In general, all higher education professionals work for colleges, universities, or vocational/technical schools, but not all higher education careers are exactly alike. The majority of professionals employed in the field of higher education are college and university faculty who specialize in one particular discipline, such as English, communications, engineering, or political science. Instructors may also specialize in either distance learning or teach in a traditional classroom on campus. Other specializations include a focus on research, publication of journal articles or textbooks, or administrator positions such as deans or chancellors.

• Bachelor's Degree in Higher Education: 4 years to complete
• Master's Degree in Higher Education: 2-3 years to complete
• PhD in Higher Education: 4-6 years to complete

Most careers in higher education require advanced degrees. Though most people are introduced to the world of higher education when they earn a bachelor's degree, in order to become a professor or a higher education administrator, either a master's degree or, for most university positions, a PhD, is required. For those who wish to become professors, having a PhD in the subject they choose to teach is nearly always required. For example, nearly all computer science professors have a PhD in computer science or at least in a related career. The primary exception to this rule is at the community college level. In most cases, only a master's degree is required to become a teacher at a community college. Teaching positions at colleges are different from secondary school teaching careers in that they do not require credentials or licensure. Schedules are often less demanding, as well. 

Higher education administrators nearly always have a PhD -- especially those who are administrators at major universities. In some cases, community college presidents and deans may only have a master's degree, in addition to significant experience and credentials, but this situation is exceedingly rare. Some instructors at the university level do not yet have advanced degrees but are currently enrolled in the school for which they would like to teach to earn either a master's degree or PhD. Education administration programs include courses in financial planning and community relations, as well as leadership and academic law. Higher education is different from secondary education in that certification is not required to work as either a teacher or administrator. 

There are two main careers in higher education. The first is postsecondary teaching. Teachers and professors at community colleges and universities earn an average of $58,830 per year. Those who work in education administration usually command salaries of around $83,880 annually. It is important to keep in mind that nearly all people employed in these careers have postgraduate degrees. In most cases, teachers and administrators have PhDs. 

The job outlook for education administrators is expected to grow about as fast as the average, or about 8 percent, in the coming years. These careers require extensive education and tend to be very competitive -- especially at large universities. The demand for postsecondary teachers is likely to grow quickly in the coming years, as college degrees are becoming more and more popular. Community colleges are likely to offer the best job opportunities. 

There are many careers that are related to higher education. Adult education, for example, is the area of higher education that is specifically dedicated to educating nontraditional learners. Some adult students are recent immigrants who are seeking an English language learning program, while some may not have a high school diploma and are now seeking a GED. Those who work in adult education often find their careers rewarding, as adult students tend to be more motivated and dedicated than traditional college students. TESOL teachers are those who are responsible for teaching English to people who are not native speakers. Teaching English is challenging, and TESOL is a growing field in higher education. More and more adults are moving to the United States and speaking English for the first time, so the field will likely continue to grow. 

A community college professor is a professor who works at a two-year college. Community college professors are different from university professors in that their focus is often less on research and more on classroom teaching. They also do not enjoy the same funding and tenure benefits that university professors do. Community college professors get to work with students who may not otherwise have been academically successful. Community colleges and universities often employ teachers, who do not have professorial benefits, to fill in the gaps for their classes. Teachers are less expensive to employ than professors. Teachers work in all subjects and with all types of students in higher education.