Higher Education, EdM
Advance your career in higher education—on your schedule. Designed for working professionals, this fully online master’s degree equips you with the knowledge, skills and credentials to grow in the field you’re already building.
Lead With Confidence
Our online master’s degree in higher education is designed for professionals working in colleges, universities and related organizations who want to advance their careers. The 33-credit program is delivered entirely online, allowing you to build expertise in student success, organizational leadership, policy, diversity and assessment while continuing to work. Whether you work in academic affairs, student services, enrollment management, administration or a related field, this program provides the theoretical foundation and practical frameworks needed to lead with confidence.
Points of Distinction
Stay Current in Your Field: You’ll engage with key professional organizations, current issues and emerging trends in higher education through course readings, industry journals, guest speakers and online discussions—all integrated into your coursework without requiring you to step away from work.
Apply Learning Directly to Your Practice: The curriculum is designed for immediate professional relevance. Each course connects theory to real-world application, allowing you to bring your current workplace experiences into the classroom and take new frameworks back to your institution.
Learn Alongside Peers Who Share Your Path: Your cohort will include fellow higher education professionals from across institutions and roles. This peer network becomes a lasting professional community—one that reflects the diversity of the field you work in.
Program Overview
| Academic credential granted | Master of Education (EdM) |
|---|---|
| Credits required for completion | 33 |
| Time to completion | Approximately 2 years, part time |
| Course delivery | Online |
| Application deadline | Fall admission only Priority: May 15 Final: Aug. 10 |
Our 33-credit-hour higher education EdM program is delivered fully online and designed to be completed part time over approximately two years. The sequence below reflects the recommended progression through the program.
Fall 1
- ELP 501 Higher Education in the U.S.
- ELP 509 American College Student
Winter 1
- ELP 516 Student Affairs Administration
Spring 1
- ELP 514 Student Development Theory
- ELP 533 College Student Successd
Summer 1
- ELP 505 Organization and Governance
- ELP 513 Cultural Diversity
Fall 2
- ELP 507 Financing Higher Education
- ELP 520 Counseling for Student Affairs
Spring 2
- ELP 526 Program Evaluation and Assessment
- ELP 697 Multicultural Competence
You must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
Submit your completed online application, which includes:
- Application fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB’s ePayment system.
- Two references who will each be asked to provide an electronic recommendation letter.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. (UB transcripts are automatically submitted for current UB students and alumni.)
- Resume
- Statement of educational and career goals:
- What qualities, characteristics and skills do you possess that make you a strong candidate for the higher education EdM program?
- How does this program relate to your current professional role and future career goals?
Former/Maiden Name: Please provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.
Admission Decision: The admission decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
In-State Residency Tuition
To qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you must provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months before your semester start date.
If accepted, you will need to upload three documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application for more information.
International Applicant Additional Requirements
- Official original proof of your degree
- A copy of your passport biographical page
- Official test scores—dated within two years of submitting your application—for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Test, the PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic, or DET (Duolingo English Test).
- TOEFL minimum score is 250 for the computer-based test, 600 for the paper-based test and 4 for the internet-based test (1–6 grading scale). For scores before 2026, the minimum internet-based test score is 79.
- IELTS Academic Test minimum score is 6.5 overall
- PTE minimum score is 55 overall
- DET minimum score is 120 overall
- Financial documentation: International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
- An official bank statement
All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application and dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
Our graduates are already working in higher education. This degree helps you advance and grow in roles across:
- Academic advising
- Admissions and enrollment management
- Career services
- Diversity, equity and inclusion offices
- Leadership development and student engagement
- Multicultural and identity-based student services
- Orientation and new student programs
- Residence life and student housing
- Student affairs administration
- Student wellness and counseling support services