KU School of Education & Human Sciences launches online master’s in higher education administration
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Education & Human Sciences is launching a fully online M.S.E in Higher Education Administration housed within the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies.
The program builds on KU’s established in-person Higher Education Administration master’s, adding additional flexibility for working students and expanding access to individuals who normally would not be able to attend classes in person.
“The Higher Education Administration program at KU has been preparing higher education leaders for more than 50 years, and we’re excited to build on that tradition by making the program available online,” said Zak Foste, chair of the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies. “This new option will expand access to students who are working full time, balancing other responsibilities or who cannot relocate to Lawrence, while maintaining the quality and rigor of our established program.”
Dallas Doane, associate professor of the practice, directs both the new online program and KU’s in-person M.S.E in Higher Education Administration.
“Our goal was to create a program that opens the door to KU graduate education for professionals who may not have the ability to relocate or attend classes on campus,” Doane said. “The online format allows students to advance their careers while continuing to work and serve their institutions.”
The online program is designed to prepare graduates for leadership across higher education broadly, with coursework spanning academic and student affairs, enrollment management, institutional research, assessment and advising.
Alumni of KU’s higher education administration programs have gone on to serve as advisers, directors, deans, vice presidents, provosts, college presidents and faculty members across higher education.
“We’ve intentionally designed the curriculum to blend research with real-world application,” Doane said. “Students will learn from faculty who are advancing scholarship in higher education alongside experienced practitioners who have led colleges and universities through today’s most pressing challenges.”
The program runs 33 credit hours across 11 courses, taught asynchronously in eight-week terms, with most students finishing in about two years.
“We see tremendous potential to serve aspiring higher education leaders across Kansas and beyond, bringing the department’s longstanding expertise in higher education leadership to an even broader audience,” Foste said.
The new online M.S.E. is housed within KU’s School of Education & Human Sciences, which ranks No. 8 among public schools of education and human sciences and No. 2 for online graduate education programs, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report graduate school rankings.
Students interested in the online M.S.E. in Higher Education Administration can register for an upcoming virtual information session to learn more.