Online EdS in Higher Education | Community College Administration

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Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Available Fall 2026

Strengthen Leadership Skills for Community College Administration with Liberty’s Online EdS in Higher Education Administration

Community colleges play a major role in workforce development, transfer preparation, continuing education, and local student access. Because these institutions often support learners with varied educational goals, administrators regularly balance enrollment demands, campus operations, academic priorities, and community partnerships. Liberty’s Education Specialist (EdS) in Higher Education Administration – Community College Administration examines how leadership decisions influence student support, organizational direction, and institutional effectiveness across 2-year colleges.

Within this community college leadership program, you can explore governance structures, educational planning, and operational decision-making tied to postsecondary institutions. Your coursework will also address how administrators respond to policy changes, accreditation expectations, and financial pressures affecting junior colleges and technical colleges. Through Liberty’s online Education Specialist degree, you can study how campus leaders guide institutional priorities while supporting both students and faculty. These topics can provide additional perspective on how administrators respond to evolving higher education environments.

Many professionals seek to pursue advanced study while continuing to serve within postsecondary education settings. For that reason, Liberty’s online format can be especially helpful for working adults seeking higher education leadership training without stepping away from current responsibilities. You can examine topics connected to student development, organizational communication, and resource planning while remaining active in your professional environment. This Education Specialist degree also explores how leadership approaches affect community college student success across open-access institutions.

For students enrolling today, who are placed on the current academic year’s degree completion plan, the officially conferred degree name will be Education Specialist (EdS) in Higher Education Administration – Community College Administration. Degree details, including name, may be subject to change between academic terms.

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600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose a Community College Leadership Degree?

Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and our online programs are designed to support accessible postgraduate education. Because this EdS in community college leadership is offered 100% online with no set login times, you can pursue postgraduate study while continuing to balance professional and personal responsibilities. To uphold the highest standards, Liberty University focuses on hiring seasoned faculty with advanced degrees and years of real-world experience in the field. Their insight helps connect theory to modern challenges in higher education administration, allowing you to learn practical applications as you move throughout our community college-focused EdS program.

Students within Liberty’s School of Education have access to digital research tools, academic support resources, and scholarly databases connected to education and leadership topics. Through the Jerry Falwell Library, you can access peer-reviewed education journals, research publications, and online materials tied to student development, institutional effectiveness, and organizational leadership. These resources can support academic inquiry related to higher education administration and postsecondary operations. Access to online databases also allows you to explore current discussions affecting colleges and universities across the country.

This postsecondary-focused curriculum emphasizes thoughtful leadership and applied educational study. Rather than focusing only on broad administrative theory, coursework examines how leaders respond to operational concerns, student engagement needs, and institutional priorities within 2-year colleges. If you are seeking a community college leadership degree connected to program director education or are considering leadership roles in academic affairs, Liberty’s program offers postgraduate study tied directly to educational administration. Faculty-guided coursework also encourages examination of ethical leadership practices within higher education environments.

What Will You Study in Our Online EdS in Higher Education Administration – Community College Administration Degree?

Leadership within community colleges requires awareness of institutional mission, organizational structure, and student populations. In Liberty’s online higher education degree with a community college specialization, you can study governance systems, leadership approaches, and campus administration connected to open-access institutions. Coursework also examines how social, economic, and political influences continue shaping the role of community colleges within higher education. These discussions can provide additional perspective on how educational leaders respond to changing institutional expectations.

Additionally, our coursework addresses budgeting, operational priorities, and institutional resource management. You can explore how administrators align staffing decisions, financial planning, and campus services with organizational goals and student needs. This EdS in community college administration degree examines how resource planning influences academic programs, student support efforts, and institutional operations across 2-year colleges. Attention is also given to historical developments that continue affecting higher education administration today.

Student persistence and engagement remain another major focus within Liberty’s curriculum. You can examine support practices connected to adult learners, first-generation students, and underrepresented student populations within community college environments. For professionals like you pursuing advanced preparation in community college administration, these topics can provide additional insight into how leadership decisions affect campus culture and student experiences. Coursework will also explore how administrators encourage organizational effectiveness while responding to institutional and community expectations.

Potential Community College Career Opportunities

Featured Community College Leadership Courses

Course Format

We offer both 8-week and full-semester sub-terms each semester. While many online courses can be taken in the 8-week format, some programs require courses that must be taken in the full-semester term. Some courses may require additional approvals or information prior to registration.

In addition to these formats, some courses may be required to be taken in intensive or alternative formats, which may include scheduled meeting times, travel to campus, or required login sessions.

You can view specific sub-term offerings and requirements in the Course Registration Tool.

Degree Information

Degree Completion Plan coming soon

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

EdS and EdD Full Time	$610/Credit
EdS and EdD Part Time	$675/Credit
Military EdS and EdD	$375/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Admission Information for Liberty University’s Education Specialist for Community College Administration

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.

Transcript Policies

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $375 per credit hour for EdS and EdD courses
8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

View Military Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions About Online EdS – Community College Administration Degree Programs

How do you become a community college administrator?

Administrative professionals within community colleges often begin in advising, enrollment, instruction, or student services positions before moving into leadership roles. Many institutions also prefer candidates who have advanced education connected to higher education administration and campus operations. Liberty’s EdS in Higher Education Administration – Community College Administration examines topics tied to governance, organizational planning, student support, and educational leadership within postsecondary settings to help you prepare for these roles. Professional expectations can still vary depending on institution, position level, and prior administrative experience.

What is the difference between an EdS and an EdD in community college administration?

An Education Specialist degree is a post-master’s credential focused on advanced professional study, while a Doctor of Education (EdD) is a doctoral degree that typically includes a larger research component. Liberty’s onlineEducation Specialist (EdS) in Higher Education Administration – Community College Administration emphasizes leadership, administration, and applied educational topics connected to postsecondary environments. Professionals seeking doctoral-level specialization without committing to a full doctoral degree sometimes consider an EdS as an alternative academic option. Degree selection often depends on professional goals, research interests, and institutional expectations.

What degree do you need to become a community college president?

Leadership requirements for community college presidents differ across institutions and state systems. Many executive-level positions prefer candidates with advanced education connected to higher education leadership, organizational management, or educational policy. Through Liberty’s community college administration specialist program, you can study governance, budgeting, student development, and campus oversight within postsecondary environments. Administrative experience and institutional expectations can also influence hiring qualifications.

How do you advance from faculty to community college dean?

Faculty members pursuing administrative opportunities often gain experience through curriculum planning, committee work, assessment activities, and departmental leadership responsibilities. A community college leadership degree can support additional study connected to educational administration, student support services, and campus operations.

Within our EdS in Higher Education Administration – Community College Administration, you can examine how academic leaders respond to organizational priorities while supporting instructional departments and student needs. Advancement opportunities may depend on institutional structure, leadership experience, and professional background.

Online EdS in Higher Education Administration – Community College Help Build Stronger Community Colleges from the Inside Out

Strengthen Leadership Skills for Community College Administration with Liberty’s Online EdS in Higher Education Administration

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose a Community College Leadership Degree?

What Will You Study in Our Online EdS in Higher Education Administration – Community College Administration Degree?

Potential Community College Career Opportunities

Featured Community College Leadership Courses

Course Format

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Liberty University’s Education Specialist for Community College Administration

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

Ready to Apply?

Military

Frequently Asked Questions About Online EdS – Community College Administration Degree Programs

How do you become a community college administrator?

What is the difference between an EdS and an EdD in community college administration?

What degree do you need to become a community college president?

How do you advance from faculty to community college dean?

Are you ready to change your future?

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