Educational leadership
Master of Education
Leading beyond the classroom
Today’s schools and districts need forward-thinking leaders — educators with the vision, passion and skills to drive meaningful change. University of Idaho’s educational leadership M.Ed. is designed to prepare you for these essential roles.
The American education system has a critical need for educational leaders and is experiencing significant shortages of principals and superintendents, particularly in states with higher rural populations. According to research from the Wallace Foundation, leadership ranks second only to teaching in influencing student learning.
Whether your goal is to become a principal (M.Ed.), program administrator or to deepen your leadership as a classroom educator, this program offers the knowledge, research foundation and real-world tools to make a lasting impact. You'll gain insight to shape policy, guide institutional improvement and elevate student outcomes at the local, state and national levels.
Our program is CAEP certified and is aligned with state certification requirements for administrative licensure, providing you with a direct pathway to leadership roles.
We’ve also partnered with school districts and communities across Idaho to offer convenient cohort models, making it easier for working educators to pursue advanced degrees without having to step away from the classroom. These partnerships ensure that learning is rooted in practical application, directly benefiting the communities we serve.
An online graduate degree in educational leadership offers a direct pathway to leadership roles, allowing working educators to maintain their current positions.
Educational leaders’ salaries represent a significant earning potential above teaching salaries, and many districts provide advanced degree stipends that continue throughout an educator’s entire career.
Overview
Related Topics
Lead the future of education
Application information
Applicants for the M.Ed. program must meet the following degree-specific admission requirements:
- Education level: Bachelor's
- GPA: 3.0
- GRE: No
- TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo: 79/6.5/115 (for applicants whose education was completed in countries where English is not an official language)
- Number of References: Three
- Other requirements: Yes
- Writing sample: Provide one professional sample (thesis, journal article, term paper or handbook, etc.) previously completed by you.
- Letters of recommendation: Demonstrated support for your potential as an eventual school administrator is one of the criteria for admission into the Educational Leadership Program. Please include at least one Letter of Recommendation from a recent supervisor such as a principal or superintendent.
Program availability
- Concentration: Non-thesis
- Semester intake: Spring, Fall, Summer
- Not eligible for international students who require F-1 or J-1 visa status
- Deadlines: General application deadlines
Visit Graduate Admissions to learn more and start your application.
Contact information
Leadership and Counseling contact: Bethani Studebaker (bstudebaker@uidaho.edu)
Graduate Admissions contact: graduateadmissions@uidaho.edu, 208-885-4001
Tuition and fees
To learn how you can fund your graduate degree, check out the Graduate Funding page.
Visit Financial Aid to find detailed information about the cost of attendance.
Degree fit
This program could be a good fit if you:
- Aspire to become a school principal, assistant principal, charter school leader or district-level administrator.
- Are passionate about influencing policy, strengthening instructional practice and supporting teachers and staff to achieve shared goals.
- Are committed to equity and social justice.
- Desire to move beyond the classroom to create system-wide impact.
- Possess a collaborative mindset for working with diverse stakeholders.
- Have an academic and professional background in education and are ready to grow into a leadership role in a public, charter or private school setting.
- Envision yourself guiding school improvement and fostering a culture of equity, inclusion and student success.
- Possess strong leadership and communication skills
- Desire a flexible program designed for working educators who want to earn a graduate degree without stepping away from the classroom.
- Are motivated to create lasting change in Idaho’s schools and communities — and beyond.
Career outcomes
Current job openings
739 in ID, WA, OR, MT and HIPotential careers and mid-career salaries
- Education Administrators for Elementary and Secondary Schools
$132,202 - Education Administrators for Preschool and Childcare Programs
$56,658 - Postsecondary Education Administrators
$104,984
* Career data provided by Lightcast.