Online Master’s Degree in Higher Education
Complete this form to receive the Purdue Global program guide.
Master’s in Higher Education Overview
Earn your master’s degree and move your higher education career forward. Prepare for leadership opportunities in administration, teaching, student services, and other rewarding areas of postsecondary education.
- Develop the practical knowledge, critical thinking, research, and writing skills that leaders at colleges and universities need.
- Learn from instructors who are professionals in the higher education field and bring real-world knowledge to the classroom.
- Assess cultural, individual, and role differences of various constituent and stakeholder groups that constitute the entire higher education community.
- Examine how technology, public policy, and financing issues affect a student’s ability to attend college.
- Explore the historical development of colleges and universities and the organizational principles that guide them.
Concentrations
- College administration and leadership: Become an effective leader who can manage academic programs and departments in a variety of postsecondary settings.
- Student affairs: Learn to administer comprehensive student services for both on-ground and online institutions.
See Notes and Conditions below for important information.
Academic Alliances to Expand Your Teaching Opportunities
The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences is pleased to announce a partnership with Promise Opens Doors, an organization that offers an online certificate program for educators interested in working abroad and helping others learn English.
Purdue Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Professional Development and Networking
When you join Purdue Global, you join a community of support. Take advantage of the Graduate Resource Center, which offers information on professional memberships and clubs, career services, social networking, and more.
Calculate Your Time and Cost
Estimate how much your prior learning credits can reduce your tuition and time to graduation.
What Courses Will I Take?
This online master’s in higher education degree program focuses on the practical knowledge, critical thinking, and research skills related to today's colleges and universities.
Concentrations
Choose one of the concentrations within the master’s in higher education degree to align the curriculum with your career goals.
- College administration and leadership
- Student affairs
Sample Courses
- Foundations of Higher Education
- Higher Education Laws and Regulations
- Access and Belonging in Postsecondary Education
- Higher Education Finance
Program Requirements
1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours
Upcoming Start Dates
We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.
Ways to Save on Time and Tuition
Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.
Transfer Credits
Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions.
Financial Aid
Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.
Grants and Loans
Learn about federal and state grants and loan programs that may be available.
Corporate Partner Benefits
Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.
Military Tuition Reduction
Graduate tuition savings for military include a 17–30% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and 14% per credit for veterans for graduate programs.
Prior Military Experience
Earn credit for your military training. We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.
View the total cost of attendance for your program.
Possible Behavioral Interview Questions for This Field of Study
- Share an example when you were given constructive feedback by a manager. What was your response, and how did you use it to improve your results?
- Describe your experience developing or improving a program to better serve clients. How did you measure its success and make adjustments
- Can you describe a challenging situation you faced at work and how you handled it?
- Can you describe a time when a colleague or team member was not meeting their responsibilities on a shared project? How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?
- Describe a time you encountered an unexpected obstacle or a problem that required you to think quickly and adapt your plan. What was the situation, and what did you do?
Sample Skills Developed and Used in This Field
- Student Services
- Higher Education
- Academic Affairs
- Student Recruitment
- Student Engagement
- Communication
- Leadership
- Management
- Coordinating
- Writing
- Research
- Problem Solving
- Digital Literacy
- Ethical Standards and Conduct
- Strategic Planning
Get to Know Our Faculty
Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.
Faculty members who have advanced degrees
Faculty members who have terminal degrees
Faculty publications in 2024–2025
Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2024–2025
Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, August 2025. 2024–2025 academic year.
Take a Career Assessment
Discover your work interests, and use them to chart your ideal career path.
Download the Program Brochure
Download our brochure to learn more about the Online Master of Science in Higher Education and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.