2025 Best MBA Programs in Education

MBA Programs in Education
Tuition, ROI, Graduate Salary, GMAT Requirements

10 Best Ranked | Interactive Table | Salaries | Tuition | ROI | GMAT | Alumni Networking | How We Rank

Executive Summary for MBA Programs in Education MBA Programs

The ranking team at MBAGuide.org, evaluated 21 Education MBA programs. Here is a summary of our comprehensive findings. Explore the details about the Education MBA, compare schools, find states and cities where the degree is offered.

1. Comprehensive comparisons, data and analysis – MBAGuide conducted an in-depth analysis of 21 AACSB-accredited campus MBA programs in Education to find the top programs in the country.
2. Ranking metrics you care about – such as average starting salaries, tuition fees, return on investment (ROI), GMAT scores, alumni networks, student-to-faculty ratios, and more with no paywall.
3. Detailed school profiles of Education MBA programs their strengths, faculty expertise, alumni networks to help align your program choice

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Best 10 MBA Programs in Education

Interactive Table of the Best Ranked MBA Programs in Education

Easily sort the interactive table below to find the best Education MBA programs by Rank, School Name, ROI, Tuition, Average Starting Salary, and Campus or Online to find and to compare MBA programs in Education. Click on any school for a comprehensive school profile.

Rank	University	ROI	In State Tuition	Avg. Starting Salary	State	Online
1	University of Washington	97.00%	$76,890	$151,322	WA	No
2	The University of Texas at Austin	20.00%	$120,432	$144,564	TX	No
3	Stanford University	10.00%	$165,591	$182,272	CA	No
4	The University of Chicago	-1.00%	$167,393	$165,887	IL	No
5	The George Washington University	3.00%	$113,090	$115,951	DC	No
6	Texas A&M University	86.00%	$62,000	$115,585	TX	No
7	Temple University	60.00%	$60,000	$95,989	PA	Yes
8	Lehigh University	39.00%	$68,900	$95,699	PA	No
9	Indiana State University	332.00%	$19,000	$82,000	IN	Yes
10	Texas Christian University	-7.00%	$115,380	$107,543	TX	Yes
11	Saint Mary's College of California	189.00%	$40,608	$117,200	CA	Yes
12	University of Dayton	227.00%	$33,600	$109,932	OH	Yes
13	Clarkson University	19.00%	$59,032	$70,017	NY	Yes
14	Saint Louis University	104.00%	$37,470	$76,282	MO	No
15	University of the District of Columbia	225.00%	$30,765	$100,000	DC	No
16	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	200.00%	$29,168	$87,400	WI	Yes
17	Illinois State University	284.00%	$20,050	$76,900	IL	No
18	University of Colorado Denver	130.00%	$47,102	$108,246	CO	Yes
19	Nova Southeastern University	105.00%	$44,351	$90,756	FL	Yes
20	University of Northern Iowa	176.00%	$23,917	$66,000	IA	No
21	Stockton University	44.00%	$33,012	$47,700	NJ	No

An MBA program in Education will cost you between $19,000.00 to $167,393.00.

• Number of Programs Offering Education MBAs: 21
• Average GMAT Score for Education MBA Programs: 598
• Average In-State Tuition for Education MBA Programs: $65,131.00
• Average Graduate Salary for Education MBA Programs: $105,107
• Average ROI for Education MBA Programs: 112%

Compare Education MBA Program Averages vs Campus

Averages	MBA Programs	Online MBA Programs
Number of Programs	21	9
Average Starting Salary	$105,107	$96,565
Average MBA Tuition	$65,131	$49,805
Average ROI	112%	139%
Average GMAT Scores	598	570
Average Full-Time MBA Faculty	83	72
Average MBA Student Faculty Ratio	14:1	15:1
Faculty with Doctorate	84%	84%
Average Full-Time MBA Enrollment	435	129
Average Part-Time MBA Enrollment	322	349
Average % of MBA Students from U.S.	84%	84%

Read about our ranking methodology.

What is the Average MBA Salary for Education Graduates?

Though it’s not the only factor, compensation is an important consideration for individuals considering obtaining an MBA degree. Salaries for graduates with master’s degrees in Education can be significantly higher than those of graduates with only a bachelor’s degree. In addition, advance salary projections from the US Department of Labor show that average MBA salaries are expected to increase by 13.5% each year through the year 2028 with an annual need of 99,000 new managers needed each year.

MBA salaries differs wildly depending on the program you chose, the industry you enter and the experience you have. After earning an MBA from Stockton University, the average MBA graduate annual salary is $47,700 . A degree from Stanford University, will provide an annual salary of $182,272.

Average MBA starting salary for graduates from accredited programs is $105,107 with the lowest of starting of $47,700 and the highest reported starting salary of $182,272.

Average Graduate Salaries for In-Person Education MBA Programs

• Average Education: $105,107
• Lowest Education: $47,700
• Highest Education: $182,272

Average Salary for Graduate of MBA Programs in Education Programs – Interactive Table

Easily sort the interactive table below to find the best Education MBA programs by Starting Salary, and Campus or Online to find and to compare MBA programs in Education. Click on any school for a comprehensive school profile.

Rank	University	Avg. Starting Salary	In State Tuition	ROI	State	Online
1	Stockton University	$47,700	$33,012	44.00%	NJ	No
2	University of Northern Iowa	$66,000	$23,917	176.00%	IA	No
3	Clarkson University	$70,017	$59,032	19.00%	NY	Yes
4	Saint Louis University	$76,282	$37,470	104.00%	MO	No
5	Illinois State University	$76,900	$20,050	284.00%	IL	No
6	Indiana State University	$82,000	$19,000	332.00%	IN	Yes
7	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	$87,400	$29,168	200.00%	WI	Yes
8	Nova Southeastern University	$90,756	$44,351	105.00%	FL	Yes
9	Lehigh University	$95,699	$68,900	39.00%	PA	No
10	Temple University	$95,989	$60,000	60.00%	PA	Yes
11	University of the District of Columbia	$100,000	$30,765	225.00%	DC	No
12	Texas Christian University	$107,543	$115,380	-7.00%	TX	Yes
13	University of Colorado Denver	$108,246	$47,102	130.00%	CO	Yes
14	University of Dayton	$109,932	$33,600	227.00%	OH	Yes
15	Texas A&M University	$115,585	$62,000	86.00%	TX	No
16	The George Washington University	$115,951	$113,090	3.00%	DC	No
17	Saint Mary's College of California	$117,200	$40,608	189.00%	CA	Yes
18	The University of Texas at Austin	$144,564	$120,432	20.00%	TX	No
19	University of Washington	$151,322	$76,890	97.00%	WA	No
20	The University of Chicago	$165,887	$167,393	-1.00%	IL	No
21	Stanford University	$182,272	$165,591	10.00%	CA	No

What is the Average In-Person MBA Tuition for Education Programs?

If you plan on attending an MBA program, it’s best to start thinking about fiscal responsibility. A prospective B-Student needs to weigh their tuition options. An AACSB-accredited MBA program can pave the way for a great starting salary or career advancement. An MBA program can provide the flexibility of completing a program while being employed in your respective career.

The average in-state tuition for an MBA in Education is $65,131.00 compared to an average campus program Education is $65,131.00 .

The lowest AACSB tuition rate at $19,000.00 from Indiana State University.

The highest AACSB tuition rate is $167,393.00 from The University of Chicago.

Average Tuition for In-Person MBA Programs in Education

• Average: $65,131.00
• Lowest: $19,000.00 from Indiana State University
• Highest: $167,393.00 from The University of Chicago

Interactive Table – Tuition for MBA Programs in Education Programs

Easily sort the interactive table below to find the best Education MBA programs by Tuition to find and to compare MBA programs in Education. Click on any school for a comprehensive school profile.

Rank	University	In State Tuition	Avg. Starting Salary	ROI	State	Online
1	Indiana State University	$19,000	$82,000	332.00%	IN	Yes
2	Illinois State University	$20,050	$76,900	284.00%	IL	No
3	University of Northern Iowa	$23,917	$66,000	176.00%	IA	No
4	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	$29,168	$87,400	200.00%	WI	Yes
5	University of the District of Columbia	$30,765	$100,000	225.00%	DC	No
6	Stockton University	$33,012	$47,700	44.00%	NJ	No
7	University of Dayton	$33,600	$109,932	227.00%	OH	Yes
8	Saint Louis University	$37,470	$76,282	104.00%	MO	No
9	Saint Mary's College of California	$40,608	$117,200	189.00%	CA	Yes
10	Nova Southeastern University	$44,351	$90,756	105.00%	FL	Yes
11	University of Colorado Denver	$47,102	$108,246	130.00%	CO	Yes
12	Clarkson University	$59,032	$70,017	19.00%	NY	Yes
13	Temple University	$60,000	$95,989	60.00%	PA	Yes
14	Texas A&M University	$62,000	$115,585	86.00%	TX	No
15	Lehigh University	$68,900	$95,699	39.00%	PA	No
16	University of Washington	$76,890	$151,322	97.00%	WA	No
17	The George Washington University	$113,090	$115,951	3.00%	DC	No
18	Texas Christian University	$115,380	$107,543	-7.00%	TX	Yes
19	The University of Texas at Austin	$120,432	$144,564	20.00%	TX	No
20	Stanford University	$165,591	$182,272	10.00%	CA	No
21	The University of Chicago	$167,393	$165,887	-1.00%	IL	No

What is the Average ROI for MBA Programs in Education?

Choosing an MBA program requires more than a glance at the school’s reputation or curriculum. The return on investment (ROI) should take center stage in your evaluation. This measurement reveals the potential value derived from your tuition investment, putting key factors such as starting salary and career progression under the microscope.

By scrutinizing the ROI, you’re not just making a decision—you’re making an informed one. This approach will ensure the selection of an MBA program that provides the most bang for your buck. Checking the ROI might not be an afterthought; it could be the game-changer in your MBA journey.

For MBA programs in across the U.S., the ROI ranges from -7% to 332%.The lowest MBA ROI of -7% is from the program at Texas Christian University.The highest MBA ROI of 332% is offered by Indiana State University.On average, MBA programs across the U.S. have an ROI of 186%.

Interactive Table – ROI for MBA Programs in Education Programs

Easily sort the interactive table below to find the best Education MBA programs by ROI to find and to compare MBA programs in Education. Click on any school for a comprehensive school profile.

Rank	University	ROI	In State Tuition	Avg. Starting Salary	State	Online
1	Indiana State University	332.00%	$19,000	$82,000	IN	Yes
2	Illinois State University	284.00%	$20,050	$76,900	IL	No
3	University of Dayton	227.00%	$33,600	$109,932	OH	Yes
4	University of the District of Columbia	225.00%	$30,765	$100,000	DC	No
5	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	200.00%	$29,168	$87,400	WI	Yes
6	Saint Mary's College of California	189.00%	$40,608	$117,200	CA	Yes
7	University of Northern Iowa	176.00%	$23,917	$66,000	IA	No
8	University of Colorado Denver	130.00%	$47,102	$108,246	CO	Yes
9	Nova Southeastern University	105.00%	$44,351	$90,756	FL	Yes
10	Saint Louis University	104.00%	$37,470	$76,282	MO	No
11	University of Washington	97.00%	$76,890	$151,322	WA	No
12	Texas A&M University	86.00%	$62,000	$115,585	TX	No
13	Temple University	60.00%	$60,000	$95,989	PA	Yes
14	Stockton University	44.00%	$33,012	$47,700	NJ	No
15	Lehigh University	39.00%	$68,900	$95,699	PA	No
16	The University of Texas at Austin	20.00%	$120,432	$144,564	TX	No
17	Clarkson University	19.00%	$59,032	$70,017	NY	Yes
18	Stanford University	10.00%	$165,591	$182,272	CA	No
19	The George Washington University	3.00%	$113,090	$115,951	DC	No

ROI for MBA Programs

• Average: 186%
• Lowest: -7%
• Highest: 332%

What is the Average GMAT Score Needed for an MBA Program in Education?

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized examination used by MBA schools to assess their applicant pool. The test is strategically designed to measure an applicant’s analytical, verbal, writing and mathematical skills. The GMAT is used as a predictor of success in MBA programs and tests one’s ability to successfully handle the advanced quantitative and qualitative study of business and management.

Even though some B-Schools may not require a GMAT Scores, there’s a good chance that a highly-competitive MBA program does require the GMAT. With that being said, average GMAT Scores for in-person MBA programs in Education is 598 with a highest of 737 and the lowest of 450

The average GMAT score needed for a Education MBA program from an institution is between 450 from Nova Southeastern University to 737 from Stanford University. The average GMAT scores for Education MBA programs is 598.

It’s important to note that not all MBA programs require a GMAT Score for admissions, but most reputable programs do. With that being said, if you have your eye on a list of competitive programs, it’s best to boost your GMAT Score accordingly. Outside of a solid GMAT Score, B-School admissions departments look at a candidate’s undergraduate GPA, professional experience, letters of recommendation, CV, and personal statement. A strong undergraduate performance may offset a sub-part GMAT Score. The average GMAT Score for on-campus MBA programs in Education is a 597.86 compared to an average MBA program score of 597.86. It is recommended that each B-School applicant take a GMAT diagnostic test in order to determine whether or not further study and/or a prep course is needed to boost your score.

Average GMAT Score for MBA Programs in Education

• Average: 598
• Lowest: 450
• Highest: 737

No GMAT or GRE: Best MBA Programs in Education

More than 233 AACSB accredited MBA programs do not require their applicants to take GMAT exam. Many well-known programs such as the University of Michigan and the University of California, Los Angeles no longer require the exam. If you are unsure where you would like to take your program, then you should take the GMAT sooner rather than later so you don’t lose time meeting the score requirement of a program.

Alumni from Schools Offering an MBA in Education

There are pros and cons when considering the size of your MBA in Accounting program. Larger, more diverse student populations, may lend itself to greater networking and job placement opportunities; whereas smaller programs may provide for more meaningful interactions with fellow classmates.

The importance of networking, whether it’s by way of campus job fairs, student organization members, or faculty mentorship, should not be understated when considering an MBA program. The average MBA enrollment size has a direct impact on your studies, your job prospects, your ability to define your career goals and after graduation connections.

Every B-School has a strategy behind their enrollment sizes. If a prospective B-Student is looking for networking opportunities, wants to attend job fairs, and plans on joining student organizations, B-School enrollment size plays an important role in the decision making process. For the B-Student interested in the smaller cohort-style classroom experience and thrive with face-to-face collaboration with their professors, a manageable enrollment size is the preferred option.

For Education MBA programs, the range for full-time enrollment is between 21 and 1,507. For part-time enrollment, the range is between : 32.00 and : 1,596.00.

Average Enrollment for MBA Programs Offering an MBA in Education

• Lowest: 21 from University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
• Highest: 1,507 from The University of Texas at Austin
• Average: 435 from 21 MBA Programs.

Student / Faculty Ratio for MBA Programs in Education

For most students, their professors are the first exposure to the business world. They are normally practitioners in the field and have successful risen to the top of their respective careers. B-School Education Professors can guide you toward a specific concentration, provide the latest industry trends, and put you on the right track, career-wise. The Student/Faculty ratio is important to those interested in building a lasting relationship with their professor. To use them as a networking opportunity and an advisor.

Top 10 Concentrations Available from Schools Also Offering an Degree in Education?

Highly competitive B-Schools recruit part-time and full-time professors that are both academic and industry influencers. They are the subject matter experts in their respective concentrations. To meet the diverse needs of Education businesses, MBA programs here have risen to the challenge by offering you an array of more than 47 MBA concentrations including:

• Education: 21
• Corporate Finance: 21
• Finance: 21
• Management: 20
• Accounting: 18
• General Business: 18
• Marketing: 17
• Data Analytics: 17
• Information Systems: 15
• Supply Chain: 11

Here are the top schools offering the widest variety of concentrations to choose from:

• David B. O’Maley College of Business: 30
• Nova Southeastern University: 25
• University of Cincinnati: 24
• Suffolk University: 23
• Drexel University: 23
• Temple University: 23
• Harvard University: 23
• Georgia State University: 22
• The Ohio State University: 22
• University of Baltimore: 22

The Importance of MBA Accreditation for MBA Programs

The importance of accreditation can’t be underestimated. For many, knowing your school is accredited by the AACSB and regionally accredited by the US Department of Education is enough assurance that you will receive a quality education, where credits are more likely to transfer, and you will be qualified for loans, grants, and scholarships.

AACSB accreditation is considered to be the gold standard in business school credentialing. Established to promote high-quality business education in the U.S., AACSB members developed a stringent accreditation process. Members are held accountable for following an established business education framework set forth by the AACSB. With that comes MBA degrees conferrals that are widely recognized by Fortune 500 companies. This results in lucrative job opportunities.

MBA Program Options Available for Education MBA Programs

Options for earning your Education MBA have never been more flexible. Education MBA programs have become adept at offering effective alternatives for you to earn your MBA, no matter your life situation or schedule.

There are 21 Education accredited MBA programs. 2 private and 11 public schools offering Education MBA programs.

Number of Award Earned for MBA Programs Offering an Education Degree

The ranking of MBA programs is certainly not an exact science and plenty of subjective reasoning and biases come into play. We offer insights into ranking as another way to evaluate a potential MBA program.

Of the 21 accredited MBA programs offered in Education, 19 of them have been recognized by at least one distinguished publication MBAGuide, PQ, US News, Forbes, BW, FT and Economist garnering an award as one of the best MBA programs in the country.

• University of Washington: 7
• The University of Texas at Austin: 7
• Stanford University: 7
• The George Washington University: 7
• The University of Chicago: 7
• Temple University: 6
• Texas A&M University: 5
• Texas Christian University: 5
• University of Northern Iowa: 1
• Clarkson University: 1
• Saint Mary’s College of California: 1
• Indiana State University: 1
• University of Dayton: 1
• Illinois State University: 1
• Stockton University: 1
• University of Wisconsin Oshkosh: 1
• Lehigh University: 1
• University of Colorado Denver: 1
• Saint Louis University: 1

Publications and the number of awards granted for an MBA degree in Education :

• MBAGuide: 19
• US News: 8
• Forbes: 7
• BW: 7
• FT: 6
• Economist: 7

How We Rank the Best MBA Programs in Education

MBAGuide.org employs a comprehensive ranking methodology that combines quantitative data (80% of the score) with qualitative assessments (20%) to evaluate MBA programs. The quantitative component considers factors such as student-faculty ratio, tuition, enrollment, and post-graduation salaries, while the qualitative aspect incorporates editorial ratings and school reputation, providing a well-rounded view of each program’s quality and value.

What is the Career Outlook for Education MBAs?

Why choose an MBA with a concentration in Education Management? Predictions from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicate strong growth in management positions overall, with an 8 percent average increase in management-level employment expected across all professions from 2018 to 2028, creating 827,000 jobs. Additionally, the BLS pegged the median salary for managers at $112,590, an important consideration for students considering a major investment in their education.

US Department of Labor – Projections Central

What is an MBA in Education?

The MBA in Education is targeted to those individuals currently working or aspiring to work in education management and/or leadership. Programs can be focused for the public or private sector in primary, secondary or tertiary education. Focus can be as specific as an individual school or as broad as a school district. Possible organizations benefitting from a graduate of an MBA in Education would be K-12 schools, school districts, colleges, universities, technical schools, preparatory schools, alumni organizations, nonprofits, government and fundraising groups. Management skills for leadership involved in managing people and educational processes are developed and practiced as the student progresses through the curriculum as a cohort.

The MBA in Education program prepares students to become principals, high-level educational administrators and educational leaders. Programs unite skills necessary for education leadership with financial, strategic and entrepreneurial proficiencies to students seeking to affect substantial change at the individual, school and district tiers. Students develop best business-related practices incorporating short and long-term project management, financial management including fundraising and investment, short and long-term goal setting, marketing, human resources and strategic planning. Research skills are refined and can be applied to academic or industry-related projects. Practical applications of these skills are developed inside and outside of the classroom with group projects, case studies, guest lectures by relevant leaders and presentation preparation.

Upon program completion, students will be able to:

• Identify and resolve barriers to student achievement.
• Sustain an ethical school and community culture that is conducive to learning and promoting strong character building.
• Communicate effectively with faculty, student families and members of the community.
• Provide strong organizational and fiscal management of school resources.
• Understand and participate in political and legal contexts that impact their schools and the learning environment of their students.
• Become leaders and advocates of their schools, communities and for the educational sector as a whole.

What’s the Career Outlook for MBAs in Education?

Hiring of manager level positions in the training and development areas is forecasted increase about 10% between 2016 and 2026. 10% rise in 10 years is an above average rate of employment increase for any occupation. The majority of managerial level professions require their employees to earn CPE (Continuing Professional Education) credits and take internally and externally offered skill development courses throughout their careers.

The cost of this additional training can become costly to the employer. Therefore, there is a greater demand for employment candidates who have already received some skill development training prior to employment. There is a continued expectation that you will pursue this additional development on a regular basis.

The variety of training techniques will constantly be subject to innovation as technology becomes more and more advanced. These innovations will be particularly evident to larger organizations and remote workers. As organizations increasingly utilize social networking, simulations and mobile learning, these tools will be incorporated into training programs.

You can expect to experience these technologically focused methods in addition to more collaborative learning. In turn, it will be expected that you can facilitate the use of these methods to properly prepare your own employees for the constantly changing methods of communication within your organization and externally to students and their families.

Employment growth for those with an MBA in Education in post-secondary roles are forecasted due to the increasing student enrollment in colleges and universities. Post-secondary degrees are the new minimum education requirement in contrast to 20 years ago when a high school diploma was the minimum and 10 years ago when a bachelor’s degree was the minimum. As student enrollment for colleges and universities continues to steadily increase, there is a greater need for postsecondary education administrators who stand out with up-to-date learning and development.

What Are Average Salaries Among Educational Leaders?

Median wage is determined by calculating the wage at which half of the employees within an occupation earned higher than that amount and the other half earned less.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in May 2016, the median annual wage for training and development managers was $105,830. Within this category of workers, the bottom 10 percent earned less than $57,760, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $184,990.

Where Do Educators with MBAs Work?

Approximately 34,500 jobs are held by training and development managers. The categories of organizations employing the largest number of training and development managers are:

Sector	Avg. Salary
Professional, scientific, technical services	15%
Management of companies and enterprises	15%
Educational services; state, local, private	11%
Finance and insurance	11%<
Healthcare and social assistance	9%

Post-secondary education administrators hold about 180,100 jobs. The categories of organizations employing the largest number of postsecondary education administrators were:

Sector	Avg. Salary
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private	79%
Junior colleges; state, local, and private	14

What Can I Do With an MBA in Education?

An MBA in Education enables graduates to further advance their careers within the fields of training and development management and pre and post-secondary education administration. Graduates with an MBA in Education have the ability to enter into areas of organization administration that require a broader understanding of business processes in addition to academic processes within the education sector.

Possible employment positions appropriate for an MBA in Education candidate include: leaders of schools (primary, secondary, districts), departmental leaders within an academic institution, curriculum designers, school and university registrars, academic facilities managers, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) managers in the academic sector, policy makers within government and within organizations that have a focus on education, and entrepreneurs in education who provide consultation and program development within the private sector.

• Career and Technical Education Teachers provide direct, practical instruction to students in various technical and occupational focuses. These vocational skills include fields such as auto repair, healthcare, and culinary arts. These instructors provide both academic and technical content in order to prepare students with the hands-on experience and subject knowledge necessary to enter a given occupation.
• Compensation and Benefits Managers research various benefit options, keep up to date on comparable compensation within their organization’s industry, develop programs to disseminate information related to an employee’s compensation and benefits, and oversee the execution of these programs while following labor laws.
• Instructional Coordinators manage implementation of school curriculums and monitor that teaching standards are being met. They also can be a part of the development of instructional materials, collaborate with teachers and principals to implement the curriculum, and measure the curriculum for overall effectiveness.
• Postsecondary Education Administrators can have responsibilities including directing student services, overseeing academics, and facilitating faculty research being done within colleges and universities. Job duties within post-secondary education can vary greatly. The office of the college or university they manage could be related to admissions, registrar, student affairs, faculty affairs, facilities, information technology, or human resources.
• School Counselors assist students to acquire and cultivate the necessary social skills and academic tools needed to flourish in school and after they graduate. Career counselors can be present in schools or organizations. They help students or workers identify careers that fit their skills and interests and provide a path to follow to seek employment in that field.
• Training and Development Managers can also be present in schools or organizations, however, in schools they would work with the faculty and staff instead of the students. These managers create and execute programs to improve and expand upon the knowledge and skills of an organization’s employees.

Difference Between an MBA and a Master in Education

The MBA in Education is a degree that is targeted towards current and aspiring leaders in education management, in both the private and public sectors. Generally, MBA in Education programs are designed for those who desire to become education administrators and who have a minimum of two years of managerial experience, or a minimum of two years of exposure to processes and procedures within the education sector.

This experience could be gained in the primary, secondary or tertiary levels of education. The areas of study focus on managing matters that an educational administrator could be faced with in their leadership role. As an educational administrator, you will need to be able to address key areas such as: curriculum development, cultivating a positive school culture, strategic planning, organizational development, marketing, change management, operations, financial planning, fundraising, governmental educational policies, information technology and human resources. Look for programs that incorporate hands-on experience in addition to classroom learning, group work and research projects.

How the MBA in Education differs from the standard MBA is the targeted trajectory of the program. The MBA is a broader degree and generally addresses the for-profit, corporate or entrepreneurial arena.  The MBA in Education focuses on the same overarching topics, however more towards how these topics will show up academia. While concepts are similar, the goals and how those goals are achieved are very different.

What Skills are Best Suited for an MBA in Education?

Sector	Description
Business Skills	Knowing how your organization operates is a must for any educational leader. While it is not necessary to understand how every transaction occurs or how every procedure I executed, it is necessary to have an executive level of understanding as to how your organization achieves its goals. There is also a need to understand the organization’s finances and how achieving your goals are affected by budget and funding.
Communication Skills	Educational leaders must know how to calmly and clearly communicate with a very diverse audience consisting of students, parents, government officials, faculty, academic staff and the community.
Critical-thinking Skills	Critical-thinking is a hallmark trait of an educational leader. You must access your critical thinking ability when addressing issues like making adjustments to curriculum, making budget cuts, making changes to improve efficiency and effectiveness around your organization.
Decision-Making Skills	Decision-making skills are engaged when educational leaders are faced with various options and limited resources. The ability to utilize the tools for cost/benefit analysis are required when justifying to various constituencies the decisions that you have made and how they are best for your programs.
Collaboration Skills	Teamwork is an unavoidable part of any organization’s landscape. As an educational leader, you will need to engage strong interpersonal skills as you work with varying personalities. Keep in mind that differences of opinion usually result in the best product being produced. Groupthink will cause your goals and how to achieve them to have a very narrow purview. You will need to be able to work people on all levels to accomplish your tasks.
Instructional Skills	Education leaders need to understand two variations of instructional skills. The first is the teaching in the classroom. You will need to understand how lessons are developed and lectured and other considerations faculty deal with on a regular basis. As an educational leader, you will also need to provide training and development to your own staff.
Leadership Skills	Educational leaders must provide leadership not only to those that report to you, but also to any group or committee you may participate in. Leading involves, motivating, organizing, and keeping on target to meet your goals.
Computer skills	Information technology is an important of learning and also administration. It is important you are up to date on the possible technologies to be used in the classroom by researching implementation, cost and benefits to students. You also need to be able to computer savvy enough to navigate required computer programs required for managing student records and organizational finances.
Interpersonal skills	In collaboration with communication skills, interpersonal skills are also a trait that continuously needs to be developed. You need to be outgoing and empathic as you deal with students and parents.
Organizational skills	Any type of leader needs to have excellent organizational skills. You are constantly faced with competing priorities and impending deadlines. Being able to juggle all of your tasks while being able to address emergencies is a required trait of a good leader.
Problem-solving skills	Leaders are often given the tasks of dealing with the most difficult situations and emergencies. You will need to be able to react calmly and apply your critical-thinking skills.

What Typical Classes Will I Take in My MBA in Education Program?

• Study of Teaching and Learning Methods Applying theory and research to teaching methods, learning environments, classroom interactions, and how students process information.
• Critical Issues in Education Familiarization of current educational issues and where those issues are in our legislative system. Learning how these educational issues are affected by various stakeholders such as policymakers, educational advocates, the community and your organization in particular. Generally, you will participate in research projects and group work to learn how to approach these issues.
• Evaluation for Practitioners You will learn how to measure and communicate outcomes of your instructors. You will know how to review inputs and outputs to decide if your goals are being met.
• Creating Financial Intelligence Learning how to exhibit financial intelligence within your organization is a key concept you will learn. You will learn various tools and dashboards to determine the health of your organization and assist with decision making. Coursework should touch on fundraising, proposal writing, budgeting, investing and reporting.
• Developing and Leveraging Human Capital Attracting and retaining the right people for your organization is foundation to the success of your organization. Without the people within your organization, you could never meet your goals by yourself. Keeping abreast of trends with compensation and benefits and motivating your talent is key to understanding how various decisions impact employee performance.
• Education Leadership Learn to create new programming for K-12 education or at the college or university level. International opportunities are an other way to engage students in diversity and build character.
• Leadership and Global Achievement Gap Research and case studies are used to address the K-12 global achievement gap. You will learn the extent of the gap, what factors contribute to the gap and how the US educational system could improve education for students to eliminate this gap.