25 Best Online EdD Programs of 2025

How to Choose the Best Online Ed.D. Program

You’ll find 25 outstanding schools in our rankings of the best online doctoral programs in education! All of them are well-regarded, regionally accredited universities. But there the similarities end. Each one has developed their own unique take on the Ed.D. Here’s how to find the right doctorate at the right price:

Scan the Main Points: Start with the degree title, delivery method, and time-frame. If it looks like it aligns with your career goals, you can skim through our profiles and check on admissions requirements. Keep in mind that some 100% online programs will still include synchronous/live online classes.
Find a Relevant Concentration: You don’t have to settle for a generic online doctorate in leadership. All of these universities have highly specific concentrations and foci. Some are PreK-12 based. Some are centered on social justice. Some can even help with certification needs.
Look for Multiple Quality Markers: We favor universities with CAEP accreditation, membership in the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED), great alumni reviews, active & experienced professors, ongoing community partnerships, and awards for research-based projects within the College of Education.
Create a Comprehensive Budget: Many online Ed.D. programs have campus components—we’ve highlighted them under the title. If so, you’ll need to allow for any travel expenses, commuting costs, and accommodation. You should also ask the Ed.D. program coordinator if online students are eligible for scholarships & fellowships.
Consider the Merits of Public vs. Private: Public universities tend to have the most affordable online rates, but they don’t always charge the same tuition for in-state and out-of-state Ed.D. students. You’ll notice that our highest ranked schools tend to be a) private; b) internationally known; and c) expensive.
Assess the School of Education: This will give you a sense of its realm of expertise and research strengths. Even in online doctorates, the School’s location will influence the coursework (e.g. USC Rossier and urban education). We’ve provided a brief rundown in our profiles, but you can also follow our links to learn more about each College or School.
Examine Recent Ed.D. Dissertations: And reach out to the students who wrote them. A solid portion of your doctorate in education is going to be centered on your final project. Think about how you’re going to use the School’s resources and research centers to strengthen your ideas. We’ve provided links to dissertation archives when we’ve found them.

Best Online Ed.D. Rankings

Our methodology for the top 25 online doctoral programs in education follows the same procedure as our on-campus & hybrid Ed.D. rankings. For our 2025 list:

We’ve assessed each school’s standing in Times Higher Education (THE) World University rankings and U.S. News & World Report rankings of Best Education Schools & doctoral disciplines.
But our unique algorithm also factors in data points such as student completion rates—garnered from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)—acceptance rates, and earnings for education doctorate graduates.
To qualify for our rankings, doctorates in educational leadership had to be delivered in a 100% online format or limited to 1-3 campus visits. That means we excluded top-notch hybrid programs from the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Boston University, the University of Arkansas, and William & Mary.

One important note—these rankings focus on educational leadership programs. You won’t find schools that offer online doctorates in Curriculum & Instruction (e.g. University of Central Florida, University of Virginia, and Texas A&M) or programs in a range of niche areas (e.g. Indiana University Bloomington and University of Houston). However, you’re welcome to explore our database of online Ed.D. programs to learn more about them!

Rankings Update: How Placements Changed in 2025

Although there wasn’t a great deal of movement in our 2025 rankings of the Top 25 Online Doctor of Education Programs, there were still surprises! Here are a few of the more exciting developments:

NYU held on to the title of the top online doctorate of education in the country. But, in a surprise move, Boston College nudged ahead of Vanderbilt in 2025 to secure the #2 spot! That’s good news for Catholic educators.
We welcomed two versatile newcomers to our list—the University of Oregon at #10 and the University of Massachusetts Lowell at #25. In addition to offering a STEM option, UMass Lowell has one of the cheapest online Ed.D. programs in the country.
Schools like Texas Tech University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Alabama have inched their way up in the rankings. But they can’t dislodge big players like the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Penn State.
You don’t have to sacrifice quality for price! Four schools in our top 13-25 slots also appear in our rankings of the most affordable online Ed.D. programs in the country.

Top Schools with Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Programs

1 New York University

Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation

Delivery: Online with 1 Immersive Residency
Credits: 42
Length: 2 Years

Why Choose NYU’s Online Ed.D. Program?

NYU’s high octane doctorate comes from Steinhardt, a school with superb rankings & graduate student reviews, an active Department of Administration, Leadership, and Technology, and outstanding faculty. It’s also a qualification that’s designed to cover a wide range of sectors, including PK-20 education. If you’re a mid-level professional who is planning for a C-level or management role, this cohort-based program should be first on your shortlist! Just keep in mind that the high tuition rates reflect the depth and value of the program.

Online Ed.D. Overview

Candidates for the Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation must have 7-10 years of work experience, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and a master’s degree in education or a related field. Coursework is online, but you’ll be expected to take part in a 3-day immersive experience on the NYU campus. This Executive-style Ed.D. even features virtual seminars with educational leaders and an ongoing Master Speaker Series.

We applaud NYU for including a Problem of Practice instead of a dissertation. You’ll have the chance to implement significant improvements and/or innovations in your workplace and measure their success. The Problem of Practice section has a number of helpful examples that you can use as inspiration.

Note: Looking for an in-person alternative? NYU also features in our Best Ed.D. Rankings!

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2 Boston College

Delivery: Online with 3 Week-Long Summer Residencies
Credits: 48
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose BC’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Prestige! The Lynch School is an Experienced CPED member with dedicated research centers in higher education, glowing student reviews, and consistently high rankings. It’s usually regarded as the #1 Catholic School of Education in the country. Boston College’s program is worth a good hard look if you’re currently working at a religiously-minded university. We’d also call it a great “mid-career” option for higher education administrators—the Lynch School is careful about creating strong cohorts of experienced national & international students.

Online Ed.D. Overview

Applicants to the Online Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education should have 7+ years of relevant professional experience and a master’s degree. You can opt for the standard format with electives or choose to specialize in the Catholic Higher Education concentration. Both tracks include a combination of asynchronous and synchronous elements and take 3 years to complete on a part-time schedule.

This collaborative Ed.D. has two unique selling points—the annual summer residencies and the group-based capstone project. During the first and third year, you’ll travel to the Boston area for cohort-building and networking activities in June. (Catholic Ed.D. students also take part in an Institute for Administrators in Catholic Higher Education.). In the second year, you’ll journey to Chile to acquire insights on Managing Change in Higher Education.

Note: Looking for an in-person alternative? BC also features in our Best Ed.D. Rankings!

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3 Vanderbilt University

Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning in Organizations (LLO)

Delivery: Online with 3 Campus Convenings
Credits: 54
Length: 3-4 Years

Why Choose Vanderbilt’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Vanderbilt’s reputation speaks for itself. The Peabody College of Education and Human Development is internationally renowned and often sits in the top 10 of education school rankings. It’s funding plenty of interdisciplinary research initiatives that may spark ideas for your Ed.D. capstone project. And the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations is led by diverse faculty. Recent students report that faculty & professors are excellent, alumni networks are strong, and the reputation of the College speaks for itself with employers.

Online Ed.D. Overview

The Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning in Organizations is aimed at mid-career professionals—candidates should have a minimum 3.0 GPA, 30 graduate-level hours, and at least 3 years of relevant leadership experience. And it’s practice-based. To foster engagement, this doctorate includes live online classes each week and a hands-on capstone project in lieu of a dissertation.

Vanderbilt splits the Ed.D. program into five parts. The bulk of the coursework covers:

Leadership & Organizational Development
Learning and Design
Data and Analytics

The rest of your time will be devoted to three on-campus convenings and your capstone project—an intervention or process that you design to implement learning, improvement, or change in your organization. You don’t necessarily need to go through with that intervention, but you will be expected to develop a research-based plan and evaluation strategy.

Note: Looking for an in-person alternative? Vanderbilt also features in our Best Ed.D. Rankings!

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4 Johns Hopkins University

Online Ed.D. (Multiple Concentrations)

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 54
Length: 4 Years

Why Choose JHU’s Online Ed.D. Program?

JHU’s School of Education is a mere toddler—it was established as a standalone division in 2007. But that’s not stopping it from going from strength to strength! It produces scores of teachers for Baltimore City public schools. It supports multiple research centers & institutes and faculty-led research areas. And it’s actively creating solutions that affect national policy. Take a look at the current research-practice partnerships focusing on student success and the large assortment of tools & strategies that have been created for educators.

Online Ed.D. Overview

JHU is an Experienced CPED member, so you can expect its cohort-based Online Ed.D. to be packed with engaging elements for K-16 educational leaders & administrators. This prestigious, part-time doctorate is open to candidates with a master’s degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA. You’ll start with a core of 12 credits in Foundations of Education and 12 credits of Applied Research and Evaluation. Then you can customize your doctorate with 1 or more areas of interest, including electives in:

Learning Design and Technology
Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education
Neurodiversity and Neuroeducationi
Urban Leadership

Along the way, you’ll also identify a Problem of Practice that will serve as the basis for your Doctoral Dossier. The dossier consists of 3 different “Scholarship” projects that focus on the application of research to practice, the development & improvement of pedagogical practices, and the search for new knowledge. You’ll graduate with an extensive Ed.D. portfolio of analyses, scholarly publications, teaching materials, and more.

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5 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Online Ed.D. in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership (Multiple Concentrations)

On-Campus Components: 100% Online
Credits: 64
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose UIUC’s Online Ed.D. Program?

UIUC’s Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership (EPOL) has a little something for everyone who’s interested in policy and practice—especially folks in PreK-12 and postsecondary settings who want to broaden their horizons. One of the biggest selling factors for this doctorate is price. Online Ed.D. tuition rates are remarkably inexpensive for in-state and out-of-state students and scholarships for doctoral students are available. The other deciding factor will be the uniqueness of the Ed.D. concentrations. Options such as Human Resource Development aren’t that common at other universities.

Online Ed.D. Overview

The Online Ed.D. in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership is open to candidates with a master’s degree from an accredited institution and a minimum 3.0 GPA. It features weekly synchronous sessions where students can exchange ideas and network. It’s also 100% online, which may make it an attractive option for anyone overseas. Just be sure to read the International Applicant Criteria first!

Once accepted, you’ll be able to specialize in one of 5 concentrations that cover everything from Diversity & Equity and Learning Design & Leadership to Global Studies in Education and International Education Administration & Leadership. All concentrations include a core of required Ed.D. courses, coursework in research methods, 5-8 electives, qualifying exams/research seminars, and a dissertation. Not sure what to focus on? You’ll find examples of previous UIUC Ed.D. dissertations in IDEALS.

Note: Looking for an in-person alternative? UIUC also features in our Best Ed.D. Rankings!

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6 Pennsylvania State University – World Campus

Online D.Ed. (Multiple Specializations)

Delivery: Online with 1 Summer Summit
Credits: 37
Length: 1 Year (Full-Time); 2-4 Years (Part-Time)

Why Choose Penn State’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Anyone looking to customize their online doctorate should be looking at Penn State! The World Campus is doing a bang-up job of supporting distance learners who are working professionals. And the College of Education funds a wide range of research centers. Education faculty are spearheading DEI and anti-racist leadership initiatives in higher education settings, questioning educational policy, and pushing the boundaries of science in schools. Check out the section on research projects for capstone inspiration and read up on the Department of Education Policy Studies (EPS) before applying.

Online Ed.D. Overview

Penn State’s Online D.Ed. is the first doctorate the College of Education has developed to be offered online, but it’s led by an experienced Faculty Director and packed with intriguing elements. You’ll be required to complete a Quantitative Data Analysis Workshop, an in-depth capstone project, and a mandatory 5-day Summer Summit at the University Park campus. The summit is packed with career-building opportunities, including workshops and professional development training.

Moreover, you can create your own Ed.D. specialty by choosing 12 credits of electives from 170+ online graduate courses offered by the College of Education. That makes this doctorate fit for almost anyone interested in education & leadership. Candidates with a master’s degree (or equivalent) in education or an associated field are welcome to apply to Penn State. Have a look at the Set Your Own Pace section to decide whether you’re ready for 3-4 courses per semester or a less frenetic part-time schedule.

Note: Penn State also appears in our Higher Education rankings!

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7 University of Florida

Online Leadership in Educational Administration Doctorate (LEAD) Ed.D.

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 90
Length: 4 Years

Why Choose UF’s Online Ed.D. Program?

UF is a flagship university with a massive budget. So it’s no surprise to see that the College of Education oversees three schools and receives more than $219 million in research awards for work within its centers & institutes. We were particularly intrigued by the College’s investment in advanced learning technologies. According to the annual Impact Report, students in the College are actively involved in creating AI initiatives, user-friendly data dashboards like the Florida School Safety Dashboard, and innovative tech solutions to educational challenges. If you’re fascinated by 21st century tools and need a convenient delivery method for your doctorate, UF is a very strong option.

Online Ed.D. Overview

First off, UF has been a CPED member since 2007. That means there’s a high level of quality baked into the cohort-based Online Leadership in Educational Administration Doctorate (LEAD) Ed.D. This part-time program is open to applicants with a master’s degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA on undergraduate work. It’s 100% online, with a combination of two synchronous Saturday meetings per semester via Zoom and asynchronous components in-between.

To accommodate working professionals, LEAD studies at UF are spaced out over 4 years. You’ll be required to complete 2 courses per term. Core courses, research credits, and electives will make up the bulk of your first 3 years. The fourth year will be consumed by your dissertation. Search UF’s repository of Electronic Theses & Dissertations to learn what previous students have accomplished.

Note: UF also offers a Hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration that features in our Higher Education rankings.

For More Information:

8 Arizona State University

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 60
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose ASU’s Online Ed.D. Program?

ASU has a way of making our heart sing. The online doctorate is a distance learning version of its campus program, which means both versions are taught by the same faculty. The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College is nationally respected. Ed.D. students can choose from 3 different concentrations and participate in collaborative Leader-Scholar Communities (LSCs). Graduate alumni praise the program’s flexibility & helpful professors. And per credit tuition rates are the same for in-state and out-of-state students. It’s no wonder this Ed.D. won the CPED Program of the Year Award in 2018.

Online Ed.D. Overview

To apply to the Online Ed.D. in Leadership & Innovation, you must have a bachelor’s and master’s degree—in any field—from a regionally accredited institution and a 3.0 GPA on graduate work. You should also be working in a professional position that allows you to implement change. The Ed.D. curriculum consists of a professional core, a research core, directed field study, LSC seminars, and an action-research dissertation. Overall:

The PK-12 concentration tends to attract aspiring superintendents, education administrators, teacher leaders, and curriculum specialists.
The Higher Education concentration is tailored to mid-level professionals (e.g. directors of units, student services personnel, instructional technologists, etc.).
The Systems, Professional, and Reimagined Change (SPARC) concentration is for individuals in educational environments outside of schools & universities (e.g. professional schools, continuing education, corporate training, museums, etc.).

This is an attractive choice for working professionals who want an efficient degree schedule—courses are only 7.5. weeks long and the entire program can be finished in 9-10 semesters.

Note: We profile ASU’s Online Ed.D. in Leadership & Innovation – Higher Education in our Higher Education rankings!

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9 University of Arizona

Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 63
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose UA’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Consistency. UA’s College of Education has a long track record in distance education and a history of supporting indigenous education and Hispanic populations. That makes this online Ed.D. a good fit for K-12 educational leaders who want to combine training in areas like policy with research into issues surrounding social justice, race, and culturally responsive leadership. Tuition rates are fairly reasonable for an education doctorate and out-of-state students pay the same rate as in-state students.

Online Ed.D. Overview

UA’s comprehensive Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a practical, part-time program that’s open to applicants with a master’s degree, a cumulative 3.0 GPA on graduate work, and current or previous leadership experience. This cohort-based doctorate is 100% online, with no residency requirements and mostly asynchronous coursework.

In the first 2 years, you’ll tackle 2-3 courses in the fall, spring & summer semesters. In the final year, you’ll take 3 courses in the summer and then pivot to focus on your Dissertation in Practice (DiP). UA is an Experienced CPED member, so the curriculum covers a wide range of leadership courses, including Market-Based Educational Reforms, Policy Analysis, and Bilingual Education.

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10 University of Oregon

Online Doctor of Education (DEd) in Educational Leadership

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 81
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose UO’s Online Ed.D. Program?

It may not have the same recognition as a school like NYU Steinhart, but UO’s College of Education is a powerhouse in the Northwest. In 2024, it employed 563 faculty & staff, garnered $67 million in faculty-sponsored research & project grants, and supported 14 research & outreach units. PreK-12 leaders may be especially interested in the HEDCO Institute for Evidence-Based Educational Practice, which is investigating everything from teacher self-efficacy strategies to suicide prevention in schools. Better yet, the College has spearheaded a Sapsik’ʷałá Teacher Education Program for American Indian and Alaska Native teacher candidates.

Online Ed.D. Overview

The cohort-based Online DEd in Educational Leadership is structured on a traditional 3-year timeline. In the first year, you’ll be drilled in fundamentals of school & organizational leadership, as well as advanced research courses. The second year has more nuance, with credits in school law, policy analysis, special education, and program evaluation. The final year is devoted to a dissertation that addresses a specific problem of practice.

UO’s program is 100% online, with classes scheduled for late afternoons, evenings, and occasional weekends. But DEd students should be prepared for synchronous elements such as group projects & discussions. Oregon educators can earn the DEd concurrently with a Principal or Professional Administrator license. If you’re applying from out-of-state, talk to the program coordinator about your goals. You may be able to substitute the one class in Oregon Advanced School Law for something that’s more relevant to your situation.

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Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 46
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose LMU’s Online Ed.D. Program?

The name says it all! LMU’s School of Education is building on the Jesuit tradition of social justice to create a world of diversity, equity, and inclusion. You can see this being manifested in partnerships like the LMU Family of Schools and the work with Teach for America. Just as importantly, doctoral faculty are experienced. Alumni are breaking new ground in their communities. Classes are intimate—the program insists on a 1:1 dissertation chair to student ratio. And generous doctoral scholarships & fellowships are available. Read the latest Impact Report to learn more about the school and its students.

Online Ed.D. Overview

For the Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice, LMU is looking for candidates with a master’s degree and—preferably—a cumulative 3.5 GPA on graduate coursework and 3.0 on undergraduate coursework. If accepted, you’ll join a cohort of 18-24 students in a structured, 3-year program that has a 97% completion rate. Coursework is 100% online, with a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions. Live classes are held in the evenings.

View the curriculum to learn more about your studies. You’ll notice that the first year focuses on “big picture” topics and the second year digs into prosaic concerns like policy, law, and the management of fiscal & human capital. Your third year will be devoted to your dissertation. Check out the Repository of Ed.D. Dissertations to get a sense of what this 20-year-old program has achieved. LMU encourages collaborations with faculty and fosters networks of international research.

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15 University of Alabama

Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 69
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose UA’s Online Ed.D. Program?

#1: It’s affordable. #2: It’s taught by diverse faculty. #3: It comes from a flagship public research university with an indefatigable College of Education. In addition to supporting labs & offices in everything from evaluation & school improvement to early intervention and neuroscience, the College regularly collaborates with the Alabama Department of Education on PreK-12 programs like the Alabama Superintendents Academy and the University of Alabama Gadsden Early Learning Initiative (ELI). Online students have plenty of access to academic resources and scholarships. Some COE Graduate Scholarships may also apply.

Online Ed.D. Overview

Although it doesn’t lead to certification or licensure, UA’s cohort-based Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is geared toward PreK-12 leaders in schools and districts. Applicants should have a master’s degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA, as well as professional experience in teaching and/or leadership. It’s a doctorate for working professionals, with synchronous weekend meetings and asynchronous learning activities.

The curriculum begins ordinarily enough, with courses in organizational theory, policy, and leadership. But then it dives much deeper into PreK-12 leadership issues such as school partnerships, superintendency, finance, and advanced educational law. You’ll take part in advanced seminars in Curriculum Leadership and Educational Leadership and complete a dissertation.

Note: UA also offers an Online Ed.D. in Special Education (Multiple Tracks) and a Hybrid Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration

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16 Texas Tech University

Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 66
Length: 3.5 Years

Why Choose Texas Tech’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Affordability and relevance. The College of Education is an Experienced CPED member, so it knows how to put together a doctorate for PreK-12 working professionals. Within its research centers & institutes, you’ll find well-funded work on autism, sensory disabilities, policy, and teacher preparation. The College is part of a Principal Fellows Partnership Program that transforms teachers into leaders. It’s nurturing rural educators in West Texas. And it’s working with Raise Your Hand Texas on a number of programs.

Online Ed.D. Overview

Texas Tech’s cohort-based Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is open to PreK-12 education professionals with a master’s degree who are set on an administrative career trajectory in schools and school districts. The Ed.D. is 100% online, but you will be expected to take part in an online program orientation, virtual Summer Institutes in the first two years, and bi-monthly synchronous meetings.

Have a look at the Program Handbook to get a handle on the coursework. Superintendent professional certification preparation—including an internship—has been incorporated into the curriculum. But you’re not required to go through with certification if it’s not of interest. The doctorate finishes with a Dissertation in Practice (DiP).

Note: Texas Tech also offers an Online Ed.D. in Instructional Technology and features in our Most Affordable Online Ed.D. rankings!

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17 Virginia Commonwealth University

Delivery: Online with 1 Summer Residency or On-Campus
Credits: 48
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose VCU’s Online Ed.D. Program?

If you enjoy collaborating with other educational leaders, then VCU may be just the ticket. This is one of the few online doctorates to include a group-based capstone. The well-respected—and highly ranked—School of Education fosters collaboration opportunities with faculty and projects in local schools (e.g. Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium). It’s been an Experienced CPED Member since 2014. And it funds a number of research centers in PreK-12 arenas (e.g. STEM, teacher leadership, minority education, etc.).

Online Ed.D. Overview

VCU offers its cohort-based Ed.D. in Leadership in an online version with 1 summer residency or in a face-to-face format. All candidates must have a master’s degree. When you apply, you’ll select a relevant learning community in K-12 Leadership, Higher Education Leadership, International Leadership, or General Leadership. VCU will then tailor the coursework & case studies to suit your cohort’s needs.

During the 3-year program, you’ll take 2 courses per semester up until the last year. Your final year will be devoted to tackling a collaborative, group-based capstone project. Coursework is fairly standard for a leadership doctorate, with classes in ethical & legal decision-making, sustainable change, and evidence-informed perspectives on practice. But you’ll have the additional benefit of insights from your learning community and capstone group.

Note: We profile the Online Ed.D. in Leadership – Higher Education Leadership in our Higher Education rankings!

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18 Fordham University

Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy

Delivery: Online with 2 Campus Immersions
Credits: 50
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose Fordham’s Online Ed.D. Program?

The Graduate School of Education (GSE) has created a hands-on doctorate for PreK-12 leaders that reflects the university’s Jesuit principles (e.g. social justice, acting as change agents, moral practice, etc.). Because of that, it may be an especially attractive pick for educators who are interested in serving students in Catholic schools or marginalized, urban, and underserved communities. Have a look at the NYC work being done within the Center for Educational Partnerships and the GSE News section to learn more about its initiatives.

Online Ed.D. Overview

Get your ducks in a row! To apply for the Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy, you must have a master’s degree with a minimum 3.5 graduate GPA and at least 3 years of appropriate leadership experience in a PreK–12 educational institution. And expect to be engaged. In addition to seminars and Laboratories of Practice, this education doctorate includes two in-person immersions on the Westchester campus in New York.

Fordham is an Experienced CPED member, so it’s no surprise to see that the curriculum includes coursework in multiple realms of leadership (e.g. Leading Instructional Improvement, Economics and Finance of Education, Urban Education, etc.). The 3-year program finishes with a solutions-oriented Dissertation in Practice (DiP) that addresses a challenge in your school or district.

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19 George Washington University

Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Administration

Delivery: 100% Online or On-Campus
Credits: 48
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose GW’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Diversity of voices. Thanks to its urban location, GW’s Graduate School of Education & Human Development (GSEHD) has developed a close relationship with D.C. Public Schools (DCPS). But it also runs the Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership and serves as a UNESCO Chair in International Education for Development (IED). 50% of the student body are students of color and/or international students and alumni can be found in 75 countries. It’s a CPED Implementing member, a serious policy player, and a thought leader in education. Check out the EdFix Podcast!

Online Ed.D. Overview

GW’s cohort-based Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Administration is designed for PreK-12 educational leaders. You must have a master’s degree in order to apply; international students are welcome. The virtual version of the doctorate is 100% online, but you will be expected to take part in weekly synchronous meetings and complete asynchronous components.

The 48-credit curriculum is practical and straightforward—you’ll cover a series of high-level courses in leadership, policy, planning, and research. There are no concentrations or electives. If you crave interaction, ask the program coordinator about the Seminar in Administration & Supervision. If you’re looking for inspiration, search for previous Ed.D. dissertations in GW’s ScholarSpace.

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20 University of Kentucky

Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 46
Length: 4 Years

Why Choose UK’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Fascinated by holistic approaches to education? Take a close look at UK’s College of Education and its remarkable portfolio of projects. The College supports engagement work in early childhood development, applied behavior analysis, addiction prevention, and health promotion. It has launched an Education and Civil Rights Initiative (ECRI) with Equity Audits. And it provides training for Kentucky K-12 schools and districts through the Center for Next Generation Leadership. Any of these ideas could provide the seeds for an interdisciplinary dissertation.

Online Ed.D. Overview

For its 4-year Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, UK would like to see candidates with a master’s degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum graduate 3.5 GPA. The doctorate is 100% online, but you will be expected to participate in synchronous/live online activities 5-6 times per semester, usually on a Saturday or in the evening. It’s a doctorate that can be adapted to fit most PreK-20 or education-related leadership roles.

The curriculum consists of 16 courses of pre-dissertation coursework, including 2 electives. Anyone who plans to seek K-12 administrator certification can use those electives to partially fulfill certification requirements. UK uses a Mixed Methods Action Research (MMAR) design for its dissertation. To get a sense of how this plays out, download some recent UK Ed.D. dissertations. Or get in touch the authors to ask them about their Ed.D. experience.

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21 University of Colorado Denver

Delivery: 100% Online for Most Concentrations; 2 Annual Campus Visits for Higher Education
Credits: 54
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose CU Denver’s Online Ed.D. Program?

CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development is small enough to form relationships and big enough to support all kinds of unusual projects, including innovative teacher preparation programs. It’s been working on equitable tech access in K-12 schools, digital technologies in higher education, and improving the education continuum from birth to pre-school. If you’re interested in experiments, it’s also worth noting that Denver Public Schools underwent a seismic education reform strategy from 2008-2019. Visit the Center for Education Policy Analysis (CEPA) to learn more about the results.

Online Ed.D. Overview

For CU Denver’s Online Ed.D in Leadership for Educational Equity, you will need a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Visit the Admissions section on each specialty page to learn more about the Statement of Purpose. The doctorate is set up as a cohort-based, 3-year online program, but check the details in each degree. Some specialties may run longer (e.g. JEDI). Others will have synchronous elements (e.g. Executive Leadership) or in-person intensives (e.g. Higher Education).

CU Denver includes one-of-a-kind elements in each specialty. For instance, Research Leadership students will have the opportunity to collaborate with the Center for Practice Engaged Education Research (C-PEER) and developers of the Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) on their doctoral research project. Higher Education students can elect to receive executive coaching services for up to one year after graduation.

Note: CU Denver also features in our Most Affordable Online Ed.D. and Higher Education rankings!

For More Information:

School of Education & Human Development
Online Ed.D. Admissions (Listed on Each Specialty Page)
Online Ed.D. Tuition

22 University of Kansas

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 51
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose KU’s Online Ed.D. Program?

KU is the one you never saw coming. Although it may not be as famous as NYU or Vanderbilt, the School of Education & Human Sciences has plenty to boast about, including strong student reviews, an unusual and interdisciplinary Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) with both tactical and strategic initiatives, and a dedicated Center for Evaluation and Educational Leadership (CEEL). The program fulfills the academic requirements for Kansas licensure endorsement in school district administration. And scholarships are available.

Online Ed.D. Overview

The Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies – Educational Administration is open to candidates with a master’s degree or equivalent and a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants should be in a current full-time position in a relevant educational setting; 3 years of work experience is recommended. It’s a 100% online, 3-year program that focuses on PreK-12 district leadership, especially in a Kansas or Missouri context. Courses are delivered online with synchronous/live Zoom meetings every 1-2 weeknights throughout the semester.

The bulk of your coursework will be devoted to district-level concerns such as supervision of instruction, district leadership, HR management, financial management, and policy. KU’s doctorate also includes supervised & directed field experiences in educational settings and a dissertation. The program is structured for school district leadership endorsement, but additional courses may be added for a building-level endorsement.

Note: We profile the Online Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration in our Higher Education rankings!

For More Information:

23 Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies

Delivery: 100% Online or Hybrid
Credits: 69
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose Virginia Tech’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Seasoned faculty. Flexible scheduling. And measurable results. These are just 3 reasons to choose Virginia Tech for your online doctorate. The School of Education is well-known in the state—approximately 30% of division superintendents in Virginia are graduates of its Educational Leadership programs—and it’s working on a number of unusual research projects & outreach programs. Learn more about its initiatives in rural Appalachia and its partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).

Online Ed.D. Overview

Virginia Tech’s cohort-based Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies for PreK-12 leaders is remarkably flexible. You can opt for a 100% online degree with synchronous and asynchronous classes. Or you can choose a hybrid version with classes at Virginia Tech extension sites. Candidates must have school leadership experience, a master’s degree, and a 3.3 GPA on the most recent 2 years of university coursework.

If you’re accepted, you’ll be immersed in a huge range of courses on public education, budgeting, law, and administration. We give Virginia Tech full marks for incorporating an internship and field studies into the curriculum—you’ll gain experience working on advanced applied research and/or an evaluation study for educational institutions & agencies. You’ll also have the opportunity to choose between a traditional 5-chapter dissertation or an alternative format (e.g. journal article).

For More Information:

24 Drexel University

Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Management (Multiple Concentrations)

Delivery: 100% Online or Hybrid
Credits: 60.5-61.5
Length: 3 or 5 Years

Why Choose Drexel’s Online Ed.D. Program?

It’s ridiculously flexible, super supportive, and backed by a highly reputable School of Education. The School has a history of embracing new technologies & virtual learning and funding in-depth research. It’s also strong on networking. In the list of events & workshops, you’ll discover a monthly Doctoral Student Colloquium, a K-12 School Leadership Council, and annual citywide events centered around Critical Conversations in Urban Education. All online Ed.D. students have access to Mentoring and Coaching (MAC) in the first year and a 1:1 relationship with a supervising professor. We’re not surprised it won the CPED Program of the Year Award in 2019!

Online Ed.D. Overview

Admissions to Drexel’s Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Management will be competitive—candidates should have a master’s degree in education (or a closely related field), a minimum 3.5 GPA on graduate work, and at least 3 years of relevant work experience. It’s a 100% online doctorate with opportunities for face-to-face meetings. The 3-year plan of study is cohort-based; the 5-year plan of study is not.

One of Drexel’s key selling points is choice—this doctorate is offered in 10+ concentrations that cover every aspect of education, both within PreK-20 settings and without. You can find and read recent Ed.D. dissertations in the Drexel Research Discovery portal. These take the form of a traditional 5-chapter dissertation.

Note: Drexel also offers a hybrid version of this doctorate in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

For More Information:

25 University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Delivery: Online with 3 Summer Residencies
Credits: 42
Length: 3 Years

Why Choose UMass Lowell’s Online Ed.D. Program?

The low price! UMass Lowell offers one of the most affordable Ed.D. programs in the country. But that’s not the only reason it appears in our rankings. This online doctorate is backed by CPED membership. It’s offered in a special STEM concentration. And it’s supported by a School of Education with a strong reputation in New England. For proof, check out the activities of the School Leadership Institute (SLI), a collaboration with school districts in the Greater Merrimack Valley, and the bios of faculty & staff.

Online Ed.D. Overview

Your first choice is to decide between the Online Ed.D. in Leadership in Schooling or the special doctoral option in STEM Education. The latter is designed for science, math, and engineering educators who are gunning for PK-12 leadership roles. Both tracks are cohort-based and involve taking two online courses per semester for the fall, spring & summer. But be sure to carve out time for the one-week summer residencies each year!

Course requirements are listed in the Graduate Catalog. In addition to a foundational class and 12 credits in advanced research, there are some intriguing “specialization” courses. In the standard Leadership in Schooling doctorate, Ed.D. students focus on areas such as systems leadership, law & policy, organizational learning, and partnering with families & communities. But STEM students tackle subjects like education reform in STEM and leadership & research in STEM. The degree culminates in a Dissertation in Practice (DiP).

Note: UMass Lowell also features in our Most Affordable Online Ed.D. rankings!

For More Information:

What to Expect from an Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Program

Online Ed.D. Experience

In many ways, your experience in an online Ed.D. program will be very close to an on-campus program:

You’ll go through a rigorous program of study that includes targeted educational leadership coursework and mandatory credits in research methods.
You’ll be taught by College of Education faculty.
You may be collaborating on class projects with fellow students in your cohort.
You’ll often have to take exams and provide a dissertation proposal & defense.
You’ll end the doctorate with a practice-based dissertation, Dissertation in Practice (DiP), or capstone.

But there are obvious differences in delivery & time expectations. Read on to discover how your doctoral journey will change in distance learning.

Time to Completion: How Long are Online Ed.D. Programs?

Ed.D. programs generally represent at least 57 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master’s degree. If we follow the conventional wisdom that says each semester hour takes a student 45 hours, this means every Ed.D. program involves at least 2,565 hours of active, focused study. There’s a lot of material to cover and there are no shortcuts.

3-Year Standard: The standard length for online Ed.D. programs is 3 years. Some universities stretch the timeline into 4 years. You’ll also need to consider administrative delays, grading, course availability, dissertation or capstone project revision, and other factors.
Faster Options: If you’re determined to earn an Ed.D. quickly, start with our Guide to 2-Year Ed.D. Programs. These are the fastest Ed.D. programs in the country, and many are offered online or in a hybrid format.

Part-time study is the norm for education doctorates. Online Ed.D. programs are designed with working professionals in mind, and it is very difficult to continue to work full-time while pursuing a doctorate full-time. Some people have done it—programs identified as “Accelerated” (see below) are often designed with this purpose in mind. However, a part-time study timetable may be more realistic. You can avoid getting stuck in the dissertation phase by staying in touch with faculty, minding the timetable, and staying proactive.

Special Types of Online Ed.D. Programs

Online Executive Ed.D. Programs

Until the 1980s, it was very hard for working professionals to earn a graduate degree while working a full-time schedule. Evening and weekend courses were relatively rare, and senior professionals faced the challenge of either sacrificing several years of income to earn advanced degrees or potentially losing future jobs & promotions.

Universities responded to this challenge by creating part-time “Executive” programs that could be completed entirely on evenings and weekends.

In time, the Executive model became so popular and successful that nearly all doctorates in education (online & on-campus) began to follow an evening/weekend schedule.
However, you’ll still spot Executive Ed.D. programs in our listings that have a specific work experience requirement (e.g. Boston College’s Online Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education). In these cases, applicants are often expected to be mid-career leadership professionals with a certain number of years under their belt (e.g. 5-10).

If you’re interested in an Online Executive Ed.D., read the program page & admissions requirements carefully to learn about the thresholds for experience and consider whether you are in the right place in your employment journey. The one assumption you can safely make about every Executive Ed.D. program is that it is designed to accommodate students who have important full-time commitments.

Online Accelerated Ed.D. Programs

An accelerated online Ed.D. is usually a program that’s structured to be completed in less than 3 years. For example, Lamar University’s Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership can be completed in 6 semesters of full-time study.

The only meaningful difference between an accelerated online Ed.D. and an ordinary online Ed.D. is that the accelerated program is focused on full-time study. So the odds of multiple core classes being offered at overlapping times, or not being offered at all for a while, are much lower than they might otherwise be.

Note: If an accelerated online doctorate in education advertises itself as taking less than 2 years, that’s usually a “Red Flag” indication that the program is unaccredited. To assist with your research, we’ve compiled a list of all reputable two-year EdD programs.

Online Program Delivery Formats

What Does 100% Online Mean?

Most regionally accredited online Ed.D. programs contain some on-campus residencies. However, a small number are completely virtual—you’ll take part in online orientations, defend your dissertation through video meetings, and collaborate with students via distance learning methods. Having said all that, you will still have to factor face-to-face encounters into your planning. For example:

You may be asked to complete class assignments by trying something out in a professional setting.
It’s not uncommon for proctored examinations, which you must take under supervision at a faculty-approved site, to be required.
Many online Ed.D. programs contain field work, an internship, or practicum requirement. These can be completed at a site near you.
For your dissertation research, you may have to conduct experimental, on-site research at an education site.

Think of “100% online” as a reference to how the classes are conducted, not to the overall learning experience. Even if you never have to visit the campus, the doctoral process is likely to affect every area of your life.

What Kind of Software Will I Need?

In most cases, an up-to-date web browser, a strong Internet connection, and an email client will be enough. Universities use a wide range of software packages to host classes—Blackboard, Canvas, and Moodle are the most popular—but the distance learning experience is relatively straightforward.

Can I Take Classes Whenever I Want?

It depends. Online classes are taught in one of two ways:

Synchronous: A group of students participate in an online class or discussion live, in a chatroom or other real-time environment.
Asynchronous: Students can log into classes, view pre-recorded content, and tackle assignments whenever they have time.

It’s not unusual for online education doctorates to offer a mix of synchronous and asynchronous classes. If you have a tight schedule, look for online Ed.D. courses that are taught asynchronously (or at least where the classes are archived, and synchronous “attendance” is not mandatory).

Online vs. Hybrid: What’s the Difference?

Although 100% online doctorates exist, a number of online Ed.D. programs could actually be classified as low-residency hybrid programs. Even though the bulk of classroom study is conducted online, students are still required to meet up in-person a few times over the course of the program for residencies, seminars, or conferences. You should read the program page carefully to determine how much on-campus work is included.

In our rankings of the top 25 schools in the U.S., we focused on online Ed.D. programs that had reasonable on-campus expectations (e.g. 1-3 visits).
Any education doctorates that exceeded this threshold were deemed to be hybrid or blended.

Incidentally, most “on-campus” Ed.D. programs offered by accredited U.S. universities are technically high-residency hybrid programs. It’s extremely rare to find a school that does not allow Ed.D. students to take at least some of their coursework online.

Online Ed.D. Dissertations vs. Capstones

Ph.D. programs are built to include a 5-chapter, book-length dissertation that must constitute an “original contribution to knowledge” within the student’s field. If the dissertation is especially relevant and timely, the student will often submit it to a university press for publication.

While the dissertation is an essential component to the Ph.D., some Ed.D. programs don’t require it. Instead, students may be allowed to submit a Dissertation in Practice (DiP), portfolio, or capstone project. These practice-based projects are not intended to be easier than dissertations. Instead, they’re designed to be more relevant to the work the student is likely to do in the field.

Choosing a Dissertation-Based Ed.D. Program: If you’re choosing a position that involves research, potential college-level instruction, or a lot of competition with people who hold Ph.D. degrees, it’s probably best to make sure to conclude your Ed.D. with a dissertation rather than a capstone project. Our guide to EdD dissertations provides a comprehensive account of what you can expect from the dissertation process.
Choosing a Capstone-Based Ed.D. Program: If you’re entering an environment where a capstone-project Ed.D. is the norm, or where most of your peers don’t hold doctorates of any kind, you can probably get by without a dissertation.

Field Work and Internships in Online Ed.D. Programs

You’ll satisfy field work & internship requirements in a face-to-face setting at a local site, just like you would in a traditional program. The difference is that the local site is typically local to you.

Field work and internship requirements can vary a great deal from program to program:

No Internship: Many online Ed.D. programs don’t require an internship. But small amounts of field work are often integrated into normal Ed.D.-level courses in the form of specific assignments.
Internship Required: When an internship is required, it’s usually classified as a course of its own. You’ll often complete your internship training under the direction of a practicing educational leader in your local area and report back to a supervising Ed.D. faculty member about your progress.

In rare cases, an Ed.D. program will integrate specific field work requirements into every course.

How to Choose an Online Ed.D. Program

Institutional Prestige

Every doctorate in our database of online Ed.D. programs is offered by a regionally accredited college or university. This means that they meet certain measurable baselines that are associated with high-quality institutions. There are no diploma mills among our listings!

If you’re looking for the “best” distance learning program for your needs, things get trickier. You can start with certain institutional quality markers (e.g. CPED membership, CAEP accreditation, etc.), but you’ll also need to consider real-world factors such as budget, time-frame, program relevancy, admissions requirements, and Ed.D. faculty expertise. One of the reasons we put together such a detailed ranking of the Best Online Ed.D. Programs is because we wanted a list that was thoroughly researched, fact-checked, and free of advertiser influence.

Weigh your options carefully. An online Ed.D. is more likely to be sniffed at if it:

Was awarded by a for-profit school, rather than a private non-profit or public institution.
Was awarded by a school that does not have a significant number of on-campus students;
Was awarded by a school that’s less than 20 years old; and/or
Does not involve a dissertation.

For-profit schools are especially controversial, and are likely to remain so for a long time.

Program Focus and Career Goals

The major matters a great deal in Ed.D. programs. If you dig into the titles & curricula, you’ll notice that every doctorate has a unique slant. For instance:

Sign up for Drexel University’s Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Management and you’ll come out of the program with a solid background in management philosophy, educational technology, and research design.
Sign up for Texas A&M University’s Online Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, which is also marketed to educational administrators, and you get courses that are centered much more closely on the nuts and bolts of supervision and assessment.

Whenever possible, choose a program that honors both your academic interests and your career track.

Instructor Quality

It’s pretty standard for online degree programs to outsource faculty. However, at the doctoral level you need to be able to access the same core department Ed.D. faculty as on-campus students. This becomes especially important during the dissertation phase.

Save yourself some trouble now by checking with the school to make sure any professors you’re especially interested in working with on your future research actually supervise online students’ dissertations.

Costs

Online vs. On-Campus

Conventional wisdom would suggest that online programs cost less than on-campus programs, since students don’t need to rely on physical facilities or the same range of student services. Conventional wisdom, in this case, is wrong. Online Ed.D. programs typically cost about as much as on-campus programs, with total program expenses running anywhere from $15,000 to $200,000.

If money is no object to you—or you’re confident that your career track will pay back any student loans you take out—this isn’t necessarily bad news. But if you’re working with limited funds, you’re going to need to balance the cost of the program with the benefits you expect to receive from it. You’ll also need to explore how to pay for the program in the near term, and how to minimize your long-term debt.

The easiest way to minimize debt is to choose an affordable Ed.D. program. Head over to our rankings of the cheapest online Ed.D. programs to jump-start your research.

Public Universities: The Most Affordable Option?

The cheapest regionally accredited online Ed.D. programs are offered by traditional public universities; some of these programs are inexpensive enough that taking out student loans may not even be necessary. For example, Boise State University’s Online Ed.D. in Educational Technology is very reasonably priced. This is in part because BSU considers all online U.S. students to be eligible for in-state tuition.

However, many public universities charge out-of-state students significantly more than they charge in-state students. In some cases, out-of-state tuition can approach—or even exceed—the cost of tuition at private universities.

It’s important to make sure when calculating the cost of a public university program that you have determined whether or not you qualify for in-state tuition and, if not, whether there may be private options in the same price range that are worth considering.

Student Loans: The Cost of Doing Business?

If you can’t afford to pay Ed.D. tuition out of your own pocket, you’ll probably need to get a student loan. Student loans have increasingly become a standard, unavoidable part of higher education for those who are not independently wealthy and don’t qualify for (or still can’t afford) in-state tuition.

The good news is that student loan repayment plans are typically fairly generous, with income-based and pay-as-you-earn arrangements allowing for long-term repayment of loans. People who work in the education sector may also qualify for full or partial student loan forgiveness.

Alternative Funding Sources

Ed.D. Scholarships and Grants

While scholarships and grants are not as big of a deal at the Ed.D. level as they are for undergraduates, and less commonly available for online students than they are for on-campus students, some options are still available. Before you apply, explore the scholarship sections within the university’s College of Education and Graduate Student websites. We also recommend that you ask the Ed.D. program coordinator about how doctoral students are funded.

Graduate Assistantships

As a general rule, graduate assistantships—which make doctoral programs a financial option for many on-campus students who would not otherwise be able to pursue them—are not available for online Ed.D. students. Having said that, it’s a good idea to check with your specific institution, since case-by-case arrangements can sometimes be made.

Final Considerations

Online Ed.D. Accreditation

Regional Accreditation

Every college and university in our database of online Ed.D. programs holds regional accreditation—the gold standard form of general, institutional U.S. accreditation.

If you look around for online Ed.D. programs on your own, you may run across some schools that hold accreditation from a national accreditor called the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).

DEAC, founded in 1926 as the National Home Study Council and later known as the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), is a legitimate, USDE-recognized accrediting body originally created to assess legitimate correspondence schools that could not obtain regional accreditation.
But DEAC accreditation has never been as widely recognized as regional accreditation, and regional accreditors are now friendlier towards distance learning institutions, so we can think of no good reason to pursue a DEAC-accredited Ed.D. program that lacks regional accreditation. They aren’t even cheaper than regionally accredited programs.

That’s why we haven’t included these online doctorates in our database, and that’s why you shouldn’t include these online Ed.D. programs in your search. If you’re pursuing a doctorate located in the United States, accept no substitute for regional accreditation.

CAEP Accreditation

If you want to go a step further than regional accreditation, consider limiting your search to online Ed.D. programs that are directly accredited by—or offered by departments that are accredited by—the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Schools that offer these programs will also hold regional accreditation. While CAEP’s accrediting process isn’t especially friendly towards online programs, a small number of them have made the cut.

Accreditation for International Programs

If you’re interested in pursuing an online Ed.D. program located outside of the United States, it’s a more complicated topic. Hundreds of legitimate schools offer online Ed.D. programs in the United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa that are available to U.S. students, with new schools in the emerging world entering the market on a regular basis.

Since there is no international accrediting body that can separate the good schools from the diploma mills on a global scale, and laws and accreditation standards vary from country to country, a good rule of thumb is to avoid any privately-run institution of higher learning located outside of the United States unless you are directly familiar with it and have independent means of vouching for its legitimacy.
As a general rule, it’s best to stick to U.S. schools for your Ed.D. unless you have specific knowledge of and experience with another country’s system of higher education, or plan to work overseas in a country whose schools make online Ed.D. programs available to U.S. students.

Is an Online Ed.D. Right for You?

We’ve offered a lot of advice here, but in the end the only person whose opinion really matters in this situation is yours. Here are a few last questions you should ask yourself before considering an online doctorate in education.

How Well Do You Work on Your Own?

Be brutally honest: how much supervision do you need? If you’re assigned a project, do you benefit from frequent reminders? Can you work from home? Do you need the peer support system of a workplace to get things done? Online Ed.D. programs are for self-starters. If managing your own time doesn’t come naturally to you, and it’s not really a skill you want to develop the hard way, an on-campus or hybrid/blended program may be a better fit.

How Important is Campus Life to You?

Do you want to make long-lasting connections over the course of your Ed.D. program? While it’s not impossible that you’ll make some friendships while you’re doing an online Ed.D., there’s something to be said for building local career connections and becoming part of a campus community. Online programs can’t offer that. That said, if you’re an introvert, or already have an active social life, or don’t enjoy campus socializing, an online Ed.D. makes it more possible to avoid the social element.

Can You Balance an Online Ed.D. With Your Career?

The best thing about an online Ed.D. program is that you can often study on your own schedule. But you still have to put the time in. If you wouldn’t consider doing an on-campus Ed.D. because of the overall time investment, an online Ed.D. is unlikely to prove more manageable.

All Online EdD Programs

154 Schools Found

Alabama

Samford University

Orlean Beeson School of Education

Birmingham, Alabama

CAEP accredited

Samford University's Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is designed for educators who want to prepare for an administrative role at an educational institution. The degree is offered in a predominately online format. However, students must attend three on-campus meetings in Birmingham, Alabama, while they take methodology and research courses in preparation for the dissertation. This degree requires 36 credits. Required courses cover topics such as developing educational policy, leadership planning, ethical issues, negotiation and conflict resolution, and research design. Samford uses a cohort model for this program, and cohorts enter the program in the fall semester. Instructors for this program come from Samford's award-winning faculty and include researchers, scholars, and former education practitioners. The Orlean Beeson School of Education automatically offers all graduate students a scholarship that varies based on the number of courses they are enrolled in.

Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership

Offered Online

The University of Alabama

UA Online

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

CAEP accredited

Members of the executive cohort for the University of Alabama's Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration attend the program in a blended format. Classes are delivered online, and students gather in Tuscaloosa one weekend a month for face-to-face sessions. The in-person sessions take place on Thursday through Saturday. The program meets year round for two years. Students take part in an international travel program as part of the course on comparative higher education, which is offered during the summer. Other courses cover topics such as student affairs, higher education law, university teaching, and grant writing. The curriculum includes 54 credits of coursework and 12 credits for a dissertation. This accelerated program also uses small cohorts to allow students to develop a supportive relationship with their peers. Cohorts enter the program in the fall.

Doctor of Education (EdD) in Special Education

Offered Online

Online EdD in Higher Education Administration - Executive Cohort

Offered Online

University of West Alabama

College of Education

Livingston, Alabama

CAEP accredited

The University of West Alabama offers the only online Ed.D. in Rural Education in the nation. Students can select from four specialty tracks: counseling, teacher leader, organizational change and leadership, or higher education administration. The curriculum includes courses that investigate issues that are critical in rural education, and students consider possible strategies and solutions. The degree is designed for individuals who want deeper knowledge of curriculum and instruction or administration and leadership. The program is not limited to individuals with a background in education; applicants may have a master's degree in any field. To earn this degree, candidates are required to complete 60 to 66 credits, including 21 credits in professional courses, 27 credits in the specialty track, and 12 credits in the applied dissertation. Courses are delivered in an 8-week format, and students can complete the degree in 3 to 4 years.

Online Ed.D in Rural Education - Counseling

Offered Online

Online Ed.D in Rural Education - Higher Education Administration

Offered Online

Online Ed.D in Rural Education - Organizational Change and Leadership

Offered Online

Online Ed.D in Rural Education - Teaching and Learning

Offered Online

Arizona

Arizona State University

Teacher's College

Tempe, Arizona

Offered Online

Arkansas

University of Arkansas

College of Education and Health Professions

Fayetteville, Arkansas

CAEP accredited

The University of Arkansas has three online Doctor of Education programs for different student groups. The Ed.D. in Human Resource and Workforce Development Education is for professionals with a background in psychology, organizational behavior, occupational counseling, training, management development, or quality management. This degree is 100% online, and students can enter the program in any semester. The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is for educators who seeking leadership posts such as principal or superintendent. Coursework is completely online, but students are required to attend three intensive weekend seminars in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Over these weekends, students meet with their cohort for hands-on learning. Candidates must complete 42 credits, including a dissertation. The Doctor of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning has two cohorts. One cohort focuses on adult education leadership and the other on community college leadership. This degree is 75% online and requires six on-campus sessions per year.

Online Doctor of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning - Adult Education Leadership

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning - Community College Leadership

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Human Resource and Workforce Development Education

Offered Online

California

National University

School of Education

La Jolla, California

CAEP accredited

The Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership at UMass Global is an interdisciplinary degree that uses theories from the fields of education and organizational leadership. Students learn about collaboration, innovation, strategic thinking, positive influence, political intelligence, and sustained innovation. Graduates are prepared for a variety of careers, including on a college faculty or staff, in another educational institution, business executive, local government, non-profit leadership, or organizational development consultant. This is a 57-credit program that includes a dissertation. In preparation for the dissertation, students take classes in quantitative and qualitative research methods and in writing for research and publication. They also complete field experiences. The program is available 100% online and classes start every eight weeks, with six terms per year. UMass Global instructors are practitioners in their field of expertise, so students learn from people who hold the job they aspire to.

Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership

Offered Online

University of Southern California

Rossier School of Education

Los Angeles, California

CAEP accredited

At the University of Southern California, professionals interested in an online leadership degree have two choices: Ed.D. in Educational Leadership or Ed.D. in Organizational Change and Leadership. The online educational leadership degree has a concentration in K-12 leadership in urban school settings. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in classrooms, schools, and districts. The curriculum includes six core courses, four concentration courses, two research methods courses, and a dissertation in practice. Courses in this program use a real-time virtual classroom along with asynchronous work on assignments. The organizational leadership degree has three key themes: leadership, problem solving, and reflection. Graduates are prepared to create more effective organizations in many sectors of the economy. The program includes online coursework and immersion weeks held annually in Los Angeles. Students are required to complete a dissertation in practice where they collaborate with an organization to create a strategic action plan that helps the organization reach a goal.

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership - Educational Psychology

Offered Online

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership - Higher Education Administration

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership - K-12 Leadership in Urban School Settings

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership - Leading Instructional Change

Offered Online

Colorado

Aspen University

School of Education

Denver, Colorado

Aspen University's School of Education offers five specializations in its online program leading to an Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning. Those specializations are health care administration and leadership, higher education leadership, K-12 educational leadership, organizational leadership, and organizational psychology. Each of these specializations requires the student to complete 20 courses. Aspen has online courses starting every two weeks, and classes last for eight weeks, so the academic schedule provides students with a lot of flexibility. All candidates are required to write and defend a dissertation, which they can tailor to the issues and policies that they are interested in or that are relevant to their job. During the dissertation process, students complete a research study and learn how to apply research methods and strategies to improve an educational setting or organization. Before advancing to the dissertation, all students must complete a comprehensive proctored exam.

University of Northern Colorado

College of Education and Behavioral Sciences

Greeley, Colorado

The University of Northern Colorado's online Ed.D. in Educational Studies has an emphasis on innovation and education reform. Students learn to conduct, analyze, and apply the research of education to implement change and improve education systems. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in a school district or a job as a consultant, university faculty member, or nonprofit leader. Classes are mostly online, although students must attend five-day sessions in Greely, Colorado, for the first three summers they're in the program. Candidates must also come to campus to defend their dissertation. The curriculum for this 64-credit degree includes 12 credits in the educational studies core, 12 credits in the research core, 24 credits in the innovation and education reform cognate, and 16 credits in the dissertation. Before their dissertation proposal hearing, candidates are required to submit a paper for publication with a professional journal.

Online Doctor of Education in Educational Studies

Offered Online

Offered Online

Delaware

Wilmington University

College of Education

New Castle, Delaware

CAEP accredited

Wilmington University has two distinct online Ed.D. programs. The Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership, Learning, and Innovation is an interdisciplinary degree. Students can choose from two existing concentrations or develop their own specialized concentration. The standard options are strategic leadership or workplace learning and talent development. Classes are delivered in a 100% online format, and students can complete the required 18 courses in as little as three years. Cohorts enter this degree program in the fall. Wilmington's other online educational doctorate is an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership. Students in this program can personalize every aspect of the degree, which includes practice-based learning and mentorships in the student's areas of interest. Students complete a guided study project where they put research and theory into practice. The Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership uses a cohort model, and online students attend one hour of synchronous online meetings each week plus asynchronous coursework.

District of Columbia

American University

School of Education

Washington, District of Columbia

CAEP accredited

American University's online Ed.D. in Education Policy and Leadership equips school leaders to use federal and state education policy, education research, and leadership skills to create an impact and be more effective leaders. Through the program, students gain skills in areas such as strategic budgeting, managing talent, building partnerships, evaluating programs, and conducting a collaborative inquiry. The 40-credit program combines asynchronous classes with virtual meetings among cohort members and three required residencies in Washington, D.C. The residencies are scheduled for one weekend each in the first, fourth, and sixth terms of the program. During the residencies, students network with fellow students and faculty and take part in workshops and sessions to help them develop their dissertation. The curriculum includes classes in education policy analysis, social justice, building growth culture, and a dissertation of practice. This Ed.D. is a 40-credit program, and cohorts start the program in August.

Online EdD in Education Policy and Leadership

Offered Online

Florida

Florida State University

College of Education

Tallahassee, Florida

CAEP accredited

Florida State University has two online Ed.D. programs: Educational Leadership and Policy and Learning Design and Performance Technology. The educational leadership program is designed to create leaders focused on improving educational systems. It prepares students for senior-level positions as educational leaders and policymakers. The online degree has a major in educational leadership and administration. Designed to be completed in three years, this degree is a 69-credit program including 24 credits for the dissertation in practice. Students must take part in a three-day professional seminar in Tallahassee each summer they are enrolled. The Ed.D. in Learning Design and Performance Technology provides practical and theoretical foundations for individuals who want to focus on data-based solutions to problems of learning and performance. This three-year, cohort-based program is appropriate for individuals who work in business, health care, higher education, K-12 education, or government. The degree requires an applied dissertation project addressing a real problem.

Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy

Offered Online

Nova Southeastern University

Fischler College of Education

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

CAEP accredited

College of Education

Gainesville, Florida

CAEP accredited

Educators can choose from five very different online Ed.D. programs at the University of Florida. The Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction has an emphasis on educational technology, including research on technology in educational environments. Students take classes online and attend three on-campus experiences in Gainesville, Florida. The Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in teachers, schools, and society is for practicing educators who want to implement practical, positive changes. The Ed.D. in Special Education prepares expert service providers, school leaders, and advocates for those with special needs. The blended Leadership in Educational Administration doctorate prepares educators for leadership roles at the school, district, state, and national level. Classes are online with up to three in-person meetings a semester in Gainesville. The hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration prepares community college leaders. The cohort attends classes online and meets two or three weekends per semester at colleges around Florida.

Georgia

Georgia Southern University

College of Education

Statesboro, Georgia

CAEP accredited

GSU's cohort-based Ed.D. in Educational Leadership has hybrid elements - 75% of the Tier II portion of the program is online and 25% is on-campus in Statesboro, GA. Students entering with a master's degree are expected to complete 69 credits: 30 credits of Tier I coursework in research topics, core leadership subjects, and concentration work; 30 credits of Tier II coursework in advanced leadership & research methods; and 9 credits for the Dissertation in Practice (DiP). Anyone who holds an Ed.S. and L-6 certification can go straight into Tier II and Tier III coursework. The timeframe for completion is flexible, but a minimum 3.25 graduate GPA and GRE scores are required for admission.

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership - Higher Education Administration

Offered Online

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership - P-12 Administration

Offered Online

Kennesaw State University

Bagwell College of Education

Kennesaw, Georgia

CAEP accredited

CAEP accredited

The Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership and Practice is known as the HELP program at the University of North Georgia. This 60-credit degree is delivered completely online with no requirements to visit campus. Students can complete the degree in three years, including summers. The HELP curriculum is designed to include dissertation milestones in courses to keep students on schedule. In the first year, for instance, students develop a dissertation topic. In the second year, they develop their dissertation proposal and prepare to collect data. In the program's final year, students analyze their findings and write the dissertation. Other required classes cover topics such as ethics and law, finance and administration, program development and assessment, and leadership theory. Classwork is delivered in an asynchronous format, and students meet with faculty members for mentoring and advisement through synchronous online meetings. Students enter the program in the fall semester.

Online Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership and Practice

Offered Online

University of West Georgia

College of Education

Carrollton, Georgia

CAEP accredited

College of Education and Human Services

Valdosta, Georgia

CAEP accredited

Offered Online

Idaho

Boise State University

College of Education

Boise, Idaho

CAEP accredited

Bradley University

College of Education and Health Sciences

Peoria, Illinois

CAEP accredited

Bradley University has an online Doctor of Education with tracks in higher education administration and PK-12 educational leadership. The higher ed track prepares students for leadership roles at institutions of higher education, from community college to university. The PK-12 program only accepts students who are seeking superintendent licensure in Illinois. The Bradley Ed.D. program has a focus on practicality. Instructors have experience in public schools and institutions of higher learning that they can share with students. The research component of the degree employs an action research methodology. The program also emphasizes the importance of social justice in education and leadership and prepares graduates to address injustice in their schools. The program requires 48 credits, including 12 credits in core classes, an internship, an action research project, and 15 credits in the concentration.

Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership - Higher Education Administration

Offered Online

Concordia University-Chicago

College of Education

River Forest, Illinois

CAEP accredited

CAEP accredited

The College of Education at Governors State University has an online Ed.D. in Interdisciplinary Leadership that prepares leaders to solve real-world problems by making data-informed decisions and using strategic planning. Three concentrations are available: Superintendent (P-12), higher education administration, or not-for-profit/social entrepreneurship leadership. Students must complete at least 60 credits, including a capstone project. The curriculum includes 18 credits in core classes, 33 credits in the concentration area, and 9 credits in the capstone. For the capstone project, students must complete a quantitative or qualitative inquiry into a topic related to their concentration area. The capstone project includes an internship or fieldwork that allows the candidate to lead activities in an organization, school, or district. All courses are offered online, and students can complete the degree in four years, although they have up to seven years to complete all the requirements.

Online Doctor of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership - Higher Education Administration

Chicago, Illinois

Educators who want to gain expertise in learning technology can earn an Ed.D. in Educational Psychology and Technology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Students can select from three concentrations: higher education learning and technology, K-12 education learning and technology, or instructional design. Graduates will be skilled in using technology to improve student learning outcomes and to support organizational productivity. Those skills can be valuable in a variety of fields, including education, nonprofits, business, and government. Classes cover topics such as integrating technology in learning systems and the impact of technology on cognition. Classes are delivered online, but students must attend two residency sessions at The Chicago School. These four-day meetings focus on special topics in the field and provide in-depth learning. Candidates are required to complete a dissertation. Students have five years from enrollment to complete all the requirements for the degree.

Online Ed.D. in Educational Psychology and Technology - Higher Education Learning and Technology

Offered Online

Online Ed.D. in Educational Psychology and Technology - Instructional Design

Offered Online

Online Ed.D. in Educational Psychology and Technology - K-12 Education Learning and Technology

Offered Online

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Department of Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership

Champaign, Illinois

The Ed.D. in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership at the University of Illinois has four concentrations available online: diversity and equity in education, global studies in education, human resource development, and learning design and leadership. Classes for the Ed.D. are delivered online using synchronous video sessions along with asynchronous elements. Each class meets once a week, and the classes are scheduled for Mondays-Thursdays in the late afternoon or evening. It is mandatory to attend the synchronous sessions. Classes typically run for eight weeks during the fall and spring semester and six weeks over the summer. Overall, the curriculum includes 64 credits, including 24 credits in the specialization and 16 credits in a cognate, plus research courses. Candidates must complete three written qualifying exams and a doctoral dissertation. For their dissertation, students relate what they have learned to a problem of professional practice.

University of St Francis

College of Education

Joliet, Illinois

CAEP accredited

Individuals who want leadership roles in education, health care, service organizations, or private companies can gain the appropriate knowledge through the Doctor of Education program that the University of St. Francis delivers online. The online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership has a concentration in leadership, learning, and stewardship. The degree requires 60 credits, including 36 credits in concentration classes covering topics such as organizational change, human resources, and ethical governance. Students also complete two experiential leadership project courses. The curriculum includes 24 credits in required core courses that cover research and the dissertation experience. Each dissertation course is lead by a faculty mentor who helps guide students through the dissertation process. Applicants must have a master's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership - Stewardship, Leadership, and Learning Concentration

Offered Online

Indiana

Baker University

School of Education

Baldwin City, Kansas

CAEP accredited

Individuals who want to increase their skills in the field of online learning and training for various settings can earn a Doctor of Education in Instructional Design and Performance Technology from Baker University. This Ed.D. is useful for people who want to lead and direct training and performance needs in organizations including schools, health care, government, and corporations. Classes for this 59-credit program are delivered online, and students can finish all the required courses and dissertation in as few as three years. The program uses a cohort model, with students moving as a group through the classes. Classes last for seven weeks each, and students spend two years on coursework. The program also requires two field experiences. The third year of the program is devoted to working on a dissertation. About 70% of students who enter this program finish it, which is much higher than the national average of 40%.

Online Doctor of Education in Instructional Design & Performance Technology

Offered Online

Kansas State University

College of Education

Manhattan, Kansas

CAEP accredited

Kansas State University has an online Doctor of Education for educators who work with K-12 students and for those who work with adult learners. The Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction focuses on practice and leadership for K-12 educators. The degree is offered 100% online. The curriculum includes 39 credits in the emphasis area, 15 credits in foundational knowledge, 12 credits in research courses, 12 credits for internships, 16 credits for doctoral research, and 16 credits for the dissertation. The Ed.D. in Adult Learning and Leadership prepares educators as researchers or practitioners in adult education. Through their selection of electives, students can develop a specialization in leadership, teaching and learning, community development, technology, training, or workforce development. The Ed.D. requires students to attend two residential courses, which can each be completed in a week-long format or over multiple weekends. The degree requires an internship and doctoral research project.

Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Adult Learning and Leadership

Offered Online

Southwestern College

Professional Studies

Winfield, Kansas

CAEP accredited

Southeastern College Offers an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with two available tracks. Educators with K-12 licensure can take a PK-12 track that adds an endorsement in building or district leadership. The second track is in higher education leadership. Classes are delivered primarily online and include synchronous and asynchronous components. Students are also required to attend two summer residencies on campus in Wichita, Kansas. The summer residencies each last for a week and are part of regular summer courses that run for eight weeks. One residency course covers research and the other covers publication writing. Experiential learning is also built into this doctorate program. Students work with a mentor in the institution or school system where they are employed to develop leadership skills and enhance the learning experience through field projects. Students can enter this program in the spring, summer, or fall semester.

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership - Higher Education

Offered Online

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership - PK-12

Offered Online

Kentucky

Murray State University

Department of Educational Studies, Leadership, and Counseling

Murray, Kentucky

CAEP accredited

CAEP accredited

Educators who want to gain a research-rich background to lead change can earn a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Kentucky. This program is delivered 100% online, but students can attend an optional doctoral student summer colloquium (or "Doc Week") in Lexington each July. This event allows online students to meet and network with faculty and students, hear speakers, and enjoy social events. There is no charge to participate in Doc Week, although students must pay any travel-related and lodging expenses. The program pathway covers four years or 11 semesters. Students start in the fall semester. In the second spring semester, they develop a dissertation topic and begin research. Students use a mixed-methods action research design and their research addresses a leadership problem of practice. The dissertation typically takes about a year to complete. Graduates are prepared for roles such as principal or administrative dean.

Online EdD in Educational Leadership

Offered Online

University of the Cumberlands

Department of Education

Williamsburg, Kentucky

CAEP accredited

The University of the Cumberlands has an accelerated Ed.D. that allows students to gain leadership skills while also enhancing their depth of knowledge in a specialty area. Classes for this degree are delivered completely online, and students can earn the degree in less than three years. The curriculum requires 60 credits in three component areas. Students must complete 24 credits in leadership core classes covering topics such as organizational decision making, program planning, and the change process. Candidates also complete 18 credits in professional research, which includes research classes and a dissertation. Students also take 18 credits in a specialty content area, so they can enhance knowledge in their specialty. Available content areas include business, criminal justice, English, health science, history, information technology, mathematics, nursing, religion/ministry, and student personnel services. Applicants must have a master's degree with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Online Doctorate in Educational Leadership

Offered Online

Louisiana

Grambling State University

College of Education

Grambling, Louisiana

CAEP accredited

Grambling State University's Department of Educational Leadership offers a 100% online Ed.D. in Developmental Education. Graduates are prepared for roles in traditional classrooms and in workplace settings where they can help the nontraditional learner through their skills in counseling, administration, instructional design, and management. Students who earn this Ed.D. may find roles in post-secondary education, human services, business, or government. As part of the 60-credit curriculum, students select a minor area of study, selecting from three options: curriculum and instruction design, higher education administration and management, or student development and personnel services. Each minor includes four classes for a total of 12 credits. Students also take 27 credits in development education classes, as well as classes in statistics and research methods. Students with fewer than five years of work experience in developmental education must complete an administrative internship. All candidates must pass a comprehensive exam and prepare a dissertation.

Online EdD in Developmental Education

Offered Online

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

School of Education

Natchitoches, Louisiana

University of New England

Department of Education

Biddeford, Maine

The focus of the Doctor of Education at the University of New England is transformative leadership. Students develop the skills to transform themselves, their organization, and their community through their study of development theory, social theory, and adult development. The program is for leaders who work in education, health care, nonprofits, NGOs, public agencies, or private organizations. This 51-credit program is delivered completely online. Candidates even defend their dissertations online, so they never have to go to campus. Work on the dissertation is built into the curriculum for this Ed.D. That way, students develop a dissertation proposal by the end of the second year and complete data collection during the third year. Students move through the program as a cohort and develop supportive relationships with fellow students. Small cohorts of students also progress through the dissertation stage together. Students can start the program in the fall, spring, or summer.

Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

Offered Online

Maryland

Johns Hopkins University

School of Education

Baltimore, Maryland

CAEP accredited

Johns Hopkins University has three specializations for the online Doctor of Education: entrepreneurial leadership in education; urban leadership; or mind, brain, and teaching. This program prepares practicing educators to use evidence-based practices to improve educational outcomes and solve educational challenges. Students can complete the program in three years, although they may take up to five years to finish the classwork. However, they must complete the applied dissertation within seven years of starting the degree. In the applied dissertation, students examine a problem of practice or an issue that is of concern to the organization they work for. Students identify the causes, propose a solution, conduct applied research, and evaluate how effective their solution is. The degree requires between 48 and 54 credits after a master's degree. Coursework is 100% online with synchronous and asynchronous elements. Students are encouraged, but not required, to take part in three-day summer residencies.

Morgan State University

School of Education

Baltimore, Maryland

CAEP accredited

Education professionals who want senior-level roles at community colleges can prepare through the online Ed.D. in Community College Leadership that Morgan State University offers. This program is designed to address the unique situations that community college administrators and faculty members encounter. The curriculum reflects the knowledge base and competencies recommended by the American Association of Community Colleges, including advocacy, organizational strategy, resource management, and collaboration. Morgan State uses an educational leadership learning and cohort model that allows students to explore and work on issues that are relevant to community college leadership. Students work in teams to research trends and issues while seeking solutions to problems that community colleges face. Classes are delivered in five-week sessions, so students can complete three courses per traditional semester. The degree requires 60 credits, including an internship or practicum at a community college, and a dissertation. Morgan State has offered this degree since 1998.

Online Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership

Offered Online

Massachusetts

Bay Path University

School of Education

Longmeadow, Massachusetts

For Bay Path's Online Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership & Organizational Studies, you can choose the standard 8-semester/3-year program or a 6-semester/2-year "All But Dissertation" (ABD) pathway. The 3-year program is packed with 100% online coursework, annual weekend intensives, and a great deal of group work. The curriculum leans heavily on change management & innovative practice. In addition to taking part in cohort-based signature seminars, you'll be asked to tackle three sequential research courses and an action-focused Dissertation in Practice.

EdD in Higher Education Leadership & Organizational Studies

Offered Online

Boston College

Carolyn A. And Peter S. Lynch School Of Education And Human Development

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

CAEP accredited

Andrews University

Department of Leadership

Berrien Springs, Michigan

CAEP accredited

Andrews University offers an online option for its Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration. The Ed.D. prepares experienced practitioners for high-level policy-making or administrative roles. (The university also offers a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration for students whose goal is research or teaching.) Ed.D. students study the policies, practices, and issues faced by colleges and universities. They also develop skills in leadership and management as they prepare for roles such as college administrators, faculty members, or policymakers. One feature that sets Andrews apart from other programs is the international study tour. A recent class went to Vietnam and Indonesia. Before starting the program, all students are required to attend a weeklong summer orientation on campus in Berrien Springs, Michigan. The Ed.D. is a 60-credit program with most classes delivered online and minimal face-to-face requirements. Students complete a dissertation and must submit a research-based article to a peer-reviewed publication.

Online Doctor of Leadership (D.Lead)

Offered Online

Central Michigan University

School of Education

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

CAEP accredited

The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program at Central Michigan University offers two tracks. The K-12 leadership concentration is for individuals who want to serve as a principal, superintendent, or curricular leader. The higher education leadership program prepares students for roles at colleges and universities such as president, dean of students, or an administrator overseeing functions such as finance, enrollment, or alumni relations. The 63-credit hybrid program uses a cohort format, with students entering in the fall and following a set schedule through the program. Central Michigan combines online classes with two face-to-face meetings of the cohort. The online portions of the program include asynchronous elements and scheduled synchronous meetings every other Saturday. All students must complete a field-based experience with the requirements based on the student's professional experience and career goals. Students are also required to pass comprehensive exams and complete a dissertation.

Online EdD in Educational Leadership

Offered Online

Online EdD in Educational Leadership - Higher Education Leadership

Graduate School of Education

Winona, Minnesota

Students in the online Doctor of Education in Leadership program at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota combine online classes with summer residencies in the Twin Cities. Students are required to attend three residencies, which each last for five days. Online classes have both synchronous and asynchronous elements. The degree requires students to earn 61 credits. Students can complete the required coursework in less than three years, attending classes in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. After that, they take a comprehensive exam and move on to the dissertation. Some students can complete all the requirements in four years, and they may take a maximum of eight years from starting the program. Online students begin coursework in May and attend their first residency in July. In addition to educators, this program is appropriate for individuals who work in health care, government, nonprofits, and business.

Doctor of Education in Leadership

Offered Online

Executive Doctor of Education in Leadership

Offered Online

The College of Saint Scholastica

School of Education

Duluth, Minnesota

CSS's interdisciplinary Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is primarily online - the only on-campus requirement is the annual summer residency. To encourage collaboration, this cohort-based doctorate also features live synchronous sessions and online meetings with Scholarly Learning Communities (SLC). An individualized internship and international opportunities are built into the curriculum. Candidates for this 60-credit, 4-year program should have a 3.0 GPA; 1-3 years of professional experience is preferred. The official start date is June, but Ed.D. students can get a jump-start on the schedule by working on specializations or elective credits in the fall.

Doctor of Educational Leadership

Offered Online

University of St. Thomas

College of Education, Leadership and Counseling

Saint Paul, Minnesota

CAEP accredited

The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Learning at the University of St. Thomas prepares educators for leadership roles in a variety of settings, such as principal, central office, higher education, student affairs, and adult education. Available concentrations include PK-12 administration, higher education administration, music education, leadership in student affairs, and adult learning. Classes are delivered online in the fall and spring semesters, and students are required to attend a two-week summer residency in St. Paul, Minnesota, each year they are in the program. The 66-credit program is designed so that students can earn their degrees in four years. While students often begin the program with a summer residency, they may enter the program earlier and take a concentration class. During their third and fourth years in the program, candidates work on a dissertation.

Walden University

Riley College of Education & Leadership

Minneapolis, Minnesota

CAEP accredited

CAEP accredited

Students earning a Doctor of Education from Winona State University select from six available emphasis areas: curriculum and instruction, higher education, technology education, special education, indigenous studies, or organizational administration. This is an accelerated online program that prepares practitioner-scholars to address problems of practice and improve education outcomes. Classes are delivered online in a mostly asynchronous format, although classes may have synchronous elements. Students are also required to attend two summer residencies in Winona, Minnesota. Students can complete the degree in six consecutive terms, starting in the summer semester. The second year of the program is devoted to completing an action research project that leads to a dissertation. Applicants must have a master's degree with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Individuals whose master's degree is not in an education field may apply, but they may be required to take leveling classes before starting Ed.D. courses.

Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi

Department of Educational Research and Administration

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

CAEP accredited

Educators interested in administrative careers can select from two fully online programs at the University of Southern Mississippi. The Ed.D. in Educational Administration prepares educators to lead P-12 schools and districts. The program meets Mississippi's P-12 administrator licensure standards. Students must have a mentor, either a principal or assistant principal, to supervise the student's practicum and evaluate performance. Candidates for this degree complete a field-based capstone project instead of a dissertation. The educational administration doctorate requires 54 credits. Southern Miss also has a part-time, fully-online Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration. Candidates are required to complete an action-oriented research capstone project in which they identify, investigate, and provide solutions to a problem in higher education. This is also a 54-credit degree, including 12 credits in electives. Applicants must have at least three years of experience in higher education administration, although their previous degrees do not have to be in higher education.

Online EdD in Educational Administration - P-12

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Healthcare Education and Leadership - Part Time

Offered Online

College of Saint Mary

Department of Education

Omaha, Nebraska

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at The College of Saint Mary is designed for professionals in education, health care, business, and leadership who want to teach in higher education, take a leadership role, or develop curriculum. The program uses a cohort format where the same group of up to 18 students progresses through the required classes together. Most classes last for 8 weeks. The program includes classes designed to help students prepare their research proposal and dissertation, including three classes that focus on writing the first three chapters of the dissertation. The degree requires 87 credits, but students may transfer up to 36 credits from a master's degree. While classes are offered online, students interact with professors and classmates virtually. Students also attend a virtual orientation before they begin classes. Students can complete the program in three years.

Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

Offered Online

Creighton University

Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

Omaha, Nebraska

CAEP accredited

The Ed.D. in Interdisciplinary Leadership at Creighton University is designed for individuals who want to lead change in their communities and workplaces. Graduates are prepared for careers such as school administrator, chief executive, and other leadership posts. This is an online program with two required residencies at the Creighton campus in Omaha, Nebraska. The first residency serves as an orientation when students meet the faculty and other members of their cohort. The second residency is for the defense of the student's dissertation. The program requires 51 credits, and online classes last for eight weeks each. Students take one class at a time. Research for the dissertation is evidence based and can address challenges students have encountered in their industry or workplace. Students can complete the Ed.D. from Creighton in three years. Students may enter the program at the start of the fall or spring semester.

Doctorate of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership

Offered Online

Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health

Healthcare Management Department

Omaha, Nebraska

Nebraska Methodist College offers an Ed.D. in Education and Leadership in Healthcare that is designed for individuals who want to serve in leadership roles in health care organizations or academia. Full-time students can complete the degree in two years, and the college also has a three-year plan of study. This program doesn't require a dissertation. Instead, students complete a capstone practice project where they apply what they have learned to a real-world problem. Classes are delivered online, and students are required to attend two three-day learning intensives. The intensives are held in the summer at the Nebraska Methodist campus in Omaha, Nebraska. The 44-credit curriculum includes courses in leadership, organizational change, information technology, and teaching methods. Applicants must have a master's degree, and the college prefers applicants with a health care degree. Students can start the program in the fall or spring semester.

EdD in Education & Leadership in Healthcare

Offered Online

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Department of Educational Administration

Lincoln, Nebraska

CAEP accredited

Students who enter the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Higher Education program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln can choose from three concentrations. The choices are educational leadership, higher education administration, or community college leadership. Online courses follow the university's schedule for regular semesters and summer sessions. Ed.D. students must come to Lincoln to present their dissertation proposal and to defend their dissertation. They can also take research residency seminars over the summer that combine on-campus time with online content. This degree requires 96 graduate credits past the bachelor's degree. For students with a master's degree, that means about 60 credits. Students take 12 credits in core courses covering educational leadership and higher education, 12 credits in the concentration, 12 to 15 electives based on the student's career goals, and 12 research credits. Ed.D. candidates complete a dissertation that focuses on a problem of practice.

CAEP accredited

The College of Saint Elizabeth uses an unusual delivery model for its Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership. Designed to provide students with maximum flexibility, the Ed Choice delivery model allows students to choose to attend class online or in person and the ability to switch from one mode to another weekly. One thing that facilitates flexibility is the fact that the same professor teaches the class, whether it is presented online or in the campus classroom. The Ed.D. is a 50-credit program that students complete over three years. In the first year, students take classes covering ethical and moral leadership, policymaking, strategic planning, and issues in higher education. The second year covers enrollment management, diverse learners, student affairs, and resource allocation. Students also take classes in research and scholarly writing in preparation for work on their dissertation. The final semesters are dedicated to the dissertation.

EdD in Educational Leadership - Higher Education

Offered Online

EdD in Educational Leadership - PreK to 12th Grade

Offered Online

Saint Peter's University

Caulfield School of Education

Jersey City, New Jersey

CAEP accredited

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in higher education at Saint Peter's University is designed for mid-career professionals. It prepares students for leadership roles in academics, administration, student life, and other areas of higher education. This online program requires students to complete 48 credits, including a dissertation. Students begin to prepare for the dissertation project at the start of the program, and they can adapt the subject to their professional interests. The program uses a semester format, and students can complete the coursework for the degree in about two and a half years. The intention is for students to complete and defend their dissertation in the following year. Saint Peter's uses a cohort format for this program, allowing a group of students to develop a supportive network. Faculty for this program include staff from the School of Education and adjunct professors who are experienced practitioners.

Online EdD in Higher Education

Offered Online

New York

Fordham University

Graduate School of Education

Bronx, New York

CAEP accredited

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy at Fordham University is designed for K-12 educators who want to provide leadership in improving their schools and districts. This 50-credit program has an online format that combines weekly live classes with asynchronous coursework. Students are also required to attend two immersion sessions on the Fordham campus in Westchester, New York. The curriculum focuses on four core areas: educational leadership and organizational change; leading teaching and learning; policy and advocacy; and engaging and transforming schools, districts, and communities. This is a three-year, part-time program. During the first two years, students must complete four Laboratories of Practice or practicums where they perform inquiry projects in many of the core areas. During the final year, students complete a dissertation of practice based on improvement science. To facilitate the process, students take four courses where they design and complete the dissertation of practice.

Online Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy

Offered Online

Manhattanville University

School of Education

Purchase, New York

CAEP accredited

Manhattanville University's three Doctor of Education pathways (Educational Leadership, Higher Education Leadership, and a Dissertation Completion) moved to an online format during the pandemic. Students complete a combination of synchronous and asynchronous coursework, ending with a traditional dissertation. Manhattanville plans to resume on-campus instruction in the future.

Doctor of Education - Dissertation Completion (ABD) Pathway

Offered Online

Doctor of Education - Higher Education Leadership

CAEP accredited

Appalachian State University's online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership allows students to select from six concentrations: educational administration, expressive arts and inquiry leadership, higher education administration, instructional technology and leadership, interdisciplinary studies, and literacy in exceptionalities. The program uses a cohort structure, and Appalachian State selects cohort members from diverse educational settings. Online cohorts start in the fall semester. The Ed.D. requires at least 60 credit hours, with 33 credits in core classes, 15 to 18 credits in electives for the concentration, 3 to 6 credits in an internship, and 6 to 9 credits in the dissertation. Students with an Ed.S. may waive up to 30 credits. The online program includes both synchronous and asynchronous classes. Additionally, online students must attend a two-and-a-half-day summer residency that functions as a mandatory orientation and another day and a half in the winter as a mandatory networking summit.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Department of Kinesiology

Greensboro, North Carolina

CAEP accredited

The only online Ed.D. in Kinesiology in the U.S. is through the University of North Carolina Greensboro. This four-year program is designed for practicing professionals who have at least three years of full-time professional experience in the field of kinesiology. The doctorate focuses on scholarship, leadership, advocacy, and teaching. The program requires 54 credits, including 42 credits in coursework and 12 in the dissertation. In addition to online coursework, the program requires students to visit the campus three times. The first visit is a three-day orientation program in June before students begin classwork in the fall semester. The second on-campus visit occurs in May of the third year when students present their dissertation proposals, and the final visit occurs a year later for dissertation defense. UNC Greensboro has offered an Ed.D. in Kinesiology since 1966, and more than half of the department's faculty are involved with the Ed.D. program.

Online EdD in Kinesiology

Offered Online

North Dakota

University of North Dakota

Department of Teaching and Learning

Grand Forks, North Dakota

CAEP accredited

The Doctor of Education in Educational Practice and Leadership at the University of North Dakota has five specialized tracks. The higher education track prepares administrators and professionals for leadership roles in colleges. The school leadership track prepares educators for school administration positions. The special education track helps practitioners to become educational diagnosticians. The teacher education track prepares college professors of education to teach in P-12 schools. The instructional design and technology track gives practitioners an understanding of how to integrate technology, curriculum design, and human learning. Students can complete this online Ed.D. in three years while working full time. There is no requirement to come to campus. Students use their workplace as a laboratory during coursework and for the required dissertation in practice. All candidates complete three classes in core coursework, three courses in scholarly tools, and specialization classes. Students may enter the program in the fall or spring.

Ohio

Franklin University

School of Education

Columbus, Ohio

The online Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership offered by Franklin University allows students to focus on PK-12 educational leadership, higher education leadership, or organizational leadership. This 58-credit program includes 16 credits in the research core, 16 credits in the leadership core, 8 credits in the focus area, 8 credits in electives, and a 10-credit dissertation in practice. The program devotes four classes to the dissertation in practice, offering guidance to students as they complete the project prospectus, determine their methodology, collect data, write, revise, and defend the dissertation. Students are also required to pass a comprehensive exam. Franklin's program is designed so that students can earn the Ed.D. in three years, and online students can enter the program in August, January, or April. Classes are offered 100% online.

Online Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership - Higher Education Leadership

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership - Organizational Leadership Focus

University of Dayton

School of Education and Health Sciences

Dayton, Ohio

CAEP accredited

The University of Dayton's Ed.D. in Leadership for Organizations is designed for professionals who lead mission-driven organizations. It's appropriate for leaders in schools and education systems, nonprofits, health care systems, and government agencies. Online classes are delivered with live-streaming features. Twice during the program, at the end of the first and third years, students come to Dayton for on-campus immersion sessions. Overall, the curriculum includes 60 credits, and students can complete the degree in three years. One focus of this program is a dissertation in practice, which students work on throughout their three years in class. The dissertation requires students to complete an action research study, and they can select a topic that is relevant to their current organization and implement possible solutions to study at work. Students join a research affinity group to help their classmates clarify ideas while working on the dissertation.

Doctor of Education in Leadership for Organizations

Offered Online

Oregon

Oregon State University

College of Education

Corvallis, Oregon

CAEP accredited

Educators preparing for leadership roles in higher education can choose from two options in Oregon State University's Ed.D. in Adult and Higher Education. The career options are community college leadership and leadership in higher education. Classes in the first two years of this program are hybrid and combine online classwork with two face-to-face meetings per term. In-person meetings occur in downtown Portland on a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Summer classes are completely online. Cohorts take one practical course and one theory course per term. This is a 114-credit program, although students may be able to transfer up to 36 credits from a master's degree. Classes cover topics such as organizational theory, ethical practice, legal issues in higher education, and educational finance. All students are required to complete a practice-focused internship. Candidates also must complete a dissertation in which they research a problem or issue related to higher education.

Online Doctor of Education in Adult and Higher Education - Community College Leadership

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Adult and Higher Education - Leadership in Higher Education

Offered Online

Pennsylvania

Drexel University

School of Education

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

College of Education And Human Services

Millersville, Pennsylvania

CAEP accredited

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at Millersville University is designed for individuals who are rising to leadership levels at the school district or state level in Pennsylvania. The program is a partnership between Millersville University and Shippensburg University. By partnering, the universities can take advantage of Shippenburg's program for school superintendent eligibility and Millersville's expertise in online learning environments. Applicants to this program must have a master's in education and have a role that requires a certificate in supervision or administration. Program content focuses on how poverty affects student achievement and how technology can be used for more effective learning strategies. This is a part-time program with a cohort model. Each cohort has 14 to 16 students. The program uses a combination of blended, online, hybrid, and residency-based classes. In-person classes meet in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Residency classes require students to perform work in their school district.

Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

Offered Online

Pennsylvania Western University

Department of Secondary Education and Administrative Leadership

California, Pennsylvania

CAEP accredited

The Doctor of Education in Educational Administration and Leadership offered at California University of Pennsylvania trains students to meet the biggest challenge they're likely to face - fiscal resource management in the school system they lead. The program focuses on managing resources and gives graduates practical skills in business practices, human resource management, and applied research in education. The doctorate is offered in a 100% online format and qualifies educators with a Superintendent Letter of Eligibility for Pennsylvania. Students who already have the superintendent credential enter the program with advanced standing. This is a 57-credit program that includes integrated field experiences and doctoral-level research that leads to a capstone field project. The program uses a cohort model that allows classmates to develop a professional network. The program is led by faculty from Cal U's Department of Secondary Education and Administrative Leadership.

Online Ed.D. in Education Administration and Leadership

Offered Online

Point Park University

School of Education

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Working professionals can earn an Ed.D. in Leadership and Administration in three years of online coursework at Point Park University. Three concentrations are available: professional leadership, superintendent's letter of eligibility, and K-12 administration with principal certification. Graduates are prepared to serve as organizational or instructional leaders in sectors such as education, nonprofits, or business and industry. The program emphasizes six performance domains: authenticity, culture, vision, quality, systems and service, and communication. This 54-credit degree program uses a cohort format. Students complete 18 credits in the concentration during the first year, and 18 credits in theory and research in the second year. During the program's final year, candidates complete 18 credits for their dissertation. Students enter the program in the fall semester and take two courses per semester to earn a degree in three years.

Online Doctor of Education in Leadership and Administration

Offered Online

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

College of Education

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

CAEP accredited

Educators interested in higher education leadership or special education can earn a relevant online Ed.D. from Slippery Rock University. The Ed.D. in Special Education is for educators and human service agency workers who want to prepare for leadership positions in schools, NGOs, or government agencies that serve children or adults with disabilities. This 60-credit degree uses online courses with synchronous and asynchronous components in the fall, spring, and winter. The curriculum includes content and leadership core, special education core, research core, and dissertation. During summers, students attend weekend face-to-face classes. Cohorts enter the program in the spring semester, and students can complete the degree in three years. Slippery Rock's Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration is aimed at individuals who want to serve in leadership roles in higher education. The three-year, 60-credit program is 100% online, with optional in-person dissertation seminars. Students enter the program in the fall semester.

Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Special Education

Offered Online

Wilkes University

School of Education

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Wilkes University's low-residency Doctor of Education is for individuals who want to advance their career with an administrative or leadership role. Students can earn an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in educational technology, educational leadership studies, or curriculum and instruction. Another option is the Ed.D. in K-12 Administration with a Pennsylvania Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility. Most coursework for this program is presented online, although students must attend three residencies of their choice while enrolled in the program. The U.S. residencies take place in Wilkes-Barre in August each year. The program also schedules international residencies. To earn the degree, students must complete 60 post-master's credits. The curriculum includes 9 credits in the leadership core, 30 credits in the content area, 12 credits in research courses, and 9 credits for the dissertation. Candidates can complete the coursework in three or four years before they begin work on their dissertation.

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Educational Practice and Innovation - STEM Education

Offered Online

Online Ed.D. in Educational Practice and Innovation with a concentration in Curriculum Studies

Offered Online

Online Ed.D. in Educational Practice and Innovation with a concentration in Learning Design and Technologies

Offered Online

Tennessee

Carson-Newman University

Adult and Graduate Studies

Jefferson City, Tennessee

CAEP accredited

Educational doctorate students at Carson-Newman University can choose from two concentrations for the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. The concentration in curriculum and instruction leadership is designed for practicing teachers, lead teachers, instructional coaches, and others interested in curriculum development or assessment. The administration leadership concentration is for individuals who are or aspire to be administrators, supervisors, or hold other leadership positions in the educational system. Each program includes 12 credits in core classes, 24 credits in the concentration (including six credits in a cognate area), 9 credits in research core, and 12 credits for the dissertation. Both programs are delivered in a 100% online format, and students can complete the degree in as few as three years. The program is structured for working educators. During the spring and fall terms, students can complete one three-credit course every eight weeks. During the summer, students can complete up to four courses.

Online Ed.D. in Administrative Leadership

Offered Online

Online Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction Leadership

Offered Online

East Tennessee State University

College of Education

Johnson City, Tennessee

CAEP accredited

East Tennessee State University has three options for an Ed.D. from the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. Those seeking Tennessee licensure as a beginning administrator can choose the administrative endorsement concentration, which requires a teaching certificate and three years of teaching experience. The school leadership concentration is for educators who have an administrative license and want to work in a public school system central office or enhance their leadership skills. The third concentration is higher education leadership. All students move through the program with an online cohort. The Ed.D. program requires 66 credits beyond the master's degree. The credit distribution includes 18 credits in core classes, 15 credits in the concentration, 15 credits in additional requirements, 6 credits in a cognate, and 12 credits for the dissertation. Online classes use an asynchronous format, and students must attend an online orientation in the first semester.

Doctorate of Education in Global Sport Leadership

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Administrator Endorsement

EdD in P-12 School Administration: Instructional Leadership

Offered Online

EdD in P-12 School Administration: Leadership in School Reform

Offered Online

University of Memphis

Department of Leadership

Memphis, Tennessee

CAEP accredited

The University of Memphis has three online Ed.D. programs. The Ed.D in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership with a concentration in instructional design and technology is delivered completely online. This 54-credit program prepares graduates to research how instructional design and technology affects learning. Students can tailor the required projects and experiences to mesh with their professional goals. This program is delivered in a cohort format with the course schedule available well in advance. Some semesters require students to take three courses, but in that case, one class lasts for 14 weeks and the others are 7-week classes so students never take more than two courses at a time. The other online options result in a Doctor of Education in Higher and Adult Education with a concentration in adult education or higher education. The adult education concentration is for individuals who want leadership positions in health services, business, nonprofits, or community organizations.

Online Doctorate of Education in Higher and Adult Education - Adult Education

Offered Online

Online Doctorate of Education in Higher and Adult Education - Higher Education

Offered Online

Online Doctorate of Education in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership - Instructional Design and Technology

Offered Online

Vanderbilt University

Peabody College of Education

Nashville, Tennessee

CAEP accredited

Vanderbilt University's online Doctor of Education in Leadership and Learning in Organizations is for individuals who hold or aspire to a leadership position. The goal is to create results-oriented, effective leaders who understand how to bring about systemic change. Throughout this program, students focus on three key areas: leadership and organizational development, data analytics, and learning and design. Faculty from the Peabody College of Education and Human Development deliver online classes in a live format. Students also participate in group discussions and guided learning. During the program, students must come to Nashville three times for on-campus convenings, where they collaborate with other students on projects and problem-solving. For their capstone, students use data to identify an organizational issue, test a solution, and recommend ways to make improvements. This degree requires 54 credits beyond the master's level, and students can complete the requirements in three or four years.

Online EdD in Leadership and Learning Organizations

Offered Online

Texas

Abilene Christian University

School of Education Leadership

Abilene, Texas

Offered Online

Tarleton State University

Department of Educational Leadership & Technology

Stephenville, Texas

Tarleton State University offers an online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Students choose between four concentrations (EC12 Education Leadership, Educational Technology Leadership, Educational Finance, and Higher Education Leadership) and can pursue Superintendent Certification or Principal Certification. Students complete the 63-credit program online or at the Fort Worth campus in three years.

Texas A & M University-College Station

Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture

College Station, Texas

Educators with five years of teaching experience can earn an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction through Texas A&M. This program is for mid-career professionals who want a degree that can result in leadership roles such as school change initiatives, district curriculum development, or organizational management. Coursework is delivered in an asynchronous format. However, students must make three visits to campus, starting with orientation. The second and third visits involve the required Record of Study project. At TAMU, the Record of Study is a major research document that is based on a problem, such as an action research project. Students in this program are also required to complete two 150-hour internships of their own design. This is a 64-credit program that uses a cohort format. Students enter the program in the spring and are required to take classes every semester, including summers. Students can earn a degree in about four years.

Online Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

Offered Online

Texas A & M University-Commerce

College of Education

Commerce, Texas

Texas school principals and superintendents can earn an Ed.D. in Educational Administration online through Texas A&M University-Commerce. This program is completely online, and students may take the additional school superintendent certification courses while they are working on this degree. This Ed.D. is designed specifically for educators interested in K-12 public school administration. The 60-credit curriculum covers topics such as leading educational organizations, organizational behavior, the economics of education, and program evaluation. The university admits two cohorts into the program each year. One starts in the fall and the other starts in the spring. Students are required to remain with their cohort during the core and research courses. All candidates must complete a dissertation. They also must develop and complete a residency plan with research and professional development activities to gain diverse experiences. For example, a student might choose to attend several professional conferences for professional development.

Online EdD in Educational Administration

Offered Online

Texas Tech University

College of Education

Lubbock, Texas

CAEP accredited

Texas Tech University has three options for an online Ed.D. The Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership is designed for PK-12 educators who want to solve problems of practice in a school or district context. Students must have a professional position in a PK-12 school district that allows them to implement small-scale change so they can complete action research. This 60-credit program combines online courses with several weeklong summer intensives and fall and spring Doctoral Colloquia weekend events. Candidates must complete a problem of practice dissertation. Texas Tech also has an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration with two areas of emphasis: community college administration or higher education/college/university administration. For this program, classes are online, but students come to campus in Lubbock, Texas, for orientation and three summer professional development sessions. This is a 60-credit program that students can complete in three years, including the problem in practice dissertation.

Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

Virginia

College of William and Mary

Department of Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership

Williamsburg, Virginia

CAEP accredited

CAEP accredited

CAEP accredited

Professional educators can qualify for licensure as a school superintendent in Virginia by completing the Doctor of Education program at Radford University. This 63-credit program is designed so that students can earn their degree in three years of part-time study. The program is delivered completely online and uses seven-week courses so that students can concentrate on one topic at a time and complete two courses per semester. The curriculum is practice-focused, and students complete field experiences and research that centers on solving problems of practice in schools. Courses cover topics such as educational foundations, educational leadership, and applied research. This is a new program, with the first cohort of students entering in January 2020.

Online Doctor of Education

Offered Online

Regent University

School of Education

Virginia Beach, Virginia

CAEP accredited

Curry School of Education

Charlottesville, Virginia

CAEP accredited

The University of Virginia offers a personalized course of study for its Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. Students base their study on their professional knowledge and research interests. Candidates take 18 credits in the curriculum and instruction core, 18 credits in the research methods sequence, 6 credits in electives, and 12 credits in an area of emphasis. Available emphasis areas include curriculum and instruction, instructional technology, gifted students, English as a second language, or educational innovation. Students are also required to complete an internship with 200 clock hours of work in a relevant professional setting. Instead of a dissertation, UVA requires Ed.D. students to complete a capstone research project where they identify a problem and investigate ways to address the issue. This online degree is available in a full-time or part-time format. Full-time students can complete the degree in three years. Part-time students may take up to seven years.

EdD in Curriculum and Instruction

Offered Online

Virginia Commonwealth University

School of Education

Richmond, Virginia

CAEP accredited

Instead of specialization tracks, the Ed.D. in Leadership program at Virginia Commonwealth University organizes students into learning communities. Applicants must indicate if they want to be in the general leadership community or the higher education leadership community. Both groups take the same courses, but instructors may use different cases and examples based on the community. VCU requires a minimum number of students to create a learning community. This 36-month program is delivered online. However, students must attend two in-person meetings on Saturdays in the summer. The 48-credit program uses a cohort model with cohorts entering the program in the summer semester. During the final year, students work on a collaborative group capstone study that requires them to develop a project for a client, collect data and interpret it, and develop recommendations for the client. They also present and defend a scholarly document.

Online Doctor of Education in Leadership

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Leadership - General Leadership

Offered Online

Online Doctor of Education in Leadership - Higher Education Leadership

Offered Online

Virginia Tech

School of Education

Blacksburg, Virginia

CAEP accredited

The Ed.D. in Integrative STEM Education at Virginia Tech is designed for individuals who hold a master's degree in education or a STEM field. Program content looks at how STEM disciplines are interconnected and how educators can help students to transfer skills and knowledge among the subjects to solve real-world problems. Program graduates are prepared for a career in educational research, postsecondary education, teacher education, or educational leadership. Virginia Tech notes the program has a 100% postsecondary placement rate for Ed.D. graduates. Online classes for this degree use a format of synchronous meetings, and students are required to complete a two-semester residency at Virginia Tech. The curriculum includes 15 credits in the STEM education core, education electives, research courses, and a dissertation. Students may apply their master's coursework toward the 90 total credits required for this Ed.D.

EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Offered Online

Washington

City University of Seattle

School of Applied Leadership

Seattle, Washington

Marshall University

College of Education and Professional Development

Huntington, West Virginia

CAEP accredited

The online Doctor of Education in Leadership Studies at Marshall University is designed for professionals who want a leadership role in their professional community. The program attracts individuals who lead organizations including schools, universities, non-profits, social service agencies, governmental agencies, NGOs, and even the military. Students must complete 45 credits, including 18 credits in the leadership field, 18 credits in research and support, and 9 credits in the dissertation. Core content covers leadership principles and practices and is augmented by classes that examine ethics, policymaking, and legal and financial issues. Students also learn to design and implement research as the basis for making informed decisions. Aside from visiting the Marshall campus when they defend their dissertation, candidates can complete the entire program online. Students may enter the program in the fall, spring, or summer term, and they can complete the degree in three years.

Online EdD in Leadership Studies

Offered Online

Wisconsin

Concordia University-Wisconsin

College of Education

Mequon, Wisconsin

Concordia University-Wisconsin's Ed.D. in Leadership in Innovation and Continuous Improvement (LICI) is a cross-disciplinary doctoral program intended for individuals in education, business, or the health professions. The curriculum includes a leadership core, innovation and improvement science core, and a research core. Students can customize the program with a business or education emphasis through their selection of elective classes. The Ed.D. in LICI is a three-year, online program that requires two residencies, each lasting for four days. The program requires a dissertation, and students are matched with a dissertation chair at the start of the program. Students also complete nine research seminars to help them to complete the dissertation and successfully defend it. The program uses a cohort model, and cohorts enter the program in the fall and spring semesters. Instructors for the LICI program are drawn from the business, nursing, occupational therapy, and education staffs of Concordia-Wisconsin.

Doctorate of Education in Leadership in Innovation and Continuous Improvement

Offered Online

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Professional Studies in Education

La Crosse, Wisconsin

The Ed.D. in Student Affairs Administration and Leadership at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has a focus on systemic inequities and social justice in higher education. This 54-credit program has no residency requirements, and classes are presented in an asynchronous format. Students move through the program in three years as part of a cohort of 12 to 15 candidates. Work on the dissertation is embedded in the program, including a dissertation planning course and research methods classes. Candidates can attend an optional writer's retreat. Another unusual feature of this Ed.D. is the university's cooperative offerings with other Ed.D. programs in the University of Wisconsin system. Through this partnership, students can take specialized elective classes in first nations, educational leadership, or sustainability education. The program begins in the summer, and students take two courses per term - fall, summer, and spring - and complete their degree in the third spring.

Online Ed.D. in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education

Offered Online

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

School of Education

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point offers an Ed.D. in Educational Sustainability that prepares students for leadership positions in business, community, nonprofits, K-12 schools, and higher education. The curriculum explores sustainability from several angles, such as ethical action, systems thinking, and transformative learning. Students take five elective classes so they can tailor the program to their interests. Classes are delivered 100% online, but students are required to attend a four-day residency each summer they are in the program. The first residency is an orientation, and the others serve as a symposium. This is a 54-credit degree, and cohorts move through the program in three years. Requirements include an applied residency project, where students complete field-based applied research, and a dissertation. Cohorts enter the program in the summer with a June orientation. Applicants must have a master's degree, but it doesn't need to be in the field of education.

Ed.D. in Educational Sustainability

Offered Online

Viterbo University

College of Business, Leadership, and Ethics

La Crosse, Wisconsin

Viterbo University's Ed.D. in Ethical Leadership is a 48-credit program designed to transform individuals, deeply rooted in Viterbo's servant leadership principles. It enhances skills in decision-making, negotiation, collaboration, and change management, providing a solid foundation for leadership excellence. Students directly apply their learning to real-world situations such as consulting, research, and community projects, contributing to organizational and community growth. Spanning two and a half years, the program goes beyond basic management concepts, preparing graduates to tackle a wide range of complex organizational challenges with confidence and competence.

Ed.D. in Ethical Leadership

Offered Online

Wyoming

University of Wyoming

College of Education

Laramie, Wyoming

CAEP accredited

The University of Wyoming has four Doctor of Education degrees that are delivered primarily online or are otherwise distance-accessible. The Ed.D. in Learning, Design, and Technology is delivered online and requires a one-day orientation in Laramie, Wyoming, the first fall semester. This is an 81-credit degree that trains students to use advanced research methods to design solutions to workplace challenges. The Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction includes classes that may be delivered online, through video or audio conferencing, or intensive weekends. Students may enter the program in any semester. The Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration is offered online with a required one-day on-campus orientation. The degree requires 75 to 77 credits, and students may start in the fall or spring semester. The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership prepares students for leadership roles. Students must follow a specific course map, including an internship, to become eligible for a superintendent endorsement in Wyoming.

The 25 Best Online EdD Programs of 2025

How to Choose the Best Online Ed.D. Program

Best Online Ed.D. Rankings

Rankings Update: How Placements Changed in 2025

Top Schools with Online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Programs

1 New York University

Why Choose NYU’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

2 Boston College

Why Choose BC’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

3 Vanderbilt University

Why Choose Vanderbilt’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

4 Johns Hopkins University

Why Choose JHU’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

5 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Why Choose UIUC’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

6 Pennsylvania State University – World Campus

Why Choose Penn State’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

7 University of Florida

Why Choose UF’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

8 Arizona State University

Why Choose ASU’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

9 University of Arizona

Why Choose UA’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

10 University of Oregon

Why Choose UO’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

11 University of Southern California

Why Choose USC’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

12 Florida State University

Why Choose FSU’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

13 University of Missouri-Columbia

Why Choose Mizzou’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

14 Loyola Marymount University

Why Choose LMU’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

15 University of Alabama

Why Choose UA’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

16 Texas Tech University

Why Choose Texas Tech’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

17 Virginia Commonwealth University

Why Choose VCU’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

18 Fordham University

Why Choose Fordham’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

19 George Washington University

Why Choose GW’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

20 University of Kentucky

Why Choose UK’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

21 University of Colorado Denver

Why Choose CU Denver’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

22 University of Kansas

Why Choose KU’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

23 Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Why Choose Virginia Tech’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

24 Drexel University

Why Choose Drexel’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview

25 University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Why Choose UMass Lowell’s Online Ed.D. Program?

Online Ed.D. Overview