Overview

The Higher Education Leadership programme at Mercer University provides a comprehensive foundation for professionals aiming to secure management roles within colleges and universities. This Master of Education is specifically structured to accommodate working adults through a flexible online delivery model and eight-week course sessions.

Students can tailor their learning experience by selecting one of two distinct pathways. The Postsecondary Administration track focuses on institutional governance, policy development, and decision-making. Alternatively, the Athletics Leadership track examines the economic, legal, and ethical dimensions of sports departments within the higher education sector.

Why Higher Education Leadership at Mercer University?

The programme is supported by a dedicated faculty from the College of Education who bring extensive real-world experience into the virtual classroom. This ensures that theoretical concepts are directly applicable to the challenges faced by modern educational organisations and administrative centres.

A significant feature of the curriculum is the inclusion of 50 hours of field experience, allowing students to gain practical insights into the industry. The university provides robust support through the Center for Career and Professional Development, connecting students with a network of successful alumni and professional resources.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 710 per credit
National fee: USD 710 per credit
Local fee: USD 710 per credit

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum is designed to be completed within approximately one year, focusing on leadership and management within tertiary education. Modules may include:

Higher Education Leadership
Athletics Leadership
Postsecondary Administration
Institutional Structure and Governance
Policy Development
Advocacy
Conflict Management
Decision-making
Cultural Topics

Careers with Higher Education Leadership

Graduates are prepared for a wide range of supervisory and coordinator roles within university settings. Those following the administration pathway often find employment in academic advising, admissions management, student affairs, or financial aid administration. These roles are vital for maintaining institutional compliance and student success.

For those specialising in athletics, career opportunities include becoming an assistant athletic director, compliance coordinator, or operations manager. Graduates may also work for conference governing bodies or in external relations, managing the complex intersection of sports and academia at a professional level.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Higher Education
Cultural Perspectives in Higher Education
Finance in Higher Education
Leadership in Intercollegiate Athletics
Legal Issues in Higher Education
Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment
Internship
Leadership Theory
Student Affairs

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months
Part-time
- 16 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-19 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-08-01 00:00:00
Starting 2027-01-06 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-15 00:00:00
Starting 2027-05-19 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-05-01 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

115

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TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

7.5

Prepare for Your English Test

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Credits

30 SCH

Delivered

Online

Campus Location

Doraville, United States

Disciplines

Educational Leadership Higher Education View 139 other Masters in Higher Education in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

2.5

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

115

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

7.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Completed online application
$25 application fee
All Official Sealed College transcript(s) showing conferral of bachelor’s degree
Two letters of recommendation
Career and academic goal narrative
Possible Additional Application Materials Include:

Possible faculty interview

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

Evaluation of Foreign Credentials

Official Translations

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): The TOEFL the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test is required for international applicants whose primary language is not English

Financial Guarantee
Visa Status: International Applicants Who are Currently in the United States - Documentation of your current visa status must be submitted with the self-managed application.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

21300 USD / year

≈ 21300 USD / year
Out-of-State

21300 USD / year

≈ 21300 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

21300 USD / year

≈ 21300 USD / year

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Higher Education Leadership.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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