Admissions Requirements

Elon MHE Application

The Master of Arts in Higher Education program enrolls each cohort in August. Please submit all required application materials by the priority deadline, January 10. We encourage applicants to apply as early as possible. Applications completed after the deadline will be considered based on space availability.

Application Requirements

  • A completed application with a $38 nonrefundable fee.
  • Evidence of an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate and any graduate studies completed or taken, and sent to Elon’s Office of Graduate Admissions from the institution; transcripts may be emailed to gradadm@elon.edu or mailed to:
    Elon University
    Office of Graduate Admissions
    2750 Campus Box
    Elon, NC 27244
  • Recommended GPA of 3.0 or higher for undergraduate work
  • Two letters of recommendation – one from a faculty member who can speak to the quality of your academic skills and writing, and one from a supervisor or mentor associated with a recent work or leadership role
  • Resume
  • Essay Prompts —Plan to answer each of the following three prompts. Each response should be 500 words or less, and your total essay should not exceed 1500 words. Your essay responses will be reviewed for clarity of expression, structure, grammar, and insight.
  1. Why do you want to earn your M.A. in Higher Education at Elon?  Avoid simply listing or describing features of the program or university, but rather explain why you believe this specific program will best prepare you to achieve your higher education career goals.
  2. The admissions committee will review your resume, your transcripts and your letters of recommendation, all of which tell them important things about you and your qualifications. But there is more to you than these documents. Please share with the admissions committee how your life experiences (including those meaningful activities listed on your resume and/or experiences and events not included elsewhere in your application) have prepared you to make a meaningful contribution to Elon and the M.A. of Higher Education program.
  3. What is one issue or challenge facing higher education that you hope to address as a professional? In your response, please introduce the issue and explain its significance within the field of higher education.

International Students

Because several months may be required to receive and process forms from international applicants, applications and complete documentation should be submitted as early as possible.

  • All application requirements listed above
  • Course-by-course transcript evaluations from any of NACES accredited agency, including but not limited to: WES, IEE, or ECE.
  • Demonstration of English language proficiency through one of the following methods:
  • Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 79 (internet-based tests) or 213 (computer-based examinations)
  • Official International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic exam score of 6.5 (overall band)
  • Official Duolingo of English Test score of 110
  • Completion of undergraduate degree in English
  • Certification that English is the applicant’s native language