Master's in School Administration
Earn your master's degree in school administration online in as little as two years. No entrance exam required.
Online Master's in School Administration
Every school needs a leader, and we're here to help you fulfill that role. With an online master's degree in school administration from Wayne State College, you'll be well prepared for a career in educational administration. Our online graduate courses for school administration will help prepare you for leadership roles such as principal, assistant principal, or director. Course concepts include administration and leadership, school law, finances and facilities, supervision and instruction, and school organization. You'll then solidify your skills by participating in a practical internship arranged cooperatively with Wayne State College.

No. 1 in Nebraska; No. 11 in the U.S.
Cheapest Online Colleges, 2022
Intelligent.com

Cheapest Online Colleges, 2022
No. 1 in Nebraska; No. 11 in the U.S.
Intelligent.com
Intelligent.com ranked Wayne State College as No. 11 in the U.S. in the category of cheapest online colleges and universities for 2022. For their 2022 online degree report, Intelligent.com reviewed over 250 institutions to determine which schools were the most affordable based on the cost-per-credit tuition rates. Tuition rates vary based on degree level, and not all schools offer all types of degrees. The list includes community colleges, which only offer associate degrees, as well as four-year institutions that grant bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Schools on the list also have regional accreditation, which assures a high standard of quality.
In addition to cost, they evaluated these colleges on the basis of reputation, faculty, flexibility, and course strength. They then calculated the Intelligent Score for each school on a scale from 0 to 100.
Learn more about our online degree programs.

No. 4 in the U.S.
Best Master's in Education Administration, 2022
Intelligent.com

Best Master's in Education Administration, 2022
No. 4 in the U.S.
Intelligent.com
Intelligent.com ranked Wayne State College as No. 4 in the U.S. for the best master's degree in education administration for 2022. For their 2022 online degree report, Intelligent.com researched over 2,900 colleges and universities, evaluating each program on the basis of flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation. Schools on the list must also be accredited by national accreditors such as the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Learn more about our online master's in school administration

No. 1 in Nebraska; No. 18 in the U.S.
Top Online Master's in Educational Administration, 2021
TopEducationDegrees.com

Top Online Master's in Educational Administration, 2021
No. 1 in Nebraska; No. 18 in the U.S.
TopEducationDegrees.com
Wayne State College's online master's degree in school administration was recently ranked No. 1 in Nebraska and No. 18 overall in the U.S. by Top Education Degrees. To come up with the ranking, they compiled a list every university offering a master’s degree in Educational Administration which can be completed entirely online. We then narrowed down our list to just the 20 best by focusing on the points-based ranking system. In the event of a tie in points, the program with the lower annual out-of-state tuition cost in the higher-ranking position.
The Top Education Degrees’ mission is to provide the facts students need to find the degree programs that best suit their personal career goals. Their goal is to educate prospective students about everything they need to know as they embark on their dream educational careers.

No. 5 in the U.S.
Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees
Great Value Colleges

Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees
No. 5 in the U.S.
Great Value Colleges
A master’s degree can mean as much as $400,000 in extra earnings over the course of a career compared to holders of bachelor’s degrees. Being able to earn that degree on a budget and at your own schedule while continuing to meet personal and professional responsibilities is a marvel of the modern era. These rankings were based on tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, and national recognition. View our online master's degrees.

No. 1 in the U.S.
Best College for Educational Leadership Degree Programs, 2018-19
Schools.com

Best College for Educational Leadership Degree Programs, 2018-19
No. 1 in the U.S.
Schools.com
Wayne State College has earned the distinction of having the best educational leadership degree programs in the U.S. for 2018-19. If you're passionate about education and feel that your strengths would be best used in the upper tiers of administration, educational leadership degree programs are your stepping stone to the next level. Training in educational leadership can give you the skills you need to provide the best experience possible for your students, staff and teachers. Criteria used in ranking the top educational administration programs included tuition and fees, graduation rate, accessibility, student-to-faculty ratio, size of the program, and more.

No. 15 in the U.S.
Best Online Master's in Educational Administration, 2019
OnlineMasters.com

Best Online Master's in Educational Administration, 2019
No. 15 in the U.S.
OnlineMasters.com
OnlineMasters.com, a trusted source for unbiased college rankings and higher education planning, has ranked Wayne State College’s online master’s in school administration at 15th in the U.S for 2019. The top-ranked programs were selected based on curriculum, program flexibility, affordability, and graduate outcomes. OnlineMasters.com analyzed graduate schools across the country with only the top 50 making it to the final 2019 list.
In addition to interviews and surveys from current students and alumni, they also leveraged insight gained from human resource professionals. The methodology incorporates the most recent data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and statistical data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Most importantly, only programs from accredited nonprofit institutions were eligible.
- No entrance exams required
- Complete the program in as little as two years or extend up to 10
- 100% online
- Accredited
- Nationally-ranked program
School Administration Master's Degree Curriculum
Wayne State College offers a variety of different school administration master's degree and endorsement programs for careers in educational administration. You and your advisor will collaborate in the development of a program of study that best fits your interests and career path.
Curriculum for master's degree, or certificate of advanced study (non-degree):
School Administration 7-12 (12 courses, 36 hours)
School Administration (PK-8) (12 courses, 36 hours)
School Administration (PK-12) (15 courses, 45 hours)
Athletic Administration Focus Area (optional add-on with 3-6 extra hours)
Special Education Supervision Focus Area (optional add-on with 0-3 extra hours)
School Administration Certification
In Nebraska, you may be certified as a principal at the PK-8 or 7-12 level. Iowa requires a PK-12 endorsement to be certified as a principal. If you are in another state, you should check with your school administrator licensing agency to see which endorsement is required. To be eligible for administrator certification in Nebraska, you must have a master's degree in education and two years of verified successful teaching experience. If you are seeking certification for the first time in Nebraska, you may be required to complete additional course work in human relations and special education.
Initial Certification:
Upon degree or endorsement completion, you'll contact the WSC Certification Officer to process the application of an administrative and supervisory certificate with the added endorsement of Principal. The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) may impose requirements for certification beyond your program of study at WSC, including the receipt of a passing score on the ETS Praxis II exam Educational Leadership Administration and Supervision. Our program of study is designed to prepare you for such a test, but performance on that test may depend on many issues beyond the control of our department including but not limited to prior professional educational knowledge, teaching and administrative experiences, test-taking skills, and the candidate’s retention of course material. Typically, the Nebraska Administrative and Supervisory Certificate will be good for a period of five years.
Renewal of Certificate
Renewal of an administrative certificate will require successful experience as an administrator. If you have not succesfully completed experience as an administrator at the time of renewal, an additional six (6) graduate credit hours will be required by NDE. Students who have completed a P-8 or 7-12 degree may want to consider taking the additional 9 hours to advance their endorsement to the P-12 level prior to certificate renewal to meet NDE’s renewal requirements.
School Administration Endorsement Programs
If you already have a master's degree in education from an accredited institution, you may be certified by completing an endorsement program that does not lead to an additional degree. If you have not previously completed a master's degree program, you will be required to take one of the MSE degree program options for school administration.
- PK-8 (36 hours)
- 7-12 (36 hours)
- PK-12 (45 hours)
Extending an Endorsement
If you've already completed a PK-8 or 7-12 school administration degree, you may extend your endorsement to the PK-12 level by completing one of the endorsement options.
- PK-8 (9 hours)
- 7-12 (9 hours)
Transfer Credit
A maximum of 18 graduate credits, subject to evaluation by the Dean of Education and Counseling, may be transferred from another regionally accredited graduate institution and applied toward a degree. Graduate credit accepted must meet a minimum course grade of B and be an appropriate substitute for courses in a WSC program. Credit that has been applied toward a previously earned degree will not be accepted, except for the 9 credit hours that are a part of the professional education core. All classes within an MSE degree program must fit into a 10-year timeframe for degree completion.
Program Fast Facts
Degree offered:
Master of Science in Education (MSE)
Costs (2020-21 Tuition):
$380 per credit hour
See cost calculator
Credit hours required:
Degree or certificate: 36-45
Endorsement only: 9
Delivery Method: Fully Online
Accreditation:
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Nebraska Department of Education
Licensing and Certification: Wayne State academic programs are designed to prepare students for licensure or certification in Nebraska. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Nebraska, please check that state's licensing board to determine their licensing requirements. Authorization may be required from them prior to beginning a clinical or field experience in that state. Learn more.
Earn your degree in as little as two years. Need more time? That's okay, too. Our program is flexible and can be extended up to 10 years.
Next start dates:
July 12, 2021
5 weeks, summer term
Registration opens Mar. 29, 2021.
Aug. 23, 2021
14 weeks, fall term
Registration opens Mar. 29, 2021.
Jan. 10, 2022
14 weeks, spring term
Registration opens Nov. 8, 2021.
May 16, 2022
3, 8, or 13 weeks summer term
Registration opens Mar. 28, 2022.
June 6, 2022
5 weeks, summer term
Registration opens Mar. 28, 2022.
July 11, 2022
5 weeks, summer term
Registration opens Mar. 28, 2022.
Need more information?
For questions about the program, please contact:
Dr. Michael Sieh
Assistant Professor of Education
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 402-375-7185
Admission Requirements
Before applying, make sure you meet the admission criteria and hold a valid teaching certificate.
Ready to Apply?
You must first apply for admission to Graduate Studies before admittance into the School Administration Program.