Best institutions to study Secondary School Administration/Principalship
A program that focuses on educational administration at the junior high, secondary, or senior high school (7-12) levels and prepares individuals to serve as principals and masters of secondary schools.
23 U.S. institutions graduated 397 Secondary School Administration/Principalship students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 13.0409, 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 Secondary School Administration/Principalship programs
A program that focuses on educational administration at the junior high, secondary, or senior high school (7-12) levels and prepares individuals to serve as principals and masters of secondary schools. Includes instruction in secondary school education, program and facilities planning, budgeting and administration, public relations, human resources management, 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 Secondary School Administration/Principalship program is designed for individuals aspiring to take on leadership roles in junior high, secondary, or senior high schools. This program prepares students to become effective principals and administrators, focusing on essential skills and knowledge needed to manage educational institutions successfully.
Students in this program will gain expertise in various areas, including educational administration, budgeting, public relations, human resources management, and school safety. Coursework also emphasizes counseling skills and understanding adolescent growth and development.
Credentials awarded
What Secondary School Administration/Principalship graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree232 graduates / yr · 15 institutions58%
- Post-master's certificate93 graduates / yr · 4 institutions23%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate71 graduates / yr · 4 institutions18%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.3%
Graduates over time
Secondary School Administration/Principalship completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 686 |
| 2013 | 657 |
| 2014 | 512 |
| 2015 | 458 |
| 2016 | 416 |
| 2017 | 417 |
| 2018 | 507 |
| 2019 | 459 |
| 2020 | 437 |
| 2021 | 451 |
| 2022 | 447 |
| 2023 | 403 |
| 2024 | 460 |
| 2025 | 397 |
Top 23 institutions for Secondary 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, NCPublicMaster's | 76 | 44% | — |
| 2 | University of Dayton Dayton, OHPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 47 | 80% | $28,560 |
| 3 | Appalachian State University Boone, NCPublicMaster'sMaster's | 44 | 75% | — |
| 4 | North Carolina Central University Durham, NCPublicMaster's | 28 | 42% | — |
| 5 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PAPublicMaster's | 25 | 66% | — |
| 6 | Missouri Valley College Marshall, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 24 | 22% | $18,428 |
| 7 | Upper Valley Educators Institute Lebanon, NHPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 22 | — | — |
| 8 | Marshall University Huntington, WVPublicMaster's | 21 | 51% | — |
| 9 | McKendree University Lebanon, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 20 | 53% | $23,994 |
| 10 | Wayne State College Wayne, NEPublicMaster's | 17 | 52% | — |
| 11 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicPost-degree cert. | 16 | 75% | — |
| 12 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicMaster's | 11 | 91% | — |
| 13 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 49% | $17,436 |
| 14 | Rider University Lawrenceville, NJPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 7 | 61% | $23,844 |
| 15 | Gwynedd Mercy University Gwynedd Valley, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 7 | 57% | $25,843 |
| 16 | Campbell University Buies Creek, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 61% | $23,331 |
| 17 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MIPublicMaster's | 4 | 58% | — |
| 18 | Charleston Southern University Charleston, SCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 47% | $21,848 |
| 19 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MOPublicMaster's | 3 | 58% | — |
| 20 | Furman University Greenville, SCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 79% | $24,932 |
| 21 | Widener University Chester, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 68% | $29,049 |
| 22 | Worcester State University Worcester, MAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 61% | — |
| 23 | Capella University Minneapolis, MNPrivate for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 20% | $19,369 |
Offered in 13 states
Where Secondary 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 5 | 165 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke76 / yr |
| Ohio | 2 | 63 | University of Dayton47 / yr |
| Missouri | 3 | 35 | Missouri Valley College24 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 34 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania25 / yr |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 22 | Upper Valley Educators Institute22 / yr |
| West Virginia | 1 | 21 | Marshall University21 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 20 | McKendree University20 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 17 | Wayne State College17 / yr |
| South Carolina | 2 | 7 | Charleston Southern University4 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 7 | Rider University7 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 4 | Western Michigan University4 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1 | Worcester State University1 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 1 | Capella University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9032, Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Secondary School Administration/Principalship program typically pursue careers as Education Administrators for Kindergarten through Secondary levels. While the job outlook indicates a slight decline of 1.5%, there are approximately 20,800 annual openings, with a median wage of $104,070. A Master's degree is typically required for these positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 13.0409
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 Secondary 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
- Elementary and Middle School Administration/CIP 13.0408
Principalship 1,306 graduates / yr30 institutions - Superintendency and Educational System AdministrationCIP 13.04111,176 graduates / yr83 institutions
- Urban Education and LeadershipCIP 13.0410674 graduates / yr39 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 degree do I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, a Post-master's certificate, or a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and writing.
What are the job prospects after graduation?+
There are about 20,800 annual openings for education administrators, although the outlook shows a slight decline.
What is the typical salary for a principal?+
The median wage for education administrators is $104,070.
What is the CIP code for Secondary School Administration/Principalship?+
Secondary School Administration/Principalship is CIP 13.0409 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 junior high, secondary, or senior high school (7-12) levels and prepares individuals to serve as principals and masters of secondary schools. Includes instruction in secondary school education, program and facilities planning, budgeting and administration, public relations, human resources management, adolescent growth and development, counseling skills, applicable law and regulations, school safety, policy studies, and professional standards and ethics.
How many institutions offer Secondary School Administration/Principalship programs?+
23 U.S. institutions reported Secondary School Administration/Principalship graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 13 states, awarding 397 credentials in the year. That is 0.9% of all Educational Administration and Supervision graduates.
How much do Secondary 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 Secondary School Administration/Principalship most directly leads to, pays a median of $105,870 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card