Lauren D

Most programs use the words "Higher Education Administration" and "Student Affairs" interchangeably, some distinguish the two, and others combine them together. Higher Ed Administration focuses more on the administrative workings of colleges and universities, such as policies, management, etc. Student Affairs focuses more on the social aspects of the college/university environment and typically revolve around student wellness (physical, mental, and academic) Academic/Career Advising would be most closely associated with Student Affairs since you'd be working one-on-one with students to help them succeed academically. This is personally something I'm interested in doing so I'm mostly focusing on HESA (Higher Ed and Student Affairs) programs which have a mixture of both categories. I feel that it would be a benefit to find a degree that incorporates both since it makes for a more well-rounded program and would probably give you more flexibility when job searching. Depending on your current situation you may want to look for a program which offers grad assistantships. They allow you to work part-time and typically cover some part of your tuition. It's also helpful because you'd be gaining practically experience while going to school. Hope this helps and good luck with your search!

I'm currently looking into Higher Education and Student Affairs programs. I'm contemplating applying to: UConn, Penn State, Michigan State, UF, Florida International, and maybe NYU. I was wondering if anyone had a perspective regarding any of these schools (or others on the East Coast) and what type of things are offered to help offset the cost, such as graduate assistantships, tuition remission, or maybe even scholarships. More information regarding these schools are any others would be really helpful and greatly appreciated! Thank you!