Higher Education Administration

• Senior leaders in higher education contributed to the design of the program curriculum and provided input around in-demand skills they look for in new hires.
• The program’s curriculum is intentionally designed to include DEI coursework in subject matter areas such as social justice and demographics of the new college student. Students also learn about historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), tribal colleges, and the pressing need for all-women colleges.

• Students and alumni of the program are invited to participate in the Graduate School of Education residency poster session, a networking opportunity where attendees exchange ideas on innovation and change work in the field.
• Becoming part of the Northeastern Graduate School of Education connects you to a network of leaders in education through renowned faculty and distinguished alumni.
• Students participate in the Graduate School of Education summer convening to connect and be inspired by fellow students and faculty.

Through the required capstone course, students work with a problem within higher education for six weeks. Throughout this time, students conduct in-depth research on the topic of interest and present their findings to two to three mid- and senior-level practitioners, who then provide insight on the issue. Students also have the opportunity to perform a mock interview with a practitioner in the field and are given guidance-sometimes landing jobs right on the spot. Students are then prompted to write a reflection piece at the end of the course and are encouraged to map out a lifelong learning plan.

Our admissions process operates on a rolling basis; however, we do recommend the application guidelines below to ensure you can begin during your desired start term:

Domestic Application Guidelines

International Application Guidelines*

_{*International deadlines are only applicable if the program is F1 compliant.}

• Online application

• Statement of purpose (500–1000 words): Identify your educational goals and expectations of the program. Please be aware that Northeastern University's academic policy on plagiarism applies to your statement of purpose.

• Professional resumé

• Unofficial undergraduate transcripts; official transcripts required at the time of admission

  • The Foreign Credential Evaluation (FCE) is a required assessment of all transcripts and documents from non-U.S. accredited post-secondary education institutions. (Review the FCE requirements by country.)

• Two letters of recommendation from individuals who have either academic or professional knowledge of your capabilities such as a faculty member, colleague, or mentor, preferably one from your current employer

• English language proficiency proof. Students for whom English is not their primary language must submit one of the following:

  • Official associate or bachelor's degree transcript from an accredited college or university in the U.S., stating degree conferral and date

  • TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo, or NU Global Exam scores