The 25 Best Online EdD in Higher Education Programs of 2026

1 University of Pennsylvania

• Hybrid Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management, Ed.D.

Delivery: Hybrid with Week-Long Intensive, Monthly Sessions & International Experience
Credits: 19 Course Units
Length: 22 Months/2 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $198,972 (All Program Fees & Travel Included)

Penn’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Earn a doctorate from the Penn Graduate School of Education (GSE) and you’ll be allying yourself with a major educational force in the United States. GSE supports two dedicated research centers in higher education—the Alliance for Higher Education and Democracy (Penn AHEAD) and Institute for Research on Higher Education (IRHE). It attracts learners from around the world—40% of its student body are international. And it has a massive alumni network of 20k+ graduates in 100+ countries. Take a look at the Executive Ed.D. program’s LinkedIn profile for highlights of alumni achievements.

We’d recommend Penn’s Hybrid Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management, Ed.D. for anyone eyeing a senior-level leadership or policy position at a university, non-profit, or government body. Applicants must have a graduate degree and 10+ years of professional experience. This cohort-based, 2-year program blends online coursework with an initial week-long intensive, monthly on-campus sessions in Philadelphia (2.5 days each), and a 2-week international experience in the second summer.

The curriculum is listed in the Graduate Catalog. It’s an intense plan of study, with coursework in higher education finance, public policy, leadership, and research methods. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore electives in areas like globalization, student & campus services, and enrollment management. A solid portion of your second year will be devoted to your dissertation. You can view examples of previous Ed.D. dissertations in higher education in Penn’s Scholarly Commons.

2University of Southern California

• Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership – Higher Education Administration

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 43 or 60
Length: 3 Years (Full-Time); 4-5 Years (Part-Time)
Minimum Program Cost: $109,456

USC’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Research is a major drawcard for USC. The USC Rossier School of Education supports 3 major centers in higher education—with a focus on work in social justice and equity—as well as the USC EdPolicy Hub. Higher education faculty are refreshingly diverse and experienced. And the Pullias Center for Higher Education has multiple research-to-practice partnerships (RPPs) in play. For urban higher education leaders, this is the best of the best!

USC’s 43-unit, cohort-based Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership – Higher Education Administration is open to candidates with a master’s degree and a minimum of 3 years of relevant, full-time work experience in higher education. However, you can also apply with a bachelor’s degree and complete 60 units instead. Prior to the dissertation phase, you’ll take part in synchronous online classes one night a week. These may take place on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 5-9:50 pm Pacific Time (fall & spring) or 5-10:25 pm (summer).

The curriculum is composed of 6 core courses in educational leadership, 2 research methods courses, 4 courses in the higher education administration concentration, and an action-oriented Dissertation in Practice (DiP). The very first core course you’ll tackle is Foundations in Urban Education. For the concentration, you’ll select electives that align with your work in higher ed (e.g. policy, assessment, economic concerns, student learning, etc.).

3Pennsylvania State University

• World Campus Online D.Ed. – Higher Education Coursework

Delivery: Online with 1 Summer Summit
Credits: 37+
Length: 3-4 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $38,776

Penn State’s D.Ed. Overview

Penn State’s innovative online D.Ed. comes to you courtesy of the World Campus and the Penn State College of Education. If you’re looking to network with on-campus students and faculty, be sure to investigate the work of the Center for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE) and its groundbreaking Academies, as well as the Higher Education Program Alumni Council (HEPAC). Some higher ed alumni are willing to serve as mentors for current students.

One of the major benefits of the interdisciplinary World Campus Online D.Ed. is its customizable nature. You can create a unique concentration by selecting coursework from multiple departments. Courses are 100% online and the majority of students finish in 3-4 years. All D.Ed. students must attend at least one 5-day summer summit on the University Park campus for workshops & professional networking.

We’ve featured the D.Ed. in our higher education rankings because Penn State provides a sample specialization path for higher ed professionals, with courses in academic advising, enrollment management, institutional research, and student affairs. But you have 170+ courses to choose from. Keep in mind that these electives will dovetail into research work for your final capstone project.

4 Vanderbilt University

• Hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy

Delivery: Hybrid with 6 Weekend Classes Per Semester
Credits: 54
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $135,279

Vanderbilt’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Vanderbilt is often called the Harvard of the South, and its Peabody College of Education and Human Development consistently appears in top 3 rankings each year. So quality won’t be an issue! Take a look at Peabody’s monthly publication, Ideas in Action, to learn more about the College’s work, including higher education efforts in South Asia and the Middle East. Anyone seeking to support adult & online learners should also connect with Vanderbilt’s Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education (AdvancED).

Vanderbilt’s Hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy is a good fit for candidates with 5-7 years of professional experience who are climbing the leadership ladder. It’s a 3-year, cohort-based program that features weekend class sessions (Friday afternoons/evenings & Saturdays). If you’re accepted, you’ll find ~1/3 of your classmates live in Nashville; ~1/3 drive in from other cities; and ~1/3 fly in for their degree. You’ll also have the opportunity to network with them through team projects and collaborations.

The curriculum is laid out on the program page. In addition to pragmatic coursework in areas like finance, education law, and college & university management, there are some interesting explorations into areas like equity/inequity and the nature & function of higher education. Instead of a dissertation, this program culminates in a year-long, team-based capstone experience. You’ll find examples in the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations Capstone Projects repository. These are consulting engagements with named colleges, state agencies, and non-profits.

Note: Can’t afford the commute? Vanderbilt’s Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning in Organizations appears in our Best Online Ed.D. rankings!

5Boston College

• Online Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education
• Online Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education: Catholic Higher Education

Delivery: Online with Week-Long Summer Residencies
Credits: 48
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $96,744; $77,448 for Catholic Higher Ed

BC’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Are you an administrator with 7+ years of professional experience in higher education? Boston College’s executive doctorate in higher education will be right up your alley. It’s offered by the Lynch School—a CPED member with dedicated Center for International Higher Education (CIHE), top-notch student reviews, and consistently high rankings, especially in the realm of Catholic education. Lynch even hosts an annual Institute for Administrators in Catholic Higher Education (IACHE).

The part-time Online Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education includes online coursework during the academic year and week-long residencies during the summer (Boston and Dublin). Over 3 years, you’ll tackle 2 courses per semester and a practice-based capstone project that integrates content across the curriculum.

• In the standard executive program, you’ll complete foundation courses (e.g. Managing Change in Higher Education, Data Driven Decision Making, Social Justice, etc.) and electives that allow you to customize your study.
• In the Catholic Higher Education concentration, you’ll take courses such as Religion & Higher Education and Catholic Higher Education. During the third summer residency, you’ll also participate in the IACHE.

BC isn’t cheap, but it’s a great “mid-career” option for higher education administrators—Lynch works hard to create cohorts of national & international students.

6 St. John’s University

• Online Ed.D. in Instructional Leadership

Delivery: 100% Online with Optional Global Learning Opportunities
Credits: 60
Length: ~3–4 years
Minimum Program Cost: $98,400

SJU’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

St. John’s University has vaulted into our 2026 rankings because of its incredible Return on Investment (ROI). 4-5 years after graduation, alumni are earning in excess of $170k. Granted, the School of Education isn’t nearly as prestigious as USC Rossier. But it’s a CPED member. And it’s an intriguing choice for anyone seeking an online doctorate from an urban university with a lot of useful NYC connections. St. John’s is located in Queens, in close proximity to CUNY community colleges and SUNY schools. Thanks to its Vincentian/Catholic mission, it’s also focused on underserved students & communities.

Sound like a good fit for your needs? Take a minute to investigate the Online Ed.D. in Instructional Leadership. In spite of the name, this 100% online Ed.D. features a dedicated higher education specialization. It’s open to applicants with an accredited master’s degree, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and at least 3 years of professional experience. You’ll need to check with the program coordinator about synchronous elements. We’d also ask about the possibility of applying for global learning opportunities in Paris and Rome.

The Program Sheet will give you an overview of the credit requirements & curriculum. Once you get through the 12 credits of core coursework in pedagogy, curriculum, and leadership, you can hone in on higher education. You’ll be able to select 5 courses from a range of topics, including financial management, administrative leadership, data management, and global studies programs & distance education. This cohort-based doctorate features a dissertation as the final requirement.

7 University at Buffalo

• Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership – Higher Education

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 42
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $23,791 (In-State); $27,739 (Out-of-State)

UB’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

The University at Buffalo is an R1 public research university, a CPED member, and one of two flagship institutions of the SUNY system. That means UB’s Graduate School of Education (GSE) may be a strong fit for professionals with a vested interest in the challenges of running publicly-funded colleges & universities. We recommend you read the bios of GSE faculty who are working on projects in higher education arenas (e.g. undocumented collegians). Our attention was also caught by the Open Education Research Lab, which is helping SUNY educators explore better open education practices.

UB’s cohort-based Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership – Higher Education combines asynchronous, learn-on-your-own-time coursework with synchronous online classes that meet on specific evenings (Eastern Time). It’s open to applicants with a master’s degree; international students are also welcome. Thanks to affordable online tuition rates, this is the highest ranking doctorate in education in our 2026 rankings that’s under $30k.

UB begins interweaving higher education coursework into the curriculum very quickly. In the first year, you’ll tackle credits in college student success, race & racism in higher education, and leading & managing people. The second year features an action research project in the summer and work on P20 transitions and higher education law. In the third & final year, you’ll work on a Dissertation in Practice (DiP).

8 University of Texas at Austin

• Hybrid Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership

Delivery: Hybrid with 18 Weekends Per Year
Credits: 57
Length: 36 Months/3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $76,215

UT Austin’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Anyone serving diverse students should take a good hard look at UT Austin’s College of Education. In 2025, the College had a 34.2% Hispanic/Latinx population (19.3% for faculty members). The College is home to the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development—two institutions with a special interest in supporting underserved students in community & technical colleges. And the Ed.D. is led by professors who run initiatives like Project MALES (Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success). Check out the Faculty section for more info.

The cohort-based Hybrid Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership is designed for applicants with a master’s degree and 5-7 years of professional experience in leadership. It’s a 36-month program that combines online learning with travel to the Austin campus every other Friday & Saturday for classes (18 weekends per year). Students can maintain full-time employment while they are completing their doctorate.

See the section on Program Requirements on the degree page for details on the curriculum. There’s a lot of in-depth work in leadership, policy, and finance. There’s also a field experience/ graduate practicum, which takes the form of supervised practice in a professional position. In the final year, you’ll be working on a 5-chapter treatise in practice, which can take the form of a program evaluation or action research project.

9 University of Utah

• Online Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 48
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $25,135 (In-State); $87,706 (Out-of-State)

U of U’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

If you’re investigating University of Utah’s College of Education, start with the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy. Here you’ll find the Utah Education Policy Center (UEPC) and a bundle of innovative faculty members. For example, in 2025, Associate Professor Erin Castro and her team won an $8 million Ascendium grant to create the Prison Education Action Research Lab (PEARL). We also want to highlight the College’s abiding interest in Native education, including work with Native nations and urban Indian communities, and its CPED membership.

U of U’s cohort-based Online Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration is open to applicants with a master’s degree, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and 3 or more years of experience in a full-time administrative or leadership role in higher education. This part-time doctorate is designed to be 100% online, but the synchronous format means you will need to be prepared for real-time virtual classes & meetings. Take 2 courses per term (fall, spring & summer) and you’ll finish in 3 years.

U of U’s program is specifically devoted to higher education issues, especially equity-minded leadership & social change. In addition to practical courses in finance, law, administration, and practice, you’ll be expected to examine inequality in higher ed and explore reflective practices. It doesn’t contain a dissertation. For the final capstone project, you’ll create a research paper and a formal proposal to a funding body that mimics a grant proposal.

10Arizona State University

• Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation – Higher Education Change Leadership

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 60
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $49,440

ASU’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Excellent national rankings for education programs. Experienced CPED membership with a Program of the Year award in 2018. A long track record in distance learning. These are just a few of the reasons why Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation is a superb choice for your higher ed doctorate!

ASU’s 3-year Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation – Higher Education Change Leadership is tailored to practicing educator-leaders in a range of settings. It’s also full of thoughtful elements. The Ed.D. is 100% online, cohort-based, and focused on applied research & learning. You’ll be able to take part in directed field studies, a doctoral methods practicum, and yearly symposia in a public Doctoral Research Conference.

Plus you’ll be part of unique “Leader-Scholar Communities.” These are teams of 5-7 students and 1 faculty member that meet regularly for collaboration and support. Same-time online meetings may be required, but times will be arranged to accommodate student schedules. Up to 30 credits can be transferred from your master’s degree. View the 2025-2026 Program Program Guide for a deep-dive into the structure & curriculum.

11 Boston University

• Online Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership

Delivery: 100% Online with Optional Summer Residencies & Internships
Credits: 56
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $64,796

BU’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Within BU, the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development is known as one of the strongest colleges, with special praise being given to the knowledgeable professors. Speaking of professors, we suggest looking at the section on higher education news and the directory of higher ed faculty members to learn about what’s happening in this specific area. Here you’ll find folks like Dr. Jerry Whitmore, Jr., who is the lead researcher of the FAIR Student Loans project, and Dr. Mary L. Churchill, who directs BU’s Strategic Partnerships & Community Engagement (SPACE) Office. BU is a CPED member.

The cohort-based Online Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership launched its inaugural cohort in September 2025, so it’s still making a name for itself. However, we can tell you that it’s a part-time, 100% online program aimed at mid-career higher education leaders with 7-10 years of leadership experience. Courses include a weekly synchronous/live session in a virtual classroom. You may also wish to participate in two optional summer residencies (on-campus or online) and up to 3 internships.

The curriculum consists of 40 units of required coursework, including a doctoral capstone, and 16 units of electives, including up to 12 units of internship. All of the required courses deal with advanced thinking in areas such as organizational analysis, strategic planning, budgeting & finance, and policy. Once you reach the capstone phase, you’ll be addressing a problem of practice in your field and developing an evidence-based solution.

12University of Florida

• Hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education (Higher Ed LEAD)

Delivery: Hybrid with 2-3 Weekend Meetings Per Semester
Credits: 75-90
Length: 4.5 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $38,724 (In-State); $65,592 (Out-of-State)

UF’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Community college administrators in the Southeast, take note! UF’s hybrid Ed.D. is one of the first doctoral programs to focus on community college leadership and around 1/3 of the students in the doctorate are community college employees. Better yet, the College of Education is an Experienced CPED member with a strong research arm and a dedicated Institute of Higher Education (IHE). Take a minute to investigate IHE’s working papers & grants.

The cohort-based Hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education (Higher Ed LEAD) is open to candidates with a master’s or terminal degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA on their upper-division undergraduate work. Ed.D. students are expected to attend 2-3 weekend sessions in the fall & spring semesters. Campus sessions are held in rotation at the University of Florida and additional colleges and universities within the state of Florida.

For info on the curriculum and Dissertation in Practice (DiP), check out the Sample Program of Study on the degree page. Coursework is aligned with the American Association of Community Colleges competencies for emerging leaders and covers a wide range of higher education issues, including practical concerns such as financing, law, and public policy.

13University of Pittsburgh

• Hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education

Delivery: Hybrid with Monthly Saturday Sessions & Summer Intensive
Credits: 52
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $60,464

Pitt’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Pitt is a superb choice for higher education professionals in Western Pennsylvania. The Pitt School of Education has instant name recognition with employers. It receives strong reviews from alumni. And its diverse higher ed faculty are actively involved in research and community engagement initiatives. You’ll find their work featured in the School of Education’s list of grant-funded projects.

The part-time Hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education is open to anyone who can manage a 1-day orientation, monthly Saturday on-campus sessions, a week-long summer intensive in the first year, and an internship (job-embedded, domestic or global). Even though this program is blended, the Ed.D. is assessed at the online tuition rate. So that’s the price we’ve quoted above. However, we’ve also included part-time mandatory fees for 9 academic terms.

Pitt has been a CPED member since 2010. That means its curriculum is a) focused on practice-based leadership, policy, and research; and b) extremely thorough. On top of core coursework and a practitioner inquiry project, there are 4 courses in the higher education specialization. These focus on HR Management, Institutional Strategic Planning, Equity-Based Assessment, and Budget Management.

14 University of Georgia

• Hybrid Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Management

Delivery: Hybrid with 3 Weekends Per Semester, 1 Week in the Netherlands & Seminar in Washington, DC
Credits: 52
Length: 2 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $57,794 (In-State); $100,289 (Out-of-State); $103,202 (International)

UGA’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

UGA’s high-level executive doctorate is brought to you by the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education. The McBee Institute has been training higher ed leaders since 1964. It runs the Georgia College Advising Corps (GCAC), offers fellowships & assistantships to Georgia faculty members, hosts visiting global scholars, and conducts plenty of higher education research. If you want to be part of an established hub of networking & professional connections, you’re in the right place.

To keep things intimate, the cohort-based Hybrid Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Management is limited to fewer than 20 participants for each intake. Applicants must have a master’s or terminal degree; significant professional experience in post-secondary education is preferred. The first meeting takes place in Athens, but subsequent weekend intensives are held in Atlanta (3 per semester). In the first summer, you’ll visit the Netherlands for a week-long intensive at the Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS). In the second summer, there’s a trip to D.C. for a policy seminar.

All in all, this education doctorate takes 2 years/6 semesters to complete. See the plan of study breakdown on the curriculum page for full details. In year one, you’ll be able to explore topics such as organization & governance, college access & success, and research methods. In year 2, you can dig into finance, policy studies, higher education law, and the completion of your doctoral dissertation.

15University of Iowa

• Hybrid Ed.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies – Higher Education

Delivery: Hybrid with Campus Intensives
Credits: 39+
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $35,855 (In-State); $73,763 (Out-of-State)

UI’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Iowans won’t be surprised to see the University of Iowa on our list! At UI, you’ll find a College of Education and Department of Educational Policy and Leadership Studies (EPLS) with a reputation for quality—higher education rankings are solid—and a laser focus on practical implementation. Be sure to check out the Center for Research on Undergraduate Education (CRUE) and the fascinating work being done on issues like admissions, inclusion, policy, and more.

The Hybrid Ed.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies – Higher Education is a 3-year, cohort-based doctorate that combines online coursework with 1-week campus intensives in Iowa City and 2-day courses in Des Moines or Iowa City. We’ve calculated the price using the lowest number of credits—you’re allowed to transfer up to 36 semester hours from your master’s degree.

The Graduate Catalog contains a complete list of course descriptions. In addition to a comprehensive array of educational leadership classes, including a Social Advocacy Summit, this doctorate features 5 practical courses in higher education (e.g. law, finance, administration, policy, etc.). UI is a CPED member, so the degree culminates in a Dissertation in Practice (DiP).

16 George Washington University

• Hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration

Delivery: Hybrid with Monthly Weekend Classes
Credits: 53
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $103,880

GW’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Thanks to its strategic position in Washington, DC, GW’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD) is an especially strong choice for anyone working in international higher education, HBCUs and/or educational policy. The School supports a UNESCO Chair in International Education for Development and has invested a lot of time & money into global engagement initiatives. We also want to point out that Ed.D. students are eligible for the Futrell Scholars Program and a number of scholarships. GW is a CPED member.

The cohort-based Hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration is built for working professionals, with weekend classes (Fridays & Saturdays) that meet once per month on the Foggy Bottom campus. You will need a master’s degree, but no minimum work experience is specified. Examine the alumni profiles in the Career Outlook section for comparison. Graduates of this program end up as provosts, presidents, vice-presidents, and more.

Before applying, take a minute to examine the faculty profiles and curriculum. The core coursework follows the traditional lines of a higher ed doctorate, with credits in administration & organization, curricula, leadership, policy analysis, and finance. But you can branch out with 6 credits of electives and your dissertation research. Examples of previous higher education dissertations can be found in GW’s ScholarSpace.

17 Loyola University Chicago

• Hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education

Delivery: Hybrid with 2 Weekend Classes Per Semester
Credits: 48
Length: 3-4 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $52,845

LUC’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Loyola University Chicago is a Jesuit institution, so its School of Education makes a point of incorporating inclusion, equity, and social justice principles into its higher education programs. 40% of the School’s students are BIPOC. There are only a small number of faculty members, which may also appeal to anyone looking for individualized attention throughout their degree. Scholarships are available for doctoral students.

Candidates with a master’s degree and at least 5 years of full-time experience in a postsecondary context or related organization are welcome to apply for the Hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education. The degree is delivered through a combination of online courses and on-campus classes on alternating weekends (Friday nights & all day Saturday). There’s one face-to-face meeting per 8 weeks for each course, which equates to Chicago weekends twice per semester.

The curriculum hits the highlights of a higher ed doctorate, with coursework in higher education policy, budgeting & finance, organization & governance, and law. But there are also specific courses that are devoted to equity & justice, international higher education, and the junior & community college. The final project will take the form of a dissertation.

18Virginia Commonwealth University

• Online Ed.D. in Leadership – Higher Education Leadership

Delivery: Online with 1 Summer Residency
Credits: 48
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $31,872 (In-State); $66,192 (Out-of-State)

VCU’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

VCU never fails to impress us. The School of Education (SOE) at this public research university garners glowing student reviews and high-flying national rankings. It’s an Experienced CPED Member. And it’s deeply involved in practice centers and education research. You’ll notice that the Institute for Collaborative Research and Evaluation (ICRE) is working with higher ed institutions on the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP).

Better yet, the Online Ed.D. in Leadership – Higher Education Leadership is built for convenience. This part-time, 3-year doctorate in education is almost 100% online, with only one Summer Residency to start the program (2 days). Online cohorts attend synchronous sessions on Wednesday evenings from 5-8 pm (ET). It’s also cohort-based and team-focused—in the final year, you’ll collaborate on a group-based capstone research project.

See the Student Handbook for more info on the curriculum. Within VCU’s program, you can choose to participate in a Learning Community in Higher Education Leadership. Education leaders in learning communities take the same courses as other Ed.D. students, but case studies & examples are tailored to match their interests.

19Drexel University

• Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Management – Higher Education Leadership

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 59.5
Length: 3 Years or 5 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $91,113

Drexel’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Drexel is a great pick for anyone who is fascinated by behavioral health sciences, social justice, and innovation. The School of Education supports research in all of these areas and it encourages doctoral students to present their preliminary research in a monthly Doctoral Student Colloquium. On the career side, all Ed.D. students get access to a Mentoring and Coaching (MAC) program in the first year. These are just a few reasons why this doctorate won the CPED Program of the Year Award in 2019!

This Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Management – Higher Education Leadership is a 100% online doctorate composed of core courses in topics like transformative leadership, creative strategies, and equity & social justice; research courses; a dissertation; and a concentration in one of the following:

• Administration, Leadership & Assessment: Aimed at higher education administrators who are interested in studying assessment, comparative higher ed systems, governance, and legal issues & ethics.
• Administration, Student Success & Innovation: Focused on student development theory & application, neuroscience, student affairs, and student support services.

Candidates must have a minimum 3.5 GPA on their master’s degree and at least 3 years of relevant work experience. Choose the part-time standard schedule and you can finish in 3 years. Select the more leisurely calendar and you’ll be expected to finish in 5 years.

20 University of Alabama

• Hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration (Executive Cohort)

Delivery: Hybrid with Occasional Campus Weekends & International Study Abroad Trip
Credits: 66
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $52,140

UA’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Choose UA and you’ll choose a College of Education with all kinds of opportunities for policy exploration! If you examine the bios of Ed.D. faculty members on the program website, you’ll notice that Dr. Nathaniel Bray is the Director of the Education Policy Center (EPC). EPC helps to administer National Access and Finance Surveys and conducts plenty of in-depth research into higher ed challenges, particularly in areas around funding for public institutions. UA is a CPED member.

UA’s cohort-based Hybrid Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration (Executive Cohort) is a 3-year program. For the first 2 years, you’ll take 9 credits/3 courses per semester for 6 semesters. The final year is devoted to the dissertation. Monthly classes are a mix of online and on-campus and meet on Thursday evenings, Fridays & Saturdays. In-person classes are typically twice per semester. There’s an additional study abroad trip in the second year to the University of Oxford.

All the usual higher ed suspects are included in UA’s Ed.D. curriculum. We spotted coursework in financing, law, student affairs, and organizational change. But there’s also exploratory work in areas like multicultural education, ethics, policy, and academic culture. Examples of previous dissertation topics are listed on the program website.

21University of Rochester

• Hybrid Ed.D. in Educational Administration – Higher Education

Delivery: Hybrid with Select Campus Courses
Credits: 54+
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $97,092

UR’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

New Yorkers will have no difficulty recognizing the Warner School of Education & Human Development! It’s a long-lived institution with a well-funded research arm and 240+ doctoral students. Core Ed.D. program faculty have an expansive array of interests and the doctorate can be customized to suit your career goals. We were especially pleased to see that Warner’s Center for Disability and Education helped to launch the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC).

The Online Ed.D. in Educational Administration – Higher Education is available in a 3-year accelerated plan of study or a more flexible schedule. It’s open to candidates with a master’s degree; relevant work experience in higher ed is preferred. Most—but not all—of the research & specialization courses are online. And you’ll still be expected to visit the campus for courses like the Portfolio Review.

The entire program is 90 credits, but you’re allowed to transfer up to 36 credits of entry-level or advanced coursework in education. See the curriculum page for details. There are some intriguing specialization courses in this Ed.D. program, including Fiscal Issues in Higher Education and College Retention: Theory, Research, and Practice. The final requirement is a dissertation.

22 Oregon State University

• Hybrid Ed.D. in Adult & Higher Education

Delivery: Hybrid with 2 Weekend Classes Per Term & Internship
Credits: 108 Quarter Credits
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $66,312

OSU’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

Community college leaders who can make the trip to Portland should have OSU’s program on their radar. The College of Education caters to all kinds of higher ed professionals, but we noticed that the Adult & Higher Education (AHE) Advisory Board is stacked with community college experts. The College runs a unique Carpenter Lecture for community college leaders. And AHE faculty have especial research interests in community college challenges and minority students.

Candidates for OSU’s cohort-based Hybrid Ed.D. in Adult & Higher Education are expected to have a master’s degree and a minimum of 3 years of full-time professional experience in a 2-year or 4-year higher ed institution. In the first 2 years, you’ll visit the OSU Portland Center for 2 weekends per term during the fall, winter, and spring terms. Coursework in the summer is online.

The curriculum for this Ed.D. is packed with coursework in practical concerns (e.g. finance, law, assessment, program evaluation, policy, etc.), research, and theory. There are even credits in Power & Privilege in Leadership, Ethical Practice, and the History of Higher Education. Expect to be taking 2 courses per term and tackling the internship in the first 2 years. The last year will involve a dissertation.

23North Carolina State University

• Hybrid Ed.D. in Community College Leadership

Delivery: Hybrid with 2 Meetings Per Semester & 1-Week Summer Sessions
Credits: 60+
Length: 3 Years
Minimum Program Cost: $32,189.40 (In-State); $106,760 (Out-of-State)

NC State’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

The A+ pick for aspiring North Carolina community college leaders! NC State’s doctorate is the brainchild of the gung-ho Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development (ELPHD). It’s also backed by a College of Education with sturdy research credentials. Be sure to investigate the training & outreach initiatives in the Belk Center for Community College Leadership & Research.

This Hybrid Ed.D. in Community College Leadership is offered at two sites (Charlotte & Raleigh). With your peers in your cohort, you’ll attend 2 in-person meetings each fall & spring and visit the campus for one-week summer sessions in May. Online coursework is a mixture of asynchronous study and synchronous/real-time sessions.

If you stick to a tight schedule, you can finish NC State’s Ed.D. in 3 years. However, dissertation work may extend that plan to 4 years. All of the courses are hyper-focused on community college leadership issues, including topical problems. Plus there’s a 3-credit internship and a dissertation that you can begin developing in the first semester!

24College of William & Mary

• Hybrid Ed.D. in Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership – Higher Education Administration

Delivery: Hybrid with 4 Campus Weekends Per Semester & 2-Week Summer Residencies
Credits: 51
Length: 3+ Years
Minimum Program Cost: $48,450

W&M’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

The best way to get a handle on W&M’s School of Education and its strengths is to investigate the bios of its higher education faculty. You might also wish to speak with current higher ed students to get a sense of the pros & cons. It’s worth noting that the School offers a parallel PhD program in higher education.

If you’re inspired by those folks, then you’ll be thrilled with the Hybrid Ed.D. in Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership – Higher Education Administration for working professionals. This cohort-based program consists of 4 weekend visits per semester, 2-week summer residencies during years 1 & 2, and online coursework. And it can be completed in as few as 3 years.

The curriculum is available in the Graduate Catalog. W&M was a founding member of the CPED consortium, so we’re not surprised to see a thoughtful plan of study with collaborative research seminars and a Dissertation in Practice (DiP). It’s a strong pick for those who aspire to high-level positions—coursework covers a lot of topics in leadership, governance, and planning.

25 National University

• Online Ed.D. in Leadership in Higher Education

Delivery: 100% Online
Credits: 48
Length: 33 Months
Minimum Program Cost: $47,891

NU’s Higher Education Leadership Ed.D. Overview

National University is a regionally accredited institution that was converted into a non-profit university in 2019. So it’s not a traditional brick & mortar school with a track record in research. However, it does specialize in online programs and it does have an AAQEP-accredited Sanford College of Education. So it might be a useful choice for anyone looking for convenience and efficiency.

It also has a more forgiving threshold for admissions. The Online Ed.D. in Leadership in Higher Education is open to anyone with a master’s degree or doctoral degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution (or the international equivalent). It’s 100% online with asynchronous, self-paced courses and no live class sessions.

Higher education specialization courses are listed in the curriculum section. They cover the fundamental pillars of higher ed—leadership, legal issues, financial considerations, and strategic planning & operations—but they don’t get too deep into theory. The program culminates in a dissertation.