Promising trends in student enrollment indicate that the demand for skilled professionals across higher education is increasing. Postsecondary and education institutions received in fall 2023, marking the in over a decade.
Here we鈥檒l explore the many job opportunities in higher education available, from teaching and advising to admissions, technology, marketing, and beyond. We鈥檒l also outline the skills and qualifications you need to succeed.
Why Consider a Career in Higher Education?听
Higher education jobs offer a wide range of meaningful career paths for those seeking purpose and long-term growth. Working in higher education can provide:
- Mission-driven environments focused on student success and community impact听
- Various听positions听in different fields听
- Opportunities for professional development and tuition benefits听
- Stability and career growth听
Career Opportunities in Higher Education听
Teaching听and听Academic Roles
A growing field with more competitive candidates requires a strategic approach to successfully navigate a career in academia.听This arm of higher education听operates听on two pillars: teaching and research.听
Teaching
These duties often evolve over time into more administrative roles, with tenure, for faculty seeking higher education leadership positions, such as department heads and deans.
- Professors,听instructors听and lecturers:听Teach courses, mentor听students听and conduct research
- Some begin teaching with a听master鈥檚 degree听at the instructor听level rank.听
- Advancement to the rank of professor 鈥� assistant,听associate听and full professor 鈥� requires a doctoral degree.听
- Adjunct professors:听Typically teach part-time and听work in their fields听
Research
The other pillar of academia resides in research. If you enjoy exploration and are committed to expanding knowledge for the benefit of scientists and the community at large, research is likely a great fit for you. Faculty often begin with very broad research interests that they refine as they progress in their academic careers. Typically, their dissertation is their most significant contribution to current literature.
Researchers also frequently identify within a specific paradigm: quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods. This identity is important for securing career opportunities that are a good match for the nature of the field and institutional orientations.
Administrative听and Support听Roles听
Careers in higher education administration provide a diverse range of opportunities for professionals seeking to support academic missions behind the scenes. Administrative roles keep colleges and universities running smoothly, shaping everything from student services to institutional operations. Many higher education job opportunities that aren鈥檛 directly academic-related fall under this umbrella. There are a multitude of exciting career pathways in areas like:
- Technology and digital learning:听Support everything from classroom technology for faculty to IT systems听or听digital course design听
- Marketing and communications:听Strategize with faculty,听administration听and enrollment teams to produce digital marketing strategies and brand assets, social media content, internal communications,听and more听
- Registrars听and听student records officers:听Manage enrollment data and academic records听
- Data analysis:听Support institutional decision-making through data听
- Human resources:听Manage听talent recruitment, training,听and development for faculty and staff听
- Finance and budget:听Work as accountants and budgeting specialists to support operations in areas like the bursar鈥檚 office,听philanthropy听and fundraising听
- 翱辫别谤补迟颈辞苍蝉:听Support everything on a college campus,听from groundskeeping听and听safety to transportation and maintenance听
These roles require strong organizational, communication and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to collaborate across departments. For individuals who enjoy strategic planning, data-driven decision-making and improving the student experience, higher education administrative and support roles offer a rewarding and impactful career path.
Admissions听and听Academic Advising听Roles听
Academic advisors and counselors play a crucial role in student success on a college campus. Many roles exist for qualified professionals to support students through their academic journeys. These roles can include:
- Admissions counselors:听Recruit students, evaluate听applications and host campus events听
- Enrollment advisors:听Guide听prospective students through application and enrollment processes听
- Financial aid specialists:听Help students manage financial aid processes and advise听students on their options听
- Career services professionals:听Support students with next steps after graduation听
- Academic advisors:听Monitor student听progress and plan coursework to reach their academic and professional goals听
- Student life coordinators:听Work closely with student clubs and organizations to plan activities and enhance engagement听
- Residence and housing positions:听Support essential elements like dining and residence halls,听which may also听include roles like director听or听supervisor听
Common听Education Requirements听for Higher Education Jobs听
Higher education institutions are complex and serve diverse student populations, which means the qualifications needed for careers in this field vary widely. Some roles require advanced degrees or specialized training, while others are accessible with a bachelor鈥檚 degree and relevant experience.
- 罢别补肠丑颈苍驳听补苍诲听谤别蝉别补谤肠丑:听For academic roles, master鈥檚 or doctoral degrees are often needed for听teaching,听research听and leadership听positions.听
- The degree level needed to begin teaching at the tertiary level varies, but most United听States听universities听require听a terminal degree, often a Ph.D., in the intended career field.
- Recent graduates from doctoral programs often go on to secure听postdoctoral research positions听as a preparatory track to full-time faculty positions.听These听roles听focus on researching and publishing to enhance their听skill sets and听expertise听for entry-level faculty positions, typically听at the assistant professor level.听
- Other requirements for academic faculty positions听often听include teaching philosophies, research听statements听and diversity statements.听听
- Administrative听and听support staff:听Many entry-level roles require at least a bachelor鈥檚 degree in a specialized area, like a B.S. in computer science for IT roles or a marketing degree for communications听positions.听
Certifications and professional development听can be beneficial in helping you stand out in specific areas. For example,听higher education听advising听professionals听might complete the certification offered by the National Academic Advising听Association听or听student affairs employees might earn听NASPA/ACPA听competencies.听
The higher education field provides ample avenues for advancement and is ready for professionals like you. Whether you鈥檙e starting fresh or seeking a new direction, higher learning provides a rewarding path forward for your next career move.
番茄视频 offers various flexible, affordable听education听programs听that support your career advancement in higher education, whether听you鈥檙e听new to the field or looking to听grow into听leadership听roles.
