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Higher Education Administration and Policy

Giving leaders the vision and skills to transform higher education

Our Academic Programs

Chart your Higher Education future with Northwestern University’s No. 3-ranked School of Education and Social Policy.

Our nationally respected Master of Science in Higher Education Administration and Policy program prepares career launchers and career changers to help transform individual lives, organizations, and institutions within the higher education landscape.

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MS in Higher Education Administration and Policy

Northwestern’s Master of Science in Higher Education Administration and Policy degree is a professional master's program provides the foundation for working in colleges and universities, government agencies, and higher education consulting firms and non-profits and more.

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Higher Education Foundations Certificate

The Foundations certificate introduces students to a broad range of current topics in higher education, including the concept of institutional diversity, student development theory, and budget philosophies, strategies, and structures.

Program Details
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Higher Education Student Access and Success Certificate

Learn about the myriad factors that influence students - beginning with the college application process in high school to the post-undergraduate education experience. The courses cover how to access, persist, and succeed in higher education.

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Higher Education Organization Management Certificate

Explore the complex dynamics of a wide variety of higher education organizations and learn how they excel at teaching, research, and service.

Program Details

Our Executive Education Certificates

 Executive Education Certificates are designed for higher education professionals who want to improve their assessment, evaluation or research knowledge and skills. Explore our program if:

  • You're charged with conducting an assessment project and need guidance on how to start.
  • You need to evaluate a program under scrutiny.
  • You're thinking of becoming a practitioner scholar and need to build or hone your research skills.

Explore Executive Ed Certificates

Why Higher Education at Northwestern?

Ezra Sergent-Leventhal

The courses are extremely applicable because the teachers are or were working in the field. They're also accessible and more than willing to help. ”

Ezra Sergent-Leventhal
MS’23
Vanessa Magallanes

The community aspect really stuck out to me. The program also has a research component and internships, which I found invaluable. ”

Vanessa Magallanes
MS’23
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Why Higher Education is important

Earning a master's degree or a certificate in higher education prepares students for meaningful career fields, including What academic advising and administration, alumni relations and development, athletics, career services, central administration, institutional research, enrollment management, international and global education, non-profit, policy and government relations, and student affairs.

AG Gomez-Shah

What I loved most was the community that was fostered and the connections I made with people who have a wide variety of experiences in higher education. You’re able to collaborate and learn about other people’s experiences and values.”

— AG Gomez-Shah, MS’20