Have you ever wondered, “What can I do with an educational leadership degree?” The answer might surprise you.

The field of education attracts passionate and dedicated individuals — the kind who genuinely want to make their mark on the next generation. Along the same lines, educational leaders feel compelled to guide and nurture the next generation of educators, allowing them to have an impact both inside and outside the classroom. This field is ideal for educators as well as other professionals interested in pursuing leadership positions in educational facilities. Whether you want to work as a building administrator or a department head, there are endless possibilities when you pursue a master’s degree in educational leadership.

Why Pursue a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership?

School success is often determined by its leaders, and to be qualified for the top positions within a school, district or other educational institution, you must have a graduate degree. Not only does a master’s degree in educational leadership allow you to elevate your career in education, but it also provides rewarding moments of

What Can You Do With an Educational Leadership Degree?

An educational leadership degree can prepare you for a wide range of administrative and management positions. Some professional opportunities you could consider after earning a graduate degree in educational leadership include:

  • School administrator
  • School principal
  • Education entrepreneur
  • Department supervisor
  • Professor
  • Community education coordinator

…As well as the opportunity to oversee training and professional development initiatives across various institutions, encompassing fields such as allied health, corporations, and more.

Benefits of a Master’s in Educational Leadership

Offering a well-rounded curriculum that emphasizes the importance of diversity, cultural awareness, decision-making and organizational leadership, a master’s degree in educational leadership can provide you with the foundation needed to seek open positions for education administrators and other leadership opportunities. Pursuing a master’s degree does require an investment of time, energy and resources into your education, but the benefits after graduation can make the effort worthwhile.

These are the top benefits of a master’s degree in educational leadership:

1. Career Advancement

Whether you have spent your career in the classroom or are looking to embark on a new path in the field of education, a graduate degree in educational leadership allows you to take your career to the next level.

Regardless of the leadership roles you pursue, you could enjoy a higher earning potential after completing your educational leadership degree program. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for education administrators is $89,000. However, those in the 90th percentile earn as high as $154,000 per year, highlighting the vast range of opportunities within the field.

The BLS data reveals that the educational level you concentrate on could influence your salary. For example, the median annual wage for leaders within elementary schools is about $99,000, while the median annual wage for college and university administrators is in the range of $130,000.

2. Develop a Diverse Skillset

While an undergraduate degree in education generally focuses on instructional methods and classroom management techniques, a graduate degree in educational leadership allows you to develop a new set of skills that could help you become an influential and effective leader.

The skills typically focused on in the educational leadership curriculum include:

  • Communication – Educational leaders must prioritize transparency and be able to communicate clearly with a variety of stakeholders including teachers, students, parents, staff, faculty, community leaders, and business partner.
  • Decision-making – Those in leadership positions are often required to make the final call, which makes swift, well-considered, and fair decision-making skills critical to your success. The curriculum for this degree program is rooted in ethics and emphasizes the importance of cultural awareness, allowing you to develop intuitive decision-making skills to become the best possible leader.
  • Management – Learning how to lead others requires that educators have in-depth knowledge of school operations and understand the organizational structure of their school. Leaders must develop and hone their managerial skills to oversee their staff and students effectively and fairly.
  • Technology – Advanced technology continues to redefine the educational experience for students at all levels. Whether you are working in an elementary school or a university, you need to be fluent in the latest technology to provide guidance and effectively implement new systems within your building.
  • Supporting Instructional Leaders – Educational leaders support instructional leaders in delivery of content, management of assessment, and use of data.

3. Better Support Teachers and Students

By studying advanced teaching practices and the best leadership strategies, you can better support the teachers and students at your school community. In today’s complex learning environments, education administrators are frequently called upon to provide organizational, emotional and physical support. Schools are more than just places where students go to learn; they are community hubs where many students and staff members have their emotional, physical, social, professional, and educational needs met provides an in-depth understanding of the role schools play in modern society and how you can connect those in your community to the resources and services they require.

4. Promote Diverse Education

According to Indeed, those in education leadership positions often have the opportunity to develop curricula and invest in resources for the entire school community. The educational leadership degree program emphasizes cultural awareness and highlights the importance of diversity in education so you can in turn prioritize diversity in your own school. You can help promote diverse education by:

  • Seeking community input from your students, families and staff members when choosing curricula and teaching methods.
  • Intentionally choosing diverse resources for your school community.
  • Ensuring that all classrooms represent and reflect the students who enter them.
  • Incorporating diverse viewpoints into all lesson plans and ensuring that materials reflect a wide range of cultures, beliefs and backgrounds.
  • Promote a secure learning atmosphere within an educational setting.

5. Support Your Local Community

School leaders hold a unique position in the local community. They are widely recognized by their students and have an extensive network of professional connections in the surrounding area. Once you become an educational leader, you will likely find that you seem to know everyone and are aware of everything happening in the community. You may help support your community by creating fundraising opportunities for the schools, developing volunteer programs that connect the community at large with your school school’s needs by attending school board or city council meetings.

H3: 6. Learn Transferable Skills

The leadership skills you learn about and develop transcend your career in education. The educational leadership degree program focuses not only on industry-specific skills but also on soft skills that help you become a better person and a more competent professional.

Some transferable skills you may develop as part of this degree program include:

  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Critical thinking
  • Decision-making
  • Ethical Decision Making

7. Working With People

If you are a “people person” who genuinely loves working with others, this could be the perfect degree program for you. Unlike leaders in the corporate world — who might be perceived as managing the masses from their ivory towers — educational leaders are typically immersed in their school communities. They interact with students and staff on a daily basis and may experience community life from a variety of perspectives. No two days are the same when you have a leadership position in education, and you will have the opportunity to enjoy working with people from all backgrounds and cultures.

8. Professional and Educational Growth

Your degree program is more than just a way for you to elevate your own career; it’s also an opportunity to help other educators become the best they can be in their own positions. As an administrator who has benefited from professional development opportunities, you could work to provide your staff with meaningful training programs that offer a chance to develop the skills they need to improve their classroom environment and boost student outcomes. You may be responsible for choosing the topics for professional development, allowing you to bring in programs that focus on instructional technology, cultural awareness, social-emotional learning and other relevant topics in today’s schools.

9. Increased Job Stability and Benefits

In addition to the increased earning potential associated with educational leadership positions, administrators and other managerial positions often offer improved stability and benefits. According to the BLS, employment levels for education administrators and leaders are expected to grow by about 4 percent, which is typical when compared to most other occupations.

10. Positive Impact on Students

As a leader in a school building, you have the opportunity to establish or enhance the school culture in which everyone feels welcome and included. Your commitment to creating a positive environment can leave a lasting impact on students. According to the Wallace Foundation, educational leadership has a direct effect on student outcomes.

The foundation notes that leaders have the greatest impact on student scores and achievements when they:

  • Set a clear direction for the school.
  • Prioritize professional development among staff.
  • Create a positive, inclusive atmosphere where students feel comfortable and safe.

It’s worth noting that school leadership is proven to be the second-most influential factor in student outcomes, falling closely behind classroom instruction.

11. Preparing Young Minds for the Future

Being aware of student affairs and actively working to provide all students with a future-forward education are a few key responsibilities of educational leaders. You have the unique opportunity to shape the minds of today’s learners, and you must work tirelessly to equip them with the skills they will need to thrive in an ever-evolving global economy.

Prepare For a Leadership Role at Keiser University Graduate School

Why get an educational leadership degree? The answer is simple: This graduate degree provides you with a gateway into a dynamic and growing field. Educational facilities around the country are in desperate need of modern, intuitive and resourceful leaders, which could allow you to find a fit that’s ideal for you both personally and professionally.

At Keiser University Graduate School, we offer both a Master of Science in Educational Leadership in addition to an Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership degree, a Master of Science in Education, Allied Health Teaching and Leadership and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership, as well as a Doctor of Education Leadership (EdD).

At every level, we have degree programs to provide you with the core competencies required to become an impactful educational leader.

Request more information about our graduate degree programs today.