curricular programs with employment trends and community needs
- Devising and implementing innovations in higher education administration related to housing, counseling, financial aid, career development, health care and other issues
- Integrating technology into the classroom
- Empowering faculty
- Cultivating alumni engagement
At Merrimack, you’ll belong to a dynamic community of higher education leaders who are committed to equity, diversity and social justice.
Stand Out in the Higher Education Job Market
Nearly 100 percent of our master’s degree graduates go directly into higher education jobs or doctoral programs.
Employers actively recruit Merrimack graduates for jobs in higher education administration for various reasons. You’ll enter the workforce with hands-on experience, strong mentoring from outstanding faculty, excellent writing and research skills, and a body of work (including a capstone project) that exhibits your abilities and values.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects higher education administration jobs to grow over the next decade by 7 percent, slightly faster than the average job growth for all occupations. Recent graduates of our master’s degree program now hold higher education jobs such as:
- Coordinator of External Relations, Harvard School of Public Health
- Academic Support Counselor, Framingham State University
- Residential Learning Coordinator, Virginia Tech University
- Resident Director, Norwich University
- Associate Director of Admissions, American University of Antigua
- Coordinator of Career and Mentor Programs, Fitchburg State University
- Associate Alumni Director, Merrimack College
Want to Learn More about the Master’s Degree in Higher Education?
Contact the Merrimack College Office of Graduate Admission at graduate@merrimack.edu.
Scholarships and Fellowships
Higher education fellowships cover 100 percent or your tuition. If you don’t qualify for a fellowship, Merrimack’s scholarships can also offer significant tuition reduction.
How to Apply
Create your own account. Apply to start your Master of Education in Higher Education today.
