Quick Facts
- Two years is an achievable goal for candidates who are entering an accelerated Ed.D. program with a master’s degree. However, you will need to plan for a full-time plan of study.
- Within 2-3 years, you could qualify for a significant bump in salary. According to Payscale, Ed.D. graduates were earning an average base salary of $88,000 in 2024. The average for school superintendents was $137,871.
- If you’ve already earned an Ed.S. or doctoral level credits, explore the low-cost and online All But Dissertation (ABD) degrees in our listings. Some of these degrees offer a Dissertation in Practice (DiP) as their final project.
What are the Fastest Ed.D. Programs?
The fastest online Ed.D. programs range from 18 months to just under 3 years. You won’t find anything quicker! We’ve provided a detailed description of all of them in our listings. Accelerated Ed.D. programs tend to fall into 3 broad categories:
- Full-Time Doctorates in Educational Leadership: These types of Ed.D. programs are similar to traditional doctorates in leadership, but with a fiercer schedule. Universities may try to pack 54-60 credits into a 2-3 year time span. It’s achievable, but it will be challenging.
- Executive Doctorates: Executive Ed.D. programs are aimed at mid-level and senior-level professionals who want a 2-year plan. These doctorates often have a fair number of campus components (e.g. monthly weekend sessions); some will also include an international experience. You can learn more about these in our Executive Ed.D. Programs Guide.
- All But Dissertation (ABD) Completion Doctorates: ABD options are tailored to folks who already have previous course credits, work experience, and career achievements on their résumé. Typically, the university will conduct a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) to determine how many credits will be left on your degree. So you may only have to complete a dissertation to graduate.
If you’re willing to stretch to 3-4 years, you’ll find more variation, such as concentrations in areas other than educational leadership. Check out the database of Online Ed.D. programs for a full list of options.
How 2-Year Ed.D. Programs Work
Accelerated Ed.D. programs are often built for working professionals with a certain level of expertise—educators who want to take a leap up to the next level. That’s why you’ll see 2-year programs designed for aspiring college presidents (e.g. Executive Ed.D. programs), educators who want to become principals or superintendents (e.g. Ed.D. programs in Educational Leadership), and students who just want to finish their dissertation (e.g. ABD).
- Admissions: Because they’re targeted at different crowds, each 2-year Ed.D. program will have a different threshold for admissions; we’ve included a link to requirements so you can assess your chances. Some schools, such as NYU, will expect you to talk about your capstone or dissertation goals. A number of schools will still wish to see GRE or GMAT scores.
- Curriculum: For the most part, the curriculum is going to be similar to a regular Ed.D., albeit in a condensed timeframe. But you may notice more high-level elements (e.g. roundtable discussions) and one-on-one attention (e.g. mentorship).
- Course Credits: 2-year Ed.D. programs in Educational Leadership usually make room for electives or focus areas; some will even help you toward certification in your state. Executive Ed.D. programs will be more rigid in structure. ABD Options are straightforward—you’ll be expected to focus on your dissertation.
- Dissertation vs. Capstone: Check the descriptions and the curriculum link under each profile to learn what’s expected. Many universities still favor a traditional dissertation, which is usually prepared for in the first year and written in the second. But others have gone the way of research-based capstone projects. Lipscomb even allows you to work in small teams.
Are 2-Year Ed.D. Programs Offered Online?
Yes! The majority of fast-track Ed.D. programs in our listings are online, with either zero or minimal on-campus requirements (e.g. 2 weekend residencies). In some instances, universities will leave the decision up to you—Monmouth allows you to choose how often you wish to visit campus. To give you the full range of options, we’ve also included details on hybrid programs and Executive Ed.D. programs with monthly attendance requirements.
The fastest online Ed.D. programs aren’t always the best—you should consider the School or College of Education’s reputation, accreditation, and quality markers when you’re making your decision. We also recommend that you speak with recent online Ed.D. alumni. They will tell you the good and the bad about the program and offer advice on making the most of distance learning.
Finally, if you’re considering any program with campus components, examine the tuition and fees section carefully. Some universities are happy to cover the cost of accommodation in tuition or program fees (e.g. Penn). However, they’re unlikely to compensate you for travel expenses to and from the campus.
Is a 2-Year Ed.D. Program Right for You?
Accelerated Ed.D. programs are—by their very nature—full-time and intense. You’ll be expected to take on a significant workload in two years. If you have a family and a job, it’s going to be quite a ride. Remember, too, that many programs have campus intensives or international trips built into the curriculum. You’ll need to allow for time away from home.
Having said that, if you’re an experienced professional with clear goals (e.g. superintendent certification, job promotion, executive-level position, etc.), a 2-year Ed.D. program may be right up your street. They are some highly respectable names in our listings, including Penn, NYU Steinhardt, and UGA. You don’t need to sacrifice quality for time.
All 2-Year Ed.D. Programs
We scoured our database to find the nation’s fastest on-campus and online Ed.D. programs. Here are 19 schools that offer Ed.D. programs you can complete in as little as two years. Clicking a program name in the table will take you to its detailed profile below.
Read on to learn more about each school’s two-year Ed.D. programs.
Alverno College
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 27
Delivery: Online with 2 Weekend Residencies
Alverno 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
The School of Education’s fastest online Ed.D. is the 27-credit All But Dissertation (ABD) option. This allows students who have previous coursework & experience to transfer existing credits, complete a dissertation, and earn the Ed.D. with a concentration in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. The syllabus includes 6 dissertation courses and 4 concentration courses, with online coursework and 2 weekend residencies in Milwaukee.
The majority of students in the accelerated ABD option finish in 6 semesters/2 years, but the total time will depend on how many previous credits you’ll be able to transfer in. If you don’t qualify for the doctoral completion pathway, you’re welcome to explore the other online Ed.D. programs at Alverno. Just keep in mind that these will be 54-57 credits and may take 3-4 years to complete.
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Bay Path University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 30
Delivery: 100% Online
Bay Path 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
For its Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Bay Path has a standard, 3-year program and an accelerated 30-credit All But Dissertation (ABD) Option. The ABD pathway is aimed at students who have completed all requirements for a doctoral degree, with the exception of a dissertation at an accredited institution of higher learning. It’s available in Higher Education Leadership or Transformative School Leadership (K-12 settings).
The ABD pathway is 6 semesters/2 years, with an optional Immersive Weekend experience. Before tackling an action-focused Dissertation in Practice (DiP), you’ll take a number of research-based leadership courses (e.g. Leading Transformation and Change). During the DiP, you’ll also be able to participate in small online study/work groups called Leader-Scholar Communities.
Brenau University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 27
Delivery: Online with 2 Residencies
Brenau 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Brenau offers a 27-credit ABD option for 4 concentration areas within its Online Ed.D. You can choose from: Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education, Higher Education: Leadership, or Higher Education: Teaching and Learning.
It’s a 2-year program with 2 campus residencies, advanced coursework in your area of interest, and dissertation support from day one. The Leadership in Higher Education concentration will include a practicum.
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Colorado State University Pueblo
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 58
Delivery: 100% Online
CSU Pueblo’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
On a full-time schedule, CSU Pueblo’s highly affordable Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for PreK-20 leaders can be polished off in 2 years. However, you do have the option to take more time if needed. CSU Pueblo recommends you think long & hard about your dissertation topic and talk to the program advisor before committing to a 2-year plan of study.
This is a 100% online doctorate with asynchronous coursework (no live sessions) and 8-week accelerated classes. The 58-credit curriculum includes a Doctoral Practicum in Educational Leadership (120 contact hours), spaced out over 4 semesters, and a traditional 5-chapter dissertation. The practicum is a nice touch, since it allows you to learn from mentors and current educational leaders in the field.
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Edgewood College
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 1.5 Years
Credits: 30
Delivery: 100% Online
Edgewood’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Edgewood’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership Completion Program is an All-But-Dissertation (ABD) doctorate. You must have 24 post master’s degree credits with a 3.0 GPA from a regionally accredited institution in order to apply. And these doctoral-level credits must have been earned within the past 20 years.
Successful Ed.D. applicants will be able to tackle 30 credits at Edgewood, including a starting class in Ed Leadership Foundations & Ethics, 18 credits of research courses, and a dissertation. Most students finish this ABD program in 18 months. But you can take longer if needed.
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Gwynedd Mercy University
- Online Accelerated All But Dissertation (ABD) Ed.D (Multiple Concentrations)
- Online Accelerated Executive Ed.D. in Education: Leadership and Teaching & Learning
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 1.5 Years (ABD): Less Than 3 Years (Executive)
Credits: 27-54
Delivery: Online with Weekend Residencies
GMercyU 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
GMercyU’s fastest online Ed.D. is the All But Dissertation (ABD) option, offered by the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. This 18-month accelerated Ed.D. is tailored to students who already have a portfolio of previous coursework, scholarship, and career evidence for the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). Once you’ve been accepted, you’ll be required to take 27 credits at GMercyU, but you’ll be able to choose from a number of concentration areas, with options for certification. Coursework is online, with one mandatory weekend residency.
If you don’t have any previous coursework, take a look at GMercy U’s Online Accelerated Executive Ed.D. in Education. This is a full-bore, 54-credit online doctorate that takes less than 3 years to complete. It includes online coursework, a field experience, two on-campus residencies, and one international study experience (international residency travel costs are included in tuition). Plus administrators and principals with at least 3 years of experience have the option to earn a Superintendent Letter of Eligibility in Pennsylvania.
Lipscomb University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years (On-Campus); 3 Years (Online)
Credits: 54
Delivery: On-Campus or Online with Intensives
Lipscomb 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Lipscomb’s accelerated Ed.D. in Learning Organizations and Strategic Change is the brainchild of the College of Education. It’s a Christian-based Ed.D. that’s offered in two formats: a cohort-based, on-campus program in Nashville that takes 2 years to complete and an online version that takes 3 years to finish. The online program includes two on-campus intensives, a remote intensive via Zoom, and a 10-day international experience in the first summer.
Are you currently working in K-12 or higher education? Lipscomb offers a generous 25% in-service scholarship to all full-time educators. We also wanted to note that the university uses a capstone model. Instead of a dissertation, Ed.D. students collaborate in small teams (2-3 students) on a practical research-based project.
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Louisiana State University Shreveport
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2.25 Years
Credits: 63
Delivery: 100% Online
LSUS’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
LSUS’s Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is not only short—it’s one of the most affordable doctorates in the country. Concentrations are offered in Leadership Studies, Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management, and Health Communication & Leadership. You don’t have to visit the campus for this 100% online program, but you should plan for weekly Zoom meetings. LSUS also encourages students to take advantage of opportunities for research and conference presentations.
Our 2.25 year estimate is based on a full-time plan of study. This schedule would involve taking 2 courses per 7-week session for 8 sessions/4 semesters. There are multiple start dates throughout the year, so when you finish is up to you. A part-time plan of a study, with 1 course per session, would take 3.5 years.
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Milligan University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 57
Delivery: Hybrid
Milligan 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Milligan’s full-time, cohort-based Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is offered by the School of Social Sciences & Education. It’s an accelerated doctorate that’s designed to foster system leaders and help K-12 teachers earn their certification as school administrators (e.g. principals or assistant principals). Coursework is a blend of online learning, hybrid classes, and face-to-face experiences in Tennessee, including Saturday residencies.
If you put the pedal to the metal, you can finish the entire program in 24 months. 45 credits are devoted to leadership classes, including 9 credits that are cross-listed with courses from Milligan’s MBA; the remaining 12 credits are reserved for your dissertation. You’ll also be assigned a mentor who will guide you through practicum experiences, portfolio building, and research seminars.
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Monmouth University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 54
Delivery: Online, Hybrid or Face-to-Face
Monmouth 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
The School of Education has consolidated its cohort-based Ed.D. in Educational Leadership into 2 hard-core years. This accelerated Ed.D. is available in a flexible format—you can choose how often you wish to come to campus and how much you want to study online. On-campus coursework in West Long Branch, New Jersey typically takes place on alternate Saturdays and selected Thursday nights.
Over the course of the 54-credit syllabus, you’ll tackle 5 learning strands, including a Transformative Leadership Project that will form the basis of your dissertation. Ed.D. students at Monmouth have the freedom to select elective courses in higher education or P-12. But you can also mix and match electives to suit your career goals.
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Nebraska Methodist College
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 42
Delivery: Online with 2 Campus Intensives
NMC’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Aiming to NMC’s speedy Online Ed.D. in Education & Leadership in Healthcare may fit the bill. On a full-time schedule, this specialist doctorate only takes 24 months to complete. You’ll start in the fall or spring and take 2-4 courses per term for 6 terms. A part-time, 3-year plan of a study is also available.
NMC keeps things efficient for busy professionals. The two Work on the doctoral scholarly project occurs throughout the program, starting in the second term. And classes are designed to be offered in 5-week increments—some are 5 weeks, some are 10 weeks, and some are 15 weeks.
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New York University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 42
Delivery: Online with Week-Long Residency
NYU 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
NYU Steinhardt has packed a lot into its fast Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation. Over the course of 2 years, you’ll be expected to tackle 17 courses and take part in a week-long immersive residency. This residency is a blend of seminar-style sessions, discussions, exercises, a Master Speaker Series, and project presentations.
Like many universities, NYU has replaced the traditional Ed.D. dissertation with a capstone model. NYU Steinhardt calls this the Problem of Practice (POP) and it expects applicants to have a POP in mind when they apply for the program. Be sure to check out the Problem of Practice (POP) Guide in the Admissions section before you start crafting your application essay.
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Purdue Global
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 90 Quarter Hours
Delivery: 100% Online
Purdue Global’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Purdue Global states that master’s degree candidates can finish its Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation in 2 years, although the average for Ed.D. students is 2.5 years. The curriculum is based on quarter hours, not semester hours. So 60 hours of core coursework & dissertation study and 30 hours of electives won’t take as long as you think. For example, each core course is 5 credits.
This is a 100% online doctorate, with multiple start dates throughout the year. Sessions are 10 weeks long; full-time students take 2 courses per session. It’s a degree that can be applied to a wide variety of educational & workplace settings. Have look at the Graduate Catalog to learn more about the structure of the curriculum.
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Rockhurst University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 45
Delivery: 100% Online
Rockhurst’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
You can use Rockhurst’s accelerated Online Ed.D. in Education and Leadership to specialize in everything from K-12 Leadership or Higher Education to Health Care Education or Organizational Leadership. All of the concentrations are structured on the same principles: a 6-semester plan of study, a 100% online format, and a capstone project in lieu of a dissertation. There are 2 start dates per year.
Rockhurst has recently become a CPED member, so it has packed its cohort-based program with engaging elements. In addition to the capstone project, you’ll complete a mandatory College Teaching Practicum or Practicum in Organizational Leadership. If you have time, you may also want to add a DEI, STEAM, or Medical Spanish graduate certificate at no extra cost.
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Spalding University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 60
Delivery: Hybrid
Spalding’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Aspiring public & private sector leaders in Kentucky—here’s a hidden gem from a Catholic university. Spalding’s accelerated Online Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership is made up of 10 courses of 6 credits each. You only have to take one course per term in order to finish your doctorate in 2 years. And the program starts in the fall, spring, or summer.
The Graduate Catalog contains more details on the program delivery. All courses are delivered online over 8 weeks with a 2.5-day (22 hour) face-to-face residency. You’ll explore every aspect of organizational leadership before focusing on a capstone project in the last two terms. This capstone can address a problem of practice in your own work or in a partnering organization.
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Union Institute & University
Fastest Ed.D. Length: Less than 3 Years
Credits: 66
Delivery: 100% Online
Union’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
The speed of Union’s Online Ed.D. will depend on how many master’s-level credits you can transfer into the program. Full-time students who transfer in 12 credits can complete the Ed.D. in 24 months/2 years. But you may be able to transfer more or less depending on your circumstances. See the section on Transfer Credit Criteria for details.
This 100% online doctorate bases its plan of study on traditional 16-week terms—you can start in the spring, summer, or fall. On a full-time schedule, you might take 3 courses per term for 6 terms and then work on your dissertation in the Term 7. We wanted to note that the curriculum includes an internship in Terms 5 & 6. A virtual residency is also held at the start of each term.
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University of Georgia
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 52
Delivery: On-Campus (Intensive Weekends; 2 Week-Long Study Trips)
UGA 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
If you’re interested in an accelerated Ed.D. with a global perspective, the Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Management at UGA’s Institute of Higher Education (IHE) is well-worth a look! It’s a fast-track, 2-year program with intensive weekend meetings in Atlanta and two week-long summer experiences in Washington, D.C. and the Netherlands.
There are no electives in this cohort-based doctorate. Instead, the curriculum focuses on core concepts such as organization & governance, college access & success, and policy at the state and federal level. All of this work culminates in a dissertation. The tuition and program fee includes all meals, lodging, books and some international travel, but it does not include travel expenses to and from the program site.
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University of Louisiana Monroe
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 60
Delivery: 100% Online with Optional Campus Visits
ULM’s 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Explore ideas around school improvement and instruction with ULM’s convenient Online Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction. With a little elbow grease, you can choose from one of 5 start dates and finish this 60-credit doctorate in 2 years. ULM’s program is 100% online, but students are welcome to visit the campus to meet professors in person.
All in all, the program contains 8 core courses, 7 concentration courses, and 15 hours for the capstone. Coursework is split into 8-week sessions and there are 5 sessions per year. So we’re estimating you might end up taking ~2 courses per session (10 courses per year).
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University of Pennsylvania
Fastest Ed.D. Length: 2 Years
Credits: 20 Course Units
Delivery: On-Campus (Monthly Course Sessions and 2-Week International Experience)
Penn 2-Year Ed.D. Overview
Aspiring Deans and Presidents take note—the Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Management at Penn’s Graduate School of Education is designed for seasoned, senior-level professionals. Applicants are expected to have 10+ years of experience. It’s a cohort-based Ed.D. with monthly course sessions and an intriguing global experience that takes place at the beginning of the second year.
The curriculum is a mix of research credits, high flying coursework (e.g. higher education finance, public policy, student and campus services, etc.), faculty roundtables, and dissertation work. Program fees are inclusive of all books, meals, on-campus hotel accommodations, and the majority of costs associated with the international trip. But you will need to budget for extra travel expenses to the program from your home.
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