Management
Education Administrators, Postsecondary
Also called: Academic Affairs Vice President (Academic Affairs VP), Academic Dean, Admissions Director, College President
US median pay
$104,590
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+1.8%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
14,500
231,800 employed
Typical entry education
Master's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.
What they do day to day
- Design or use assessments to monitor student learning outcomes.
- Recruit, hire, train, and terminate departmental personnel.
- Direct, coordinate, and evaluate the activities of personnel, including support staff engaged in administering academic institutions, departments, or alumni organizations.
- Advise students on issues such as course selection, progress toward graduation, and career decisions.
- Plan, administer, and control budgets, maintain financial records, and produce financial reports.
- Formulate strategic plans for the institution.
- Establish operational policies and procedures and make any necessary modifications, based on analysis of operations, demographics, and other research information.
- Provide assistance to faculty and staff in duties such as teaching classes, conducting orientation programs, issuing transcripts, and scheduling events.
- Represent institutions at community and campus events, in meetings with other institution personnel, and during accreditation processes.
- Prepare reports on academic or institutional data.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management4.0/5
- Instructing4.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.8/5
- Persuasion3.6/5
- Negotiation3.6/5
Knowledge
- English Language4.3/5
- Administration and Management4.2/5
- Education and Training4.1/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.1/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.4/5
- Administrative3.3/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Master's degree, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Master's degree48%
- Doctoral degree37%
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.