Master of Science in Higher Education Administration and Policy

Northwestern University's nationally respected Higher Education Administration and Policy program prepares both new and current higher education professionals to be leaders who transform the lives of individuals, the trajectory of organizations, and the impact of institutions all within the higher education landscape. The study and work of higher education is a diverse and nuanced field, not only within colleges and universities, but also governmental agencies and non-profits, and in consulting firms.

Completing a Higher Education Certificate or the Master's Degree prepares students for meaningful career fields such as 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.

The average successful matriculated applicant has the following profile:

Undergraduate GPA: 3.4/4
GRE Verbal: 160 (86th percentile)
GRE Quantitative: 154 (66th percentile)
GRE Analytical Writing: 4.75

Non-Matriculated

Non-matriculated students are not yet candidates for the master's degree but may take up to four courses before they must apply to matriculate. The following are the primary reasons why some students choose to apply as non-matriculated students:

The student does not have anyone who can serve as an academic reference (this often happens with students who have been out of school for a while and have lost contact with their previous instructors)
The student has not yet taken the GRE but wants to begin taking courses
The student does not know whether they want to earn a master's degree but does want to take some courses in the program