Investing in your education means investing in your future. The Global Higher Education (GHE) MS program at UW–Madison consistently delivers exceptional, tangible returns on your investment, preparing you to lead and innovate in universities and educational organizations worldwide.
Career Outcomes at a Glance
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93%+ Job Placement Rate: Since 2013, more than 93% of our graduates have successfully secured professional employment or advanced their careers.
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93% PhD Admission Success: Since 2015, approximately 93% of our graduates who applied to doctoral programs received competitive admission offers.
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Early Job Security: Between 50% and 70% of our career-bound students secure official job offers prior to graduation.
Diverse and Inclusive Career Pathways
Our community of over 150 alumni spans the globe. The GHE curriculum is intentionally designed to support two distinct trajectories, allowing you to tailor your experience whether you are looking to accelerate your professional career or pursue advanced research:
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Professional Leadership (76% of Alumni): Graduates choose to enter the workforce full-time, stepping into impactful roles within international education, student affairs, and higher education administration.
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Advanced Academic Research (24% of Alumni): Graduates choose to pursue PhDs in higher education or educational research. This pathway is highly utilized by our international student community; by Fall 2025, 38 GHE alumni had either enrolled in or successfully graduated from top-tier PhD programs.
Launching Global Careers
Below is a sampling of the first professional positions our graduates secured immediately following graduation. While this list represents just a snapshot of our growing global network, it highlights the incredible breadth of opportunity awaiting you.
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Job placement in international education, students affairs, and higher education administration
- Education Abroad Program Manager, UW-La Crosse.
- International Exchange Student and Scholar Advisor, UCLA.
- International Student Advisor, UW-Madison,
- Study Abroad Coordinator, University of Central Florida.
- International Engagement Coordinator, UW-Madison.
- International Academic and Career Coach, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
- International Outreach Specialist, Sam Houston State University
- Program Coordinator, International Center, University of Michigan.
- International Admission Counselor, University of Virginia.
- Director of California International Studies Project, Sonoma State University.
- Assistant Director for Students and Curriculum, IRIS, UW-Madison.
- Academic Success Specialist, Arizona State University.
- Academic Advisor, School of Human Ecology, UW-Madison.
- Academic Advisor, Biology Major Program, UW-Madison.
- International Student Services Coordinator, Yonsei University, Korea.
- Program Coordinator, American Councils for International Education, Kazakhstan.
- Coordinator for Education Sector, UNESCO Beijing Office, China.
- International Partnerships Manager, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
Universities where GHE alumni have received Ph.D. admission offers from:
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Arizona State University
- Boston College
- Case Western Reserve University
- Florida State University
- Hong Kong University
- Indiana University
- Iowa State University
- Michigan State University
- North Carolina State University
- Pennsylvania State University
- University at Buffalo
- University of Arizona
- University of Florida
- University of Georgia
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- University of Iowa
- University of Maryland
- University of Minnesota
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of South Carolina
- University of Texas-Austin
- Washington State University