Turn Your Passion for Education Into School-Wide Leadership
Master of Education in Educational Leadership (K-12)
Lead With Confidence, Learn In Community
Lehigh University’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership (K-12) degree gives you the space and support to develop your leadership skills alongside a cohort of educators who know what it means to lead with pragmatism and purpose.
Join us on campus for a hybrid experience or connect through fully online classes paired with live sessions.
In this master’s in educational leadership program, you will:
- Develop skills in organizational leadership, data-based decision making and building inclusive learning environments
- Create policies and foster learning environments where students and educators thrive
- Engage with research that informs real-world practice in schools
- Turn your years of working with students into the foundation for school-wide leadership
- Have the option to add Pennsylvania Principal Certification to your coursework
The Education Master’s That Respects Your Reality
The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (K-12) is designed to fit with your other responsibilities, such as full-time work and care giving. If you want dedicated time on campus to connect with peers and focus on your growth as a leader, our hybrid option gives you that space.
Join a Community of Educators That Get It
Our supportive faculty bring both research expertise and real-world school leadership experience to the classroom. Your peers are educators from Pennsylvania and beyond who understand the reality of showing up for students, family, staff and yourself.
These are the people who share in your challenges and successes and wholeheartedly support your growth as a leader.
To learn more about the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (K-12) at Lehigh University College of Education and download a brochure, please fill out the form. You can also talk one-on-one with an enrollment specialist directly by calling (610) 215-2867 or emailing us at edprograms@lehigh.edu.
Expected Program Outcomes
Why Choose Lehigh’s Educational Leadership Program
- Complete your master’s degree while working full time: Finish in as little as 1.5 years with a schedule built for educators
- Learn how to lead effective schools from outstanding instructors: Educational leaders and researchers translate the latest research into practical strategies you can apply in your school.
- Build skills that transfer across education settings: Whether you want to lead a school, work at the district level, shape education policy or bring curriculum expertise to the private sector
- Flexibility to fit your life: Choose hybrid or fully online for your modality, and complete courses at a part-time or full-time pace
- Discount for PA educators: We offer a 15% Pennsylvania Educator Tuition Incentive.
25% more affordable
Lehigh’s M.Ed. in Educational Leadership is a best-value investment: You’ll pay just $19,800 in total tuition, which is 25% more affordable on average than comparable programs.
Hybrid or Fully Online: It’s Your Choice
Hybrid Option
FORMAT: Live online sessions, one evening per week in fall and spring semesters | Courses on Lehigh’s Bethlehem, PA, campus during summer sessions
START DATES: Fall, spring and summer
BEST FOR: Pennsylvania educators who want dedicated time on campus to build their network, step away from daily routines and connect in person
Online Option
FORMAT: Live online sessions, one evening per week
START DATES: Fall, spring, and summer
BEST FOR: Educators who need maximum flexibility but still want real-time interaction with faculty and peers
Need help deciding? Talk to an enrollment specialist at (610) 215-2867.
“We want our students to be prepared to make a difference in the positions that they’re going to step into. That’s why we’ve invested in the quality of our program, our instruction and taking the time to get to know our students.”
Brian Osborne, Professor of Practice and Program Director in the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
Optional Pennsylvania Principal Certification Program
In 2025, there were more than 15,000 principal job postings nationwide and nearly 500 in Pennsylvania alone, according to the labor database Lightcast.
You can add our Pennsylvania Principal Certification to your M.Ed. and position yourself for these leadership roles. This state-recognized credential qualifies you for principal, assistant principal and district-level positions in Pennsylvania.
The add-on:
- 10 additional credit hours (must complete on campus during fall/summer sessions)
- Two principalship courses with internships
- Meets PA Department of Education certification requirements
3,300
It is expected that there will be 3,300 job openings for elementary, middle school and high school principals between 2022 and 2032.
— U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Career Opportunities With a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership
Education needs talented, compassionate leaders at every level. Here are some of the roles that graduates can pursue.
Gain the skills to:
- Lead organizations and manage change
- Set goals for student achievement
- Make data-driven decisions
- Foster a collaborative professional community
- Continually reflect on and refine your leadership practices
Gain the skills to:
- Make data-driven decisions
- Develop district policies that account for fiscal and administrative needs
- Monitor revenue, staffing and operational trends
Gain the skills to:
- Supervise and evaluate instructional practices
- Track student progress
- Develop institutional policies that account for fiscal and administrative needs
Gain the skills to:
- Make data-driven decisions
- Develop institutional policies that account for fiscal and administrative needs
- Create inclusive plans and programs that meet the diverse needs of all learners
Gain the skills to:
- Make analytics-driven decisions
- Allocate school resources effectively
- Monitor revenue, staffing and operational trends
Gain the skills to:
- Lead organizations and manage change
- Make data-driven decisions
- Understand the fiscal and administrative factors that shape school policies
- Continually reflect on and refine your leadership practices
Gain the skills to:
- Lead organizations and manage change
- Make data-driven decisions
Gain the skills to:
- Continually reflect on and refine your leadership practices
- Ensure curricula align with learning outcomes
- Lead organizations and manage change
Gain the skills to:
- Ensure curricula align with learning outcomes
- Make analytics-driven decisions
- Allocate resources effectively
The Pennsylvania Educator Tuition Incentive provides a
15% discount
on up to 18 credits per year. This reduces the tuition rate to $561 per credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership can prepare professionals for a number of roles in schools, nonprofit organizations and the private sector. The optional Principalship Certification may lead to additional opportunities as a principal, assistant principal or district-level leadership.
Here are just a few of the roles you can pursue with an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, along with their corresponding median annual salaries:
- Education administrator, kindergarten through secondary ($103,773)
- Post-secondary education administrator ($103,717)
- Fundraising manager ($123,349)
Source: Lightcast, a leading labor market analytics firm
A master’s in educational leadership is a versatile degree for anyone interested in education, providing comprehensive training to leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (K-12) students can also choose to pursue an optional 10-credit Principalship Certification and work toward their Pennsylvania Principal Certification.
Yes. The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (K-12) program was designed to be completed while you work.
Yes. You may enroll in the Principal Certification coursework, but it must be taken in person.
Yes, you can shorten your time to degree completion if you have relevant prior graduate-level credits. We recommend you talk with an enrollment specialist at (610) 215-2867 for details on your specific credit situation.
Yes, we offer a Pennsylvania Educator Tuition Incentive. Students who hold a Pennsylvania teaching certification through the Pennsylvania Department of Education receive a 15% discount on up to 18 credits per year. This reduces the tuition rate to $561 per credit.
What’s Next for You?
You’re clearly thinking seriously about your next step in educational leadership. Here are a few ways to keep exploring:
- Read about the possible career paths open to you
- Explore the courses you’ll take
- Talk one-on-one with an enrollment specialist — call (610) 215-2867 or email edprograms@lehigh.edu to schedule a call.
