Ed.D. Programs in Connecticut

Earning a Doctor of Education Degree in Connecticut

Working professionals will find plenty of CAEP-accredited Ed.D. programs in our Connecticut school listings. UConn’s highly ranked Neag School of Education has an offering, but there are also CSCU opportunities (i.e. state universities) and private options with intriguing concentrations (e.g. international education). Many programs are part-time, with flexible nighttime and weekend classes.

You can start a shortlist by examining the curricula and costs in school listings and matching potential programs with internal funding opportunities (e.g. fellowships). You may also wish to skim through our rundown of online Ed.D. programs and Connecticut doctorates that lead to the Intermediate Administrator (092) endorsement.

To help you expand your professional network, we’ve assembled an extensive Career section. This includes hard data on administrative jobs & salaries in Connecticut (PreK-12 and higher education), links to useful job boards, notes on important education associations (e.g. CAPSS), and ideas for conferences and training programs (e.g. CAS Center for Leadership and Innovation).

Online Doctor of Education Programs in Connecticut

Online Ed.D. Providers in Connecticut

1. Sacred Heart University (CAEP-accredited)
2. University of Bridgeport (CAEP-accredited)
3. Western Connecticut State University (CAEP-accredited) + Southern Connecticut State University (CAEP-accredited)

What to Know About Connecticut Online Ed.D. Programs

There are only a few online doctoral programs in education in Connecticut. Your choices in leadership come down to two CAEP-accredited private schools: Sacred Heart and Bridgeport. The sole public offering is a joint nursing education program from WCSU/SCSU.

But if your interests match up—and you’re willing to travel to the campus for a few residencies—this could be just fine. We didn’t locate a lot of internal funding options for the private school programs, so you may want to have a serious talk with your employer about tuition reimbursement.

Note: Our overview of online doctoral programs in education has a complete listing of online Ed.D. programs in every state, including ones that offer multiple concentrations.

Online Ed.D. Programs in Leadership

Sacred Heart University’s 60-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a real find for individuals who hold the Intermediate Administrator endorsement (or its equivalent), but it’s also open to teacher leaders, department chairs, and other educators. Thanks in part to SHU’s Roman Catholic roots, the three-year program includes an unusual emphasis on the whole child and social, emotional, and academic leadership (SEAL) skills. It’s primarily online, but there’s an annual summer residency (two or three days) in Fairfield.

We give it praise for being part of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) and including a dissertation in practice. Sacred Heart University is a private school, but the per credit tuition cost is only slightly more than state universities (e.g. WCSU, CCSU, etc.).

Your alternative is the University of Bridgeport’s 62-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a specialization in International Education. It’s aimed at big thinkers (e.g. higher education administrators, public and private organization leaders, policy makers, and researchers) and takes around three years to complete. If you’re considering global job opportunities, it’s well-worth a look.

A few other things to note—Bridgeport’s per credit tuition price is almost identical to Sacred Heart’s. The program includes two residencies (one week each). And there’s an accelerated 42-credit option for applicants with post-master’s credits (e.g. Ed.S.).

Online Ed.D. Programs in Nursing Education

SCSU and WCSU have teamed up to offer a unique 51-credit Online Ed.D. in Nursing Education. It’s a cohort-based, part-time degree with some campus components—students are expected to attend three residencies (three days each) over the course of the 3.5 year program. Evening video conferences take place around once a week/fortnight and an educational practicum is scheduled during the fall semester of the second year.

Per credit tuition rates are the same for Connecticut residents, non-residents, and NE Regional students, but the program isn’t cheap. Be sure to look at the section on funding opportunities. If you’re planning for a teaching job, you may be eligible for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program.

No Dissertation Ed.D. Programs in Connecticut

Doctoral Research Projects & Capstones

Dreading the thought of a traditional Ed.D. dissertation? You could consider UConn’s on-campus Ed.D. in Educational Leadership—an innovative program that’s being shaped by the CPED initiative. This Ed.D. includes a collaborative capstone research project that involves engaging in empirical research and developing a set of recommendations. Students who are tackling similar capstone topics are grouped together whenever possible.

Doctoral Education Funding in Connecticut

Internal Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards

To save you precious time, we’ve amassed as much info on institutional aid (e.g. doctoral fellowships, tuition breaks, payment plans, etc.) as we could source! You can also consult the Office of Financial Aid or Graduate School about ideas for external aid (e.g. federal & private loans, national fellowships, etc.).

Many of Connecticut’s Ed.D. programs are part-time, so it’s worth noting that financial aid may not always be available. Don’t be afraid to ask the Ed.D. program coordinator or director how students usually fund their doctorate in education.

Central Connecticut State University

A limited number of graduate school awards, doctoral fellowships (e.g. Beyard-Ellis Dissertation Fellowship), and graduate assistantships are available. Plus the Graduate Student Association has funding for research grants (up to $500) and professional development/conference travel (up to $1,000).

CCSU also has a useful section on Tuition & Aid for graduate students, including details on its Central Payment Plan. CCSU awards merit-based scholarships to graduate students as part of the admission process. Other graduate scholarship opportunities are available through the CCSU Foundation (e.g. Endowed Scholarships and Operational Scholarships such as the Lindgren Family Scholarship). Ask if Ed.D. students are eligible.

Sacred Heart University

SHU has an entire section on financial assistance for Graduate Students with info on scholarships, assistantships, loans, tax incentives, and more. Just bear in mind that its Ed.D. is an online program, so certain options may not apply.

Southern Connecticut State University

The School of Education (SOE) maintains a list of SOE Scholarships. SOE also has a section on Financing Your Education, with details on financial aid and foundation scholarships. Check if part-time students can apply.

Interested in the Ed.D. in Nursing Education? SCSU often receives funding for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, which offers partial loan forgiveness for graduates that serve as full-time nursing faculty for a prescribed period of time.

University of Bridgeport

The School of Education has a separate section on SOE Scholarships; these are primarily for new teachers. Monthly payment plans are available for graduate students.

University of Connecticut

The Neag School of Education has a section devoted to Scholarships, including global education awards and Department of Educational Leadership scholarships (see the Sidney P. Marland, Jr. Fund). The section on Graduate Financial Aid and the Graduate School’s ideas for Financing may also be of help. Check out the Conference Participation Award.

University of Hartford

In the Ed.D. section on Tuition & Financial Aid, Hartford recommends that you contact the financial aid officer for the College of Education, Nursing, and Health Professions to discuss funding options.

Western Connecticut State University

The School of Professional Studies lists Education and Nursing Awards; most of them are for undergraduates. Since WCSU shares its Ed.D. with SCSU, nursing education students may be eligible for loan forgiveness through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program.

Note: If a university name is missing from the list, we didn’t find specific examples of Ed.D. funding beyond private & federal loans and external aid.

School Administration Certification Requirements in Connecticut

Administration Certificate Endorsements

The Connecticut State Department of Education (SDE), using the Bureau of Certification, handles certification endorsements for school administrators in Connecticut public schools. There are five types of administrative endorsements:

• Intermediate Administration or Supervision (#092)
• Superintendent of Schools (#093)
• Reading and Language Arts Consultant (#097)
• School Business Administration (#085)
• Department Chairperson (#105)

We outline general requirements for the first two categories below; the page on administrative endorsements has full details on each option. Applicants who want to pursue endorsements for the first three categories (i.e. intermediate administrator or supervisor, superintendent of schools, or reading and language arts consultant) must always complete a state-approved Educator Preparation Program.

All of the Connecticut universities in our school listings offer administrative endorsement prep programs, but these tend to take the form of certificates and diplomas. Having said that, CCSU (i.e. PK-12 Strand), SCSU (i.e. Intermediate Administrator), and WCSU (i.e. the add-on certificate) have developed Ed.D. programs for folks who are seeking the 092 endorsement!

Note: SDE provides a step-by-step guide for Out-of-State Certified Administrators.

Intermediate Administration or Supervision Endorsement

To earn the Intermediate Administration or Supervision (#092) endorsement on your certificate, you must:

• Hold a master’s degree from an approved institution
• Complete a state-approved Educator Preparation Program (SDE specifies coursework that must be covered) and receive institutional recommendation after you’ve completed the program
• Complete a course of study in special education comprised of not fewer than 36 clock hours (i.e. university or college coursework in special education)
• In total, complete at least 18 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master’s degree
• Have 50 school months of successful teaching experience or service
• Pass the Connecticut Administrator Test (CAT)—see the SDE’s standards on Certification Assessment. The SDE also posts CAT pass rates by institution.

Superintendent of Schools Endorsement

To earn the Superintendent of Schools (#093) endorsement on your certificate, you must:

• Hold a master’s degree
• Complete a state-approved Educator Preparation Program (SDE specifies coursework that must be covered) and receive institutional recommendation after you’ve completed the program
• Complete a course of study in special education comprised of not fewer than 36 clock hours (i.e. university or college coursework in special education)
• In total, you must complete at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master’s degree
• Have 80 school months of successful teaching experience or service, including 30 school months of full-time administrative or supervisory experience

Educational Leadership Jobs in Connecticut

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monitors employment & salary data for elementary & secondary school education administrators and postsecondary education administrators by state. Glancing at their employment maps will give you a quick snapshot of the territory.

Connecticut tends to have solid employment numbers for K-12 administrators. The Waterbury metropolitan area is a typical hotspot. If you’re interested in the lay of the K-12 land, the SDE posts school data and performance reports—including Connecticut Report Cards—on EdSight. It also monitors administrative Staffing Levels year by year (see under Educators).

It’s a different tale when it comes to postsecondary administrators—Connecticut simply can’t compete with the flood of colleges & universities in Massachusetts and New York. The state’s Office of Higher Education is a useful career resource here. In addition to providing guides & searchable databases, it frequently posts an annual Connecticut Higher Education System Data and Trends Report.

Educational Leadership Salaries

Connecticut is a wealthy state, so it comes as no surprise to see that elementary & secondary school education administrators are paid extremely well. When measured by mean wage, Connecticut is often in the top three states in the nation—right up there with New York. Top-paying metropolitan areas such as Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk and Danbury are also among the highest in the country.

Mean wage data for postsecondary education administrators aren’t always available on the national site, so we recommend the Connecticut Department of Labor’s section on Occupational Employment & Wages.

Under the Statewide Wages tab, you can choose the same administrative categories as the BLS (elementary & secondary or postsecondary) and view mean wages. You can also track median wages over the past ten years. Salaries have been steadily increasing for both categories of education administrators, but not by a great deal.

Educational Leadership Job Boards

Conventional job sites (e.g. LinkedIn, Indeed, HigherEdJobs, SchoolSpring, etc.) will have postings for Connecticut education administrators and leaders. However, we also wanted to direct you to some state-specific job boards.

• The CEA advertises Public School Job Vacancies in Connecticut, including openings for principals, assistant principals, directors, and superintendents.
• CT-Reap posts similar Job Opportunities for school administrative positions in public schools—deans, directors, principals, business managers, superintendents, etc.
• CAPSS lists in-state and out-of-state Job Opportunities for superintendents and higher-level positions (e.g. business manager).
• The Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) advertises Employment Opportunities in CT independent schools.
• CASBO’s Career Center lists openings for school business officers & managers across the country.
• CAS maintains a database of Position Vacancies, although it’s not as comprehensive as some of the other options.
• The Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) has a Careers section, with System Office job openings (e.g. Vice President for HR) and Campus Job Openings in state universities and community colleges.

Educational Leadership Organizations in Connecticut

Educational Leadership Associations

• Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE): CABE represents over half of elected officials in the state. It provides services, programs, and other activities designed to help school boards and their individual members provide exemplary leadership in their school district.
• Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS): CAPSS is the state’s superintendent organization, advocating public policy for children and developing and supporting executive school leaders.
• Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS): CAS is a single organization serving K-12 Connecticut schools—students and staff—in all areas of operation. It was formed by the merger of the Connecticut Association of Secondary School Principals (CASSP), the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC), and the Elementary and Middle School Principals’ Association of Connecticut (EMSPAC).
• Connecticut Association of School Administrators (CASA): CASA represents Connecticut school administrators—below the rank of assistant superintendent—in elementary, middle, and secondary schools or working in their board’s central office.
• Connecticut Association of School Business Officials (CASBO): Established in 1951, CASBO represents Connecticut school business officials and exists to advance innovative business stewardship for education.
• Connecticut Education Association (CEA): CEA is the state’s largest teacher organization. It advocates for teachers and public education through legislative lobbying, education campaigns, student programs, and more.
• Connecticut Federation of School Administrators (CFSA): CFSA is an AFSA AFL-CIO, which means it’s the state’s union for school administrators.

Educational Leadership Professional Groups

• Connecticut Education Technology Leaders (CTETL): CTETL is a non-profit membership organization comprised of K-12 educational technology professionals. It’s a CoSN state chapter. It also offers a CETL certification program.

Note: Remember that state and national educator organizations often have funds and scholarships available for continuing education (e.g. Ed.D.). Check the website and ask about opportunities.

Educational Leadership Events in Connecticut

Educational Leadership Conferences

• CABE/CAPSS Convention: This popular two-day event takes place in November and attracts district educational leaders and board of education members from around the state. See all of CAPSS’s conferences & workshops.
• CAS Summer Leadership Institute: This is a two-day residential program that focuses on the skills needed by school leaders to succeed in today’s climate of accountability.
• CAS Women in Leadership: This short, one-day event in late October includes a panel discussion and breakout session.
• CASBO Annual Institute: CASBO hosts its three-day meeting for school business officials in late May/early June.
• CEA Conferences & Workshops: CEA organizes educator meetings, conferences and workshops throughout the year.
• Executive District Leaders’ Roundtables: Run by CAPSS, these one-day roundtables are geared toward district-wide administrators with responsibilities in curriculum, instruction, and supervision/ evaluation practices.

Educational Leadership Training

• CAPSS Professional Learning: CAPSS provides a large number of programs and services to aspiring and current superintendents, including advanced & beginner leadership institutes, executive coaching programs, mentorships, internships, and more.
• CAS Center for Leadership and Innovation Programs: The Center’s professional development programs are designed for all school leaders and aspiring leaders, not just building principals. Options include leadership academies, internships, workshops, symposia, summer institutes, and more.
• CAS Executive Coaching: Executive coaches provide on-site mentoring and training to Connecticut school leaders, including help with school improvement plans, school & district goals, and student achievement.
• CASBO Mentorship Program: This is a CASBO member service, designed to pair newly appointed school business officials—including administrators, supervisors and managers of non-instructional programs and services—with appropriate mentors. CASBO also hosts one-day professional development workshops for CEUs.