Quick Highlights
- A Master’s in Higher Education is built specifically for university administration, covering enrollment management, student affairs and higher ed finance and law.
- An MBA is a general business degree that transfers management and finance skills into higher ed but without sector-specific coursework.
- Choose the M.S. in Higher Education for a higher ed-specific track and the MBA if you want mobility across industries.
If your target is a functional leadership role inside a college or university, Arkansas State University (A-State) offers an online M.S. in Higher Education program. It is built around that path specifically, and all 11 courses are required rather than chosen from electives.
What Each Degree Actually Covers
An M.S. in Higher Education is a sector-specific degree. Coursework covers:
- Higher education law and finance
- Enrollment management
- Student personnel services
- Assessment, accreditation and accountability
The program is built around how colleges and universities actually operate. It is directed by Dr. Rick Stripling, a former vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management with 40 years in the field, who describes his teaching as interpreting “textbook philosophy to show how it really works in higher education.” He has mentored more than 14 vice chancellors and presidents.
An MBA is a general management degree. Coursework covers:
- Finance
- Accounting
- Marketing
- Operations
- Organizational behavior
There is no higher ed-specific content unless the program offers a higher ed concentration, which most general MBAs do not.
Key Insight
Neither degree is inherently better. The M.S. in Higher Education is the more targeted credential for someone staying inside higher ed; the MBA is the more portable credential for someone who wants management skills that transfer to other industries. Search committees for higher ed administration roles do not treat one as a downgrade of the other, but they do notice sector-specific coursework on a resume for higher ed-specific roles.
Decision Matrix: Which Fits Your University Administration Track
Do university administrators need a doctorate, or is a master’s enough? For most director-level and functional leadership roles, either the M.S. in Higher Education or an MBA plus experience is enough. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that provosts and deans often need a doctorate, so the bar rises at the academic leadership tier.
| If You Want To… | Better-Fit Degree | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Move up inside enrollment, student affairs or the registrar’s office | M.S. in Higher Education | Coursework maps directly to the systems you already work in |
| Move into a business, finance or operations role on a campus | MBA | Transferable finance and management training that fits business-side campus roles |
| Keep career options open outside higher ed | MBA | Widely recognized across industries, not sector-specific |
| Build credibility for a dean or vice president track | M.S. in Higher Education, then possibly a doctorate | Sector-specific coursework plus a clear path to a higher ed-focused Ed.D. |
Explore A-State’s online M.S. in Higher Education to see all 11 required courses. The program is 33 credit hours at $350 per credit hour, $11,550 in total with all fees included, and it runs in as few as 12 months with no thesis or capstone. These figures reflect published program details as of August 2026 and are subject to change; confirm current tuition, credit hours and admission requirements directly with A-State. U.S. News & World Report rated Arkansas State among its Best Online Master’s in Education Programs for 2026.
Career Outcomes: Where Each Degree Leads
A-State publishes eight career outcomes for the M.S. in Higher Education, including Director of Enrollment Management, Registrar, Director of Financial Aid, Dean of Student Advising and Director of Student Housing. A general MBA more often leads to campus roles tied to finance, operations or advancement, or gets used to move between higher education and other industries. A-State’s own online MBA program is accredited by AACSB International and publishes General Manager, Director of Operations and Director among its outcomes.
Neither degree guarantees a specific title, raise or promotion. Review the actual job postings for the role you want next and check which degree, if either, is listed as a requirement rather than a preference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get an EdD or an MBA to lead a college or university?
For most college and university leadership tracks below the president level, a higher ed-specific master’s or doctorate carries more weight than an MBA, since search committees expect sector-specific experience and coursework.
Do university administrators need a doctorate, or is a master’s enough?
A master’s, whether an M.S. in Higher Education or an MBA, is enough for most director-level and functional leadership roles. A doctorate matters mainly at the provost or president level.
Is an MBA useful in higher education administration?
Yes, particularly for campus roles tied to finance, operations or advancement. For enrollment, student affairs and registrar roles, sector-specific coursework is the more direct preparation.
Can I switch from higher ed to a business career with an MBA?
Yes. An MBA is a widely recognized, portable credential across industries, which makes it a better fit than an M.S. in Higher Education if you want to keep options open outside higher ed.
Does a Master’s in Higher Education prepare you for both student affairs and academic-side roles?
Yes. Programs like A-State’s M.S. in Higher Education typically cover both institution-facing functions, such as enrollment management and finance, and student-facing functions, such as advising and student personnel services.
Key Takeaways
- A Master’s in Higher Education is sector-specific; an MBA is a general management degree.
- Choose the M.S. in Higher Education for enrollment, student affairs or registrar tracks; choose an MBA for business-side campus roles or cross-industry mobility.
- A doctorate matters mainly at the provost or president level, not for most director-level roles.
- Neither degree guarantees a specific title, raise or promotion; check actual job postings for your target role.
If you already know you want to build a career in higher education, the sector-specific coursework found in an M.S. in Higher Education is the more direct path. If you want to keep your options open across industries, the MBA’s general management training travels further.
Explore Arkansas State University’s online M.S. in Higher Education to see which track fits the university administration role you’re targeting.