Ed.D. Programs in North Carolina

Earning a Doctor of Education Degree in North Carolina

What Kind of North Carolina Ed.D. Programs Are Available?

Public universities are leading the charge for educational leaders in North Carolina! Our detailed listings are packed with Ed.D. programs from schools within the UNC System, including highly regarded players like UNC Chapel Hill. Interested in a faith-based approach? You also have the option to consider programs from private universities like Gardner-Webb and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. We’ve include admissions & tuition links to help you sort through all of your choices.

How Do I Choose a North Carolina Ed.D. Program?

Case Study #1: Aspiring North Carolina Superintendent on a Tight Budget

Let’s say you’re a gifted educational administrator who is looking to move up the ranks into a superintendent position. You’ve started investigating Ed.S. & Ed.D. programs, but you’d like to know more before you invest in another degree.

• Reach out to folks in the North Carolina School Superintendents Association (NCSSA) and attend NCASA’s annual Conference on Educational Leadership before you make any decisions about your future. Current district leaders will have insider advice on which Educational Leadership programs are worth the money (and which ones you should avoid).
• Explore our rankings of the most affordable Ed.D. programs in North Carolina. Many of the doctorates in the top 10 have been approved by the NC DPI to offer superintendent licensure preparation. Some—like Wingate University’s online doctorate—will award you an Ed.S. after you’ve completed core coursework & electives.
• Talk to your employers about funding opportunities. Even if they can’t help with a degree, they may be willing to support your participation in programs like the NCSSA & NCASLD’s Aspiring Superintendents Program or the AASA’s Aspiring Superintendents Academies.

Case Study #2: North Carolina Educator Looking for a Challenge

Ed.D. programs aren’t limited to aspiring superintendents. As a North Carolina teacher or principal, you may be considering studying for a doctorate in order to deepen your practice or explore new ideas.

• Ask yourself why you need a doctorate. Is it to qualify for a significant pay raise? Is it to prepare yourself for consulting & higher education teaching opportunities later in your career? Is it for the bragging rights? These are valid reasons, but remember that you always have the option to earn an Ed.S. for career purposes and then tackle an All But Dissertation (ABD) Completion program later down the line.
• Be very careful about putting yourself in debt. Visit the fellowships & scholarships section in this guide, get in touch with recent Ed.D. alumni, and talk to your family before you make a decision. A doctorate is a significant investment of time & money. If you’re willing to study online, check out our rankings of the Best and Cheapest online education doctorates in the country.
• Think about how much you wish to specialize. Our North Carolina program directory contains a number of doctorates in curriculum & instruction, as well as Ed.D. programs in Educational Leadership with unique focus areas. But we also have an entire section on this website devoted to specialty subjects (e.g. Educational Technology) with directories that contain links to online programs. You will have a lot of choice.

Case Study #3: Higher Education Administrator Ready for Promotion

Let’s say you’re a university administrator who’s planning to apply for high-level leadership positions within and outside of the state. You’ve realized that you need a doctorate to qualify for top jobs and you want an Ed.D. that will impress hiring committees.

• Take the time to investigate the College of Education and its strengths & weaknesses. For example, anyone interested in rural issues and community colleges might wish to consider NC State or ECU. Folks who are grappling with urban challenges might put UNC Charlotte on their shortlist.
• Use our section on Careers & Salaries to learn more about employment landscape for higher education administrators in North Carolina and farther afield. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does a bang-up job of tracking job demand & salary data across metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.
• If you’re an experienced administrator with 7+ years of experience, you may prefer the networking & high-level thinking involved in an executive-style doctorate—we have an entire guide & directory devoted to Executive Ed.D. Programs. A number of these programs are offered online or in a low-residency format.

Top 10 Most Affordable Ed.D. Programs in North Carolina 2025

We researched each Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in our program directory to find you the cheapest doctorates in the state. When we ran the numbers, we discovered that UNC System universities offer the best bang for your buck. Whether you’re looking for a CPED member, a rural College of Education, or an HBCU school, you’ll find what you need. Here are a few more insights from this year’s list:

• North Carolina is a Fabulous State for Doctoral Students: In-state residents can take advantage of some of the cheapest prices in the country for an education doctorate. Almost all of the public universities in North Carolina offer Ed.D. programs that are under $40,000. Even UNC Chapel Hill—generally regarded as one of the best public schools in the country—isn’t charging much more. You’ll be spoiled for choice.
• Hybrid is a Big Trend: Many North Carolina universities have yet to fully commit to 100% online learning. Instead, you’re going to find a lot of affordable programs in our rankings that include campus visits. These are often scheduled on the weekends or in the evenings. That means you’ll need to budget for commuting costs.
• Affordable Ed.D. Programs Are Spread Around the State: It doesn’t matter where you live—there is bound to be a low-cost doctorate in Educational Leadership within driving distance. Really struggling with the time commitment that requires? Two schools in our top 10 affordable rankings—App State and Wingate—offer online programs with minimal or no campus requirements.
• Minimum Program Costs Are Estimates: At public universities, the price will fluctuate depending on how many credits you take per semester and how many courses you complete in the summer. We calculated the total cost based on the program’s recommended plan of study and then took the average for the “per semester” price. However, it’s always best to ask the Ed.D. program coordinator for a sample budget that includes all expenses, including one-off fees. Remember, too, that tuition rates at public schools almost always increase every year. The longer you take to finish, the more expensive it could be.
• Admission Requirements Will Vary: In some cases, schools may expect you to have 3-5 years of professional work experience. In other cases, schools may want to see evidence of licensure. For instance, anyone applying to a superintendency Ed.D. program will usually need to have a North Carolina Principal’s License (or be eligible to receive one). We’ve provided links to admission requirements so you can do a quick check of your eligibility!

Note: Minimum program costs in our rankings are based on tuition charts for North Carolina residents; out-of-state tuition rates at public universities could be much higher.

Remaining Top 10 Most Affordable Ed.D. Programs in North Carolina

Online Doctor of Education Programs in North Carolina

Online Ed.D. Providers in North Carolina

1. Appalachian State University (CAEP-accredited)
2. University of North Carolina at Greensboro (CAEP-accredited)
3. Wingate University

What to Know About North Carolina Online Ed.D. Programs

When it comes to doctorate in education programs, the majority of North Carolina universities have opted out of the online game. But this could change. During our research, we found that NC schools are increasingly moving toward a hybrid model, with campus classes in the evenings and/or weekends.

So watch this space. As North Carolina schools learn to adapt their formats to suit working professionals, you may see more opportunities to study from a distance.

Note: If App State and Wingate don’t suit your needs, our overview of online doctoral programs in education has scores of listings for online Ed.D. programs in other states.

Online Ed.D. Programs in Leadership

Appalachian State University has developed a 60-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, a distance learning version of its traditional Ed.D. It’s a cohort-based program that can be taken in an online or hybrid form, and it comes in multiple concentrations (e.g. higher education, educational administration, IT leadership, etc.).

It’s also deeply affordable for NC residents, with some of the best in-state per credit tuition rates we’ve seen in the country! Better yet, up to 30 hours of the program may be waived for Appalachian Ed.S. graduates. Just keep in mind that the online version includes two on-campus, multi-day residencies.

Alternatively, you could consider a private liberal arts university. Wingate has developed a 63-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for K-12 principals & superintendents and a 63-credit Online Ed.D. in Higher Education Executive Leadership for college & university administrators. Although both programs contain synchronous online discussions & sessions, there are no campus requirements.

Wingate is more expensive than App State, but it’s still very affordable for North Carolina residents. And it comes with a solid track record of success. Check out the bios of Ed.D. Alumni and reach out to them to learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of the program.

Online Ed.D. Programs in Specialist Topics

The other distance learning Ed.D. option in North Carolina is UNC Greensboro’s 54-credit Online Ed.D. in Kinesiology. As you might expect, this is targeted at practicing professionals who have a minimum of three years of professional experience in kinesiology or related fields. The four-year program is cohort-based and includes three on-campus summer visits. Graduates proceed to jobs as associate deans & assistant professors, program directors, and chairs for athletic training.

Doctoral Education Funding in North Carolina

Internal Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards

North Carolina universities sometimes hide their institutional (i.e. internal) aid in strange places. To save you time, we’ve highlighted opportunities for doctoral students. Most schools will also be able to help you with financial aid advice (e.g. taking out a federal loan) and direct you to external funding. Ed.D. students often cobble tuition together from a large number of sources (e.g. loans, personal savings, awards, etc.).

Appalachian State University

A limited number of doctoral research assistantships are available; they provide employment, but they do not carry a tuition waiver. In the category of Scholarship & Grant Opportunities, App State also offers:

• Reich College of Education graduate scholarships for doctoral students
• Graduate School Research & Travel Award funding
• A Doctoral Student Enrichment Grant for research or travel expenses

East Carolina University

The College of Education (COE) offers a number of general COE scholarships that apply to both master’s and doctoral students (e.g. Dr. James W. Batten Research Fellow Scholarship), as well as specific awards for Ed.D. students in Educational Leadership. In ECU’s Internal Scholarships database, check out the:

• Dianne and Chip Linville Doctoral Fellowship Endowment Fund
• Mack and Margaret Coble Doctoral Fellowship
• Ralph Brimley Enrichment Fund
• Smith Gardner Education Leadership Fellowship

You can also ask the Graduate School about assistantship possibilities and tuition remissions for doctoral students.

Gardner-Webb University

Gardner-Webb’s School of Education has a general section on Financial Aid Resources. Assistantship awards may be available for graduate students on a limited basis.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

For the Ed.D. programs in Community College Leadership and Educational Leadership, start with the College of Education’s excellent section on Financing Graduate Education. Doctoral students are eligible to apply for:

• Provost’s Fellowships: One-year awards that cover tuition (including the out-of-state portion) & health insurance
• Graduate Research Assistantships
• Graduate Teaching Assistantships
• Wilcox Hodnett Doctoral Fellowship
• ELPHD Scholarships & Grants

Plus general graduate scholarships & fellowships (e.g. Wilkinson Graduate Ethics Fellowship) and GSA travel/conference awards.

If you’re interested in the Ed.D. in Agricultural and Extension Education, have a look at the Graduate School’s section on Financial Support and the list of graduate scholarships & fellowships.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The School of Education has a great section on Financial Aid & Funding – Graduate Students. When it comes to internal funding, graduate students are eligible for:

• School of Education Fellowships, Scholarships & Awards
• School of Education Graduate Assistantships
• University Fellowships & Assistantships
• Work-Study Assistantships
• Departmental Assistantships

There are a number of awards open to doctoral students in Educational Leadership and Policy, Leadership, and School Improvement and at least one for folks who are interested in Curriculum & Instruction (i.e. Barbara Holland Chapman and John Franklin Chapman Graduate Fellowship).

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

UNC Charlotte has devoted a section to Costs and Funding for the Ed.D. In addition to traditional financial aid sources (e.g. loans), doctoral students are eligible for the:

• Graduate Assistant Support Program (GASP)
• Graduate Fellowships
• Assistantships & Employment

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Thinking about the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership? The School of Education (SOE) has a few SOE scholarships that are open to graduate students, but we suggest you check with the program coordinator to see if doctoral students qualify. Traditional financial aid is open to students who register for at least half-time (4.5 or more credits) per semester. Ed.D. students typically take at least 6 credits per semester.

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Internal funding options for Ed.D. students in the Watson College of Education include the Ed Leadership Student Research Travel Award, as well as general graduate scholarships such as:

• Dr. Ralph W. Brauer Fellowship
• Alumni Association Scholarships
• Jane Logan Lackey Fellowship
• Sylvia and B.D. Scwartz Graduate Fellowship
• Lacy C. and Doris L. Sidbury Fellowship

Department of Educational Leadership staff can also direct you to ideas for external funding (e.g. ACPA General Grant).

Western Carolina University

The Graduate School’s section on Tuition & Funding has details about tuition rates, graduate assistantships, scholarships, and fellowships. In particular, potential Ed.D. students should check out the:

• Invest in Teachers Award, which provides support to educators seeking to advance professionally and positively impact students and their field.
• Morrill Family Fund for Research in Education, which supports research in the improvement of teaching at any educational level.

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.

Administrator License Requirements in North Carolina

Administrator & Special Service Personnel License Areas

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI), under the auspices of the State Board of Education, handles licensure for NC teachers and administrators.

• There are all kinds of administrative license areas for administrators & special service personnel.
• We cover NC principal and superintendent requirements below, but you’ll also see plenty of other categories (e.g. career-technical director, curriculum instructional specialist, etc.) in the license area list.

Here’s the most important point: all administrators and special service personnel must hold a valid Professional Educator’s Continuing License (SP2), which requires at least three years of teaching experience, as a baseline standard.

Wondering what degree you need?

• NC DPI maintains an updated list of state-approved education programs for NC administrative licensure. You’ll find many of the same names in our school listings.
• Doctoral programs in education often include licensure concentrations (especially for superintendency). Feel free to ask the Ed.D. program coordinator about the licensing process.

School Administrator – Assistant Principal License

In addition to obtaining a Professional Educator Continuing License, North Carolina administrators who wish to serve as assistant principals must:

• Complete an state-approved program in school administration at the master’s level or above.

NC DPI notes that provisional principal’s licenses can be issued for service as an assistant principal if the local board determines there is a shortage of individuals with principal licensure. Affiliation with a master’s school administrator program must occur before the expiration of the provisional license, which lasts for three years.

School Administrator – Principal License

In addition to obtaining a Professional Educator Continuing License, North Carolina administrators who wish to serve as principals must:

• Complete an state-approved program in school administration at the master’s level or above.

If you already have a master’s degree, you can complete a state-approved add-on licensure program like App State’s Graduate Certificate in School Leadership (GCSL): Building-Level Educational Leadership/Add-On Licensure Program. Check the list of state-approved programs for the term “Add-On” in the Principal category.

School Administrator – Superintendent License

In addition to obtaining a Professional Educator Continuing License, aspiring North Carolina superintendents must:

• Have a minimum of one year of experience (or the equivalent) as a principal.
• Hold an advanced graduate level (sixth-year degree) in school administration OR at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and five years leadership or managerial experience considered relevant by the employing local board of education.

For superintendency, your degree can take the form of an Ed.S. or an Ed.D program. NC DPI also notes that eligibility to serve as a superintendent must be verified by the State Board of Education prior to election by a local board of education.

Educational Leadership Jobs in North Carolina

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

Careers for North Carolina educational leaders look healthy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) keeps close tabs on employment & wage data for both elementary & secondary school education administrators and postsecondary education administrators. When you examine the employment maps, you’ll notice that:

• Compared to the rest of the country, North Carolina has high employment levels of elementary & secondary school education administrators. Not enough to beat massive states (e.g. CA, TX, NY, etc.), but still very strong.
• Greenville is usually a concentrated hotspot for postsecondary education administrators (think East Carolina University). Outside of the big cities, the Mountain North Carolina non-metropolitan area often has some of the highest employment levels for—and concentration levels of—administrators in the country. This may be due to Appalachian State University, Western Carolina University, and a number of smaller private colleges that live in those counties.

You can break the PreK-12 data down even further by consulting the NC DPI’s section on Reports & Statistics for North Carolina public schools. This contains school report cards, stats on budgets & expenditures, details on the number of administrative personnel employed in each county, and much more. See the Statistical Profile Online for an overview.

If you’re preparing for positions in higher education, you may wish to consult the U.S. government’s College Scorecard, which will give you a quick overview of North Carolina colleges & universities in your chosen zip code. According to the NCES, the biggest player in the state is North Carolina State University at Raleigh.

Educational Leadership Salaries

North Carolina doesn’t do as well on the salary front for educators (but what you give up in money, you may recoup in quality of life). Mean wages for elementary & secondary school education administrators can be some of the lowest in the country; wages for postsecondary education administrators are more respectable.

You can learn more about NC public school salaries by browsing through the NC DPI’s Salary Guides, which include salary schedules that are determined by the State of North Carolina. (In addition to the state salary, a local supplement may be provided by the school system.) The DPI also posts information on public school educator benefits.

Two other useful resources to consult for ballpark salary figures include:

• The AASA’s Superintendents Salary and Benefits Survey, which is published with a summary of major findings in the AASA’s Research Papers section.
• Payscale’s cumulative data for all holders of the Doctor of Education (EdD) Degree, which allows you to compare salary data by job title (e.g. Elementary School Principal vs. School Director).

Educational Leadership Job Boards

National sites are guaranteed to have postings for North Carolina education jobs (e.g. Indeed, HigherEdJobs, SchoolSpring, LinkedIn, etc.). But we also wanted to highlight a few NC-specific job boards for educational leaders & administrators.

• NCASA hosts a Job Search for aspiring superintendents, principals, directors, etc.
• NCSBA posts North Carolina Superintendent Vacancies and provides links to other State Association Vacancies.
• NCAPCS has a Job Board that lists administrative openings in public charter schools.
• NC Community Colleges posts administrative Job Openings in North Carolina public community colleges (sort by job type).

Educational Leadership Organizations in North Carolina

Educational Leadership Associations

• North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE): NCAE serves as a professional development and advocacy organization for its ~60,000 members. It represents the concerns of members and students and works to advance public education.
• North Carolina Association of Principals and Assistant Principals (NC PAPA): NC PAPA is the state affiliate of the NAESP and NASSP. It’s an independent association that represents principals and assistant principals.
• North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA): This is the one to bookmark. NCASA represents the interests of central office administrators, principals, assistant principals, and higher education professionals. It provides benefits, hosts conferences and PD events, reports on legislative activity, and more.
• North Carolina Association of School Business Officials (NCASBO): NCASBO represents 800+ North Carolina members who are employed in various areas of school business.
• North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA): NCSBA is a member-driven association that represents local boards of education in North Carolina.
• North Carolina School Superintendents Association (NCSSA): NCSSA is a core affiliate of NCASA; one rate includes membership privileges in both organizations.

Educational Leadership Professional Groups

• North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD): NCASLD provides school administrator programs that are aligned to research-based NC performance evaluation standards and competencies for highly effective school leadership. It often partners with NC PAPA and NCSSA (see our Training section below).
• Professional Educators of NC (PENC): PENC is a non-partisan, independent professional organization that provides a voice for educators in policy-making, a forum for developing professional relationships, and advocacy for improved learning environments.

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 North Carolina

Educational Leadership Conferences

• NCASA Conference on Educational Leadership: This popular two-day conference for school administrators is held in March. NCASA also organizes a School Law & Policy Symposium featuring education attorneys and policy experts.
• NCASBO Annual Conference: This four-day event for school business officials usually occurs in February.
• NC PAPA Annual Conference: NC PAPA’s annual meeting in March often takes place in conjunction with the NCASA Conference on Educational Leadership.
• NC PAPA Fall Instructional Symposium: This two-day event in November is a great networking opportunity for principals. The theme changes yearly.
• NCSBA Conferences: NCSBA organizes multiple events throughout the year, including its Annual Conference, district meetings, a Law Conference, a Public Policy Conference, and Summer Leadership Seminars.

Educational Leadership Training

• NCAE Professional Development Catalog: NCAE organizes a variety of workshops and training sessions for administrators. Short sessions are between 2-5 hours. Longer sessions can last two days.
• NCASBO School Business Management Academy: NCASBO’s academy develops future school business leaders through a comprehensive training program in the area of school finance. Certifications are available.
• NC PAPA Professional Development Programs: NC PAPA runs several programs for principals, including Distinguished Leadership in Practice (DLP), a year-long cohort program; Leadership in Personalized & Digital Learning Principal Cohorts (LPDLP); various seminars; and Future-Ready Leadership (FRL), a year-long cohort program designed for assistant principals.
• NCSSA Professional Development: NCSSA offers a Summer Leadership Retreat and Winter Leadership Conference, as well as a number of programs in partnership with NCASLD, including an Aspiring Superintendents Program, a Digital Leadership Institute for NC Superintendents, and a Next Generation Superintendent Development Program.
• PENC Workshops: PENC workshops cover topics such as National Board Certification, Literacy, Financial Planning, Retirement Planning, and Professional Development.