Best institutions to study Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship
A program that focuses on educational administration at the elementary and middle school (K-7) levels and prepares individuals to serve as principals and masters of elementary and middle schools.
30 U.S. institutions graduated 1,306 Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 13.0408, a specialization of Educational Administration and Supervision (CIP 13.04), and leads most directly to the Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary occupation (BLS SOC 11-9032).
About Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship programs
A program that focuses on educational administration at the elementary and middle school (K-7) levels and prepares individuals to serve as principals and masters of elementary and middle schools. Includes instruction in elementary and/or middle school education, program and facilities planning, budgeting and administration, public relations, human resources management, childhood and pre-adolescent growth and development, counseling skills, applicable law and regulations, school safety, policy studies, and professional standards and ethics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship program focuses on preparing individuals for leadership roles in educational settings at the K-7 levels. This program is ideal for those aspiring to become principals or administrators in elementary and middle schools, providing essential skills for effective school management and student guidance.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in educational administration, program planning, budgeting, public relations, and human resources management. Coursework also covers childhood development, applicable laws, school safety, and professional ethics, equipping graduates with the skills necessary for effective leadership in educational environments.
Credentials awarded
What Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Post-master's certificate587 graduates / yr · 8 institutions45%
- Master's degree364 graduates / yr · 10 institutions28%
- Bachelor's degree214 graduates / yr · 5 institutions16%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate125 graduates / yr · 7 institutions9.6%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship14 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.1%
- Associate's degree2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
Graduates over time
Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,596 |
| 2013 | 1,229 |
| 2014 | 1,119 |
| 2015 | 1,425 |
| 2016 | 1,265 |
| 2017 | 1,436 |
| 2018 | 1,598 |
| 2019 | 1,548 |
| 2020 | 1,632 |
| 2021 | 1,570 |
| 2022 | 1,488 |
| 2023 | 1,278 |
| 2024 | 1,258 |
| 2025 | 1,306 |
Top 30 institutions for Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, ARPublicMaster'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 618 | 55% | — | — |
| 2 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor's | 146 | 88% | — | $36,487 |
| 3 | State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, NYPublicMaster's | 64 | 72% | — | — |
| 4 | Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 64 | 63% | $27,082 | — |
| 5 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NYPublicMaster's | 47 | 59% | — | — |
| 6 | Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 46 | 73% | $42,705 | — |
| 7 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicMaster's | 46 | 67% | — | — |
| 8 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicPost-degree cert. | 37 | 61% | — | — |
| 9 | University of Louisville Louisville, KYPublicMaster's | 25 | 61% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Southern Maine Portland, MEPublicPost-degree cert. | 20 | 40% | — | — |
| 11 | Ohio State University - Lima Campus Lima, OHPublicBachelor's | 19 | 23% | — | $36,487 |
| 12 | Wayne State College Wayne, NEPublicMaster's | 18 | 52% | — | — |
| 13 | Ohio State University - Newark Campus Newark, OHPublicBachelor's | 18 | 29% | — | $36,487 |
| 14 | Ohio State University - Mansfield Campus Mansfield, OHPublicBachelor's | 17 | 15% | — | $36,487 |
| 15 | Robert Morris University Moon Township, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 16 | 66% | $24,175 | — |
| 16 | Bethel University Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 14 | 71% | $25,225 | — |
| 17 | Ohio State University - Marion Campus Marion, OHPublicBachelor's | 14 | 27% | — | $36,487 |
| 18 | Ball State University Muncie, INPublicPost-degree cert. | 12 | 62% | — | — |
| 19 | Idaho State University Pocatello, IDPublicMaster's | 11 | 39% | — | — |
| 20 | High Point University High Point, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 11 | 74% | $37,072 | — |
| 21 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicMaster's | 10 | 75% | — | — |
| 22 | Northwest Nazarene University Nampa, IDPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 71% | $24,681 | — |
| 23 | Henderson State University Arkadelphia, ARPublicMaster's | 6 | 37% | — | — |
| 24 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 76% | $28,888 | — |
| 25 | Charleston Southern University Charleston, SCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 47% | $21,848 | — |
| 26 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 3 | 78% | $36,004 | — |
| 27 | Hudson Valley Community College Troy, NYPublicAssociate's | 2 | 35% | — | — |
| 28 | Furman University Greenville, SCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 79% | $24,932 | — |
| 29 | Worcester State University Worcester, MAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 61% | — | — |
| 30 | SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, NYPublicMaster's | 1 | 33% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Educational Administration and Supervision field (CIP 13.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 16 states
Where Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship graduates come from. Each state links to all Educational Administration and Supervision programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 2 | 624 | Arkansas State University618 / yr |
| Ohio | 5 | 214 | Ohio State University - Main Campus146 / yr |
| New York | 5 | 124 | State University of New York at New Paltz64 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 83 | Wilkes University64 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 46 | Sacred Heart University46 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 46 | Rowan University46 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 37 | Northern Arizona University37 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 25 | University of Louisville25 / yr |
| Idaho | 2 | 20 | Idaho State University11 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 20 | University of Southern Maine20 / yr |
| Minnesota | 2 | 19 | Bethel University14 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 18 | Wayne State College18 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 12 | Ball State University12 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 11 | High Point University11 / yr |
| South Carolina | 2 | 6 | Charleston Southern University4 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1 | Worcester State University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9032, Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship program often pursue careers as Education Administrators for Kindergarten through Secondary levels. The job outlook indicates a decline of 1.5%, with approximately 20,800 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $104,070, and a typical education requirement is a Master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 13.0408
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondaryprimary SOC 11-9032 | $105,870 | -1.5% Decline | ~20,800 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Counsel and provide guidance to students regarding personal, academic, vocational, or behavioral issues.
- Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavior or learning problems.
- Determine the scope of educational program offerings, and prepare drafts of course schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
- Observe teaching methods and examine learning materials to evaluate and standardize curricula and teaching techniques and to determine areas for improvement.
- Collaborate with teachers to develop and maintain curriculum standards, develop mission statements, and set performance goals and objectives.
- Enforce discipline and attendance rules.
Tools and technology used
Other Educational Administration and Supervision specializations
The 13 other 6-digit CIP codes under Educational Administration and Supervision (CIP 13.04).
- Educational Leadership and AdministrationCIP 13.040131,615 graduates / yr708 institutions
- Higher Education/CIP 13.0406
Higher Education Administration 4,257 graduates / yr258 institutions - Educational Administration and SupervisionCIP 13.04992,266 graduates / yr93 institutions
- Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum SupervisionCIP 13.04041,918 graduates / yr78 institutions
- Superintendency and Educational System AdministrationCIP 13.04111,176 graduates / yr83 institutions
- Urban Education and LeadershipCIP 13.0410674 graduates / yr39 institutions
- Secondary School Administration/CIP 13.0409
Principalship 397 graduates / yr23 institutions - Community College AdministrationCIP 13.0407375 graduates / yr28 institutions
- Adult and Continuing Education AdministrationCIP 13.0403367 graduates / yr19 institutions
- Administration of Special EducationCIP 13.0402253 graduates / yr30 institutions
- Early Childhood Program AdministrationCIP 13.0414partial data99 graduates / yr8 institutions
- International School Administration/CIP 13.0412
Leadership partial data22 graduates / yr4 institutions - Education EntrepreneurshipCIP 13.0413limited data5 graduates / yr2 institutions
See all Educational Administration and Supervision programs →
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Post-master's certificate, Master's degree, Bachelor's degree, or a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 30 colleges offering this program across the United States.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and writing, among others.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 1.5%, with a median wage of $104,070.
What is the CIP code for Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship?+
Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship is CIP 13.0408 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Educational Administration and Supervision (CIP 13.04). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on educational administration at the elementary and middle school (K-7) levels and prepares individuals to serve as principals and masters of elementary and middle schools. Includes instruction in elementary and/or middle school education, program and facilities planning, budgeting and administration, public relations, human resources management, childhood and pre-adolescent growth and development, counseling skills, applicable law and regulations, school safety, policy studies, and professional standards and ethics.
How many institutions offer Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship programs?+
30 U.S. institutions reported Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 16 states, awarding 1,306 credentials in the year. That is 2.9% of all Educational Administration and Supervision graduates.
How much do Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary occupation, which Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship most directly leads to, pays a median of $105,870 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Educational Administration and Supervision field report median earnings of $36,487 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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