At a Glance

  • 100% online coursework
  • Hands-on capstone with mentorship component
  • Pursue an optional internship at our New York City or Westchester campus
  • Curriculum in alignment with NASPA competencies
  • Expert faculty with decades of experience

Apply Now

  • Next Start Date: N/A*
  • Application Deadline: N/A

*Course start and end dates as well as withdrawal deadlines vary for the summer term based on which courses you plan to register for. Please contact an academic advisor for exact dates that are specific to your academic plan.

Whether you are currently employed in higher education or an aspiring practitioner, the 100% online Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs provides students with the know-how to strategically shape university policies in ways that encourage an accessible and resourceful academic culture.

Ranked as one of the Best Online Education programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, our curriculum was designed to address contemporary topics in higher education and student affairs. Online MA HEASA students gain in-depth knowledge of the structures, policies and legal issues faced by higher education leaders. Pace University designed these practical elements of its program to align with the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) competencies for the field of student affairs, empowering graduates with skills they can immediately apply to their careers.

Students in the program also develop the critical thinking and research skills required to understand how institutional structures, policies, and practices impact the decisions students from varying socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds make throughout their academic journey.

Program Benefits

  • Unique Learning Atmosphere
    The accessibility of online learning from a University that encompasses residential, urban-commuter, and online undergraduate, graduate, and professional certificate students.
  • Student Affairs-Based Curriculum
    Understand the theory and practice to admitting, enrolling, supporting, and maintaining a diverse and successful student body.
  • Experienced Practitioners
    Study with senior university leaders, faculty, and experts with decades of experience working with a wide variety of institutions, programs, and students.
  • A Century of Student Success
    Since 1906, Pace University has been providing innovative, applied curricula to a highly diverse student body, making Pace one of the top private colleges in the country for social mobility.
  • Same Quality as On-Campus
    Online students receive the same degree and support services as all of our on-campus students. From before they begin the program through graduation, students are provided with access to specialized orientation sessions and dedicated advisors.
  • No GMAT or GRE
    Accessible to working professionals from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds.
Hear directly from Hailey, an MA in HEASA graduate, about her experience in the program and how the curriculum has impacted her career.
Get Started

Request
Information

To learn more about the MA in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs, fill out the fields in this form to download a free brochure. If you have any questions at any time, please contact an admission advisor at (866) 843-7201.

Pace University has engaged AllCampus to help support your educational journey. AllCampus will contact you shortly in response to your request for information. About AllCampus. Privacy Policy. You may opt out of receiving communications at any time.

* All Fields are Required. Your Privacy is Protected. Are you enrolling from outside the US? Click here.

Future-Focused Program Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be well-prepared to address the growing challenges that universities face such as the need to balance cost efficiency and student outcomes and increasing pressure to develop rigorous assessment strategies. In their studies, they will gain confidence in their ability to meet performance objectives set forth by accreditation and government bodies.

MA HEASA students critically analyze the historical and social forces affecting underrepresented populations in higher education in order to develop an inclusive academic culture. The organizational decision-making responsibilities these professionals will be responsible for balance student engagement, retention, and operational efficiency. Graduates have the opportunity to develop their skills to fulfill these institutional needs and requirements with care and consideration for a large population of learners and educators.

The experienced program faculty come together from across the University to guide students through retention and development theories, the economics and finance of higher education, and the current legal issues and implications leadership must consider. These seasoned administrators are adept at providing students with a practical application of what it means to create a living learning community.

Who Can Benefit?

No matter your location or professional background, MA HEASA students share one goal: to build future higher education leaders.

The program welcomes students seeking to enter the field, and bring a unique viewpoint to its challenges and opportunities. It is also well-suited for current higher education professionals who wish to expand their knowledge and advance their careers. Students from all backgrounds will have opportunities to examine the structures and fields within higher education and learn strategies for engaging and retaining students.

Postsecondary education administrators make an average annual salary of $94,340.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

The program focuses on the higher education system within the US and benefits from the perspectives of international students in understanding the successes and challenges of the American system.

94% – The percentage of Pace University master’s degree graduates who are employed or are continuing their education (2018).

Get a glimpse of a typical day with Kate as she balances her responsibilities as a full-time student support specialist and student in the online MA in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs program.