20 Most Affordable Online Doctorate Programs in Educational Leadership

Las Cruces, New Mexico

New Mexico State University (NMSU, est. 1888) is a public institution that is a member of the NMSU System. It has earned accolades from Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report (Top Tier universities; Top Public Schools; Business Programs; doctorate Engineering Programs; Best Online Graduate Education Programs; Best Online Bachelor’s Programs), Washington Monthly, and others. Notable alumni of NMSU include Alvy Ray Smith, a co-founder of the animation company Pixar.

NMSU offers associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has two relevant programs: an online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Administration (63 credits), and an online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Administration (78 credits). The PhD requires an extra 15 credits over the EdD, all of which are taken in one of ten cognate areas: Child and Family Development; Communication; Feminist/Gender Studies; Latino/a Studies; Native American Studies; Program Evaluation/Data Analysis; Research Methods; Social Justice/Critical Theory; Sociocultural Theory; Critical Race Theory/LatCrit. Sample courses include: Organizational Theory; Elements of Research; Concepts of Leadership in Education.

Wilmington, North Carolina

University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW, est. 1947) is a public institution and a member of the University of North Carolina System. UNCW has earned a long list of accolades, including from the following organizations: U.S. News & World Report (#5 most innovative public universities – South 2019; Best Regional Universities – South 2019; Best Graduate School Programs 2019); Fiske Guide to Colleges (2019); Kiplinger’s Personal Finance (Best College Value 2018); Princeton Review; Military Times; and others. UNCW is also recognized as a top producer of Fulbright U.S. Scholars (2017-18 AY). Notable UNCW alumni include a long list of professional athletes and coaches in football, basketball, soccer and baseball, as well as poets, actors/actresses, TV hosts and more.

UNCW offers bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. It has one relevant program: a hybrid Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership, offered through the Watson College of Education. The program requires 60 credits including dissertation study, and courses are offered in a hybrid format that combines both face-to-face and online delivery. Students can choose from three concentrations: Leadership in Educational Administration; Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction; Leadership in Higher Education. Typical students include current or aspiring public school leaders (B-12), or from related disciplines, or from student support roles, and looking for school district leadership roles.

Greenville, North Carolina

East Carolina University (ECU, est. 1907) is a public institution serving students on three campuses plus online. The university has earned accolades from numerous sources, including: Forbes Magazine (America’s Best College Buys), U.S. News & World Report; Washington Monthly and others. Notable ECU alumni/attendees include: Pulitzer-Prize-winning writers Rick Atkinson and Dan Neil; several actors/screenwriters such as Sandra Bullock (attended) and Kevin Williamson, who created Scream.

ECU offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate program. It has one relevant program: an online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership, delivered by the Department of Educational Leadership (LEED). The EdD provides students with two concentration choices: K12 or Higher Education. The minimum-60-credit program is designed for existing education leaders seeking senior leadership roles in K-20 educational institutions. It is multidisciplinary, with topics including curriculum and instructional leadership, human resource development, leadership theory, organizational theory, policy analysis, and more. Sample courses include: Doctoral Seminar in Educational Leadership; Cases and Concepts in Educational Leadership; Doctoral Seminar in Human Resource Development.

Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University (ISU, est. 1865) is a public institution serving students at two campuses, a number of centers, and online. It boasts a 94% placement rate for 2017 graduates, and has been recognized by several sources, including: Princeton Review (Best in the Midwest, multiple years); Forbes Magazine (top-value colleges); Washington Monthly; U.S. News & World Report (2019: National Universities; Business Programs); the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll; Tree Campus USA (multiple consecutive years). Notable ISU alumni include the legendary Boston Celtics (NBA) basketball player Larry Bird, a multi-time NBA All-Star and league MVP.

ISU offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs — including over 75 grad level programs in total. It has one relevant program: an online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Administration, delivered by the Department of Educational Leadership. The online track includes a specialization in Higher Education Leadership (HEL), while the on-campus track has an additional School Administration specialization option. The HEL program requires a minimum 72 credits partitioned in three areas: Basic Core, Internship Core, Advanced Core. Sample courses include: Higher Education in the United States; Seminar in the Foundations of Modern Education; Organization and Governance in Higher Education. Typical students will be those seeking leadership roles in two- and four-year colleges.

Denver, Colorado

University of Colorado Denver (UCD, est. 1912) is a public institution that is part of the University of Colorado system. It serves students on two campuses plus online. Its Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz, est. 2006; Aurora, Colorado) is the result of a merger of UCD with its now former Health Sciences Center campus, and the new name for the merged institution is UC Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, or UC Denver/Anschutz. Accolades for UCD come from U.S. News & World Report (2019: National Universities; Top Public Schools; Business Programs; Doctorate Engineering Programs), amongst others. Notable UCD alumni include the Rick Alden, CEO and owner of Skullcandy, which produces headphones, earphones, audio players, and accessories.

AMD offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degree programs. It has one relevant program: a 54-credit Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership for Educational Equity. Students have a choice between hybrid or online courses, or a summer intensive. There are also two tracks: 3-year (cohort model) and 5-year (open cohort), with the latter offering flexibility to students who may need the extra time to complete the degree.

There are choice of concentrations to the EdD: Early Childhood Special Education/Early Childhood Education; Executive Leadership; Mathematics Education; Professional Learning and Technology (PL-TECH); Science Education; Urban and Diverse Communities; Latin@ Learners and Community cohort. Interested students should check with AMD, as some of these concentrations may not be available online. Sample course categories in this EdD include: Equity and Diversity; Leadership and Learning; and Research Methods. A DRP (Doctoral Research Project) is also part of the curriculum.

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University (TTU, est. 1923) is a public institution and a member of the Texas Tech University System. It serves students on campus and online, as well as at a number of regional teaching sites. The university, designated a Purple Heart University, has earned accolades from the likes of Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report (2019: National Universities; Top Public Schools; Business Programs; doctorate Engineering Programs), Washington Monthly, Victory Media and others. Amongst TTU’s notable alumni are no fewer than three astronauts, including Space Shuttle Columbia’s last commander, Rick Husband.

TTU offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has one relevant program: a blended Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership. This is a 60-credit program, including 12 credits of dissertation work, typically taking about three years to complete. Course work is online, and students must attend multiple one-week on-campus intensives. Typical students have an “active professional position in a PreK-12 school/district environment which allows the to implement small-scale change in the form of action research.” Sample courses include: EC-12 Learning and Performance in District Organizations; School District Resource Allocation and Deployment; Social Justice and Equity in Educational Leadership.

Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University (ASU, est. 1899) is a public institution serving students on campus and online. Recognition for Appalachian comes from various sources, including U.S. News & World Report (2019: Regional Universities South; Best Colleges for Veterans; Best Undergraduate Teaching). Stephen Dubner, co-author of the “Freakonomics” books and co-host of the podcast of the same name, is an alumni of ASU.

ASU offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has one relevant program: an online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership. The program provides six concentration options: Educational Administration; Interdisciplinary Studies; Expressive Arts Education and Leadership and Inquiry; Instructional Technology Leadership; Higher Education; Literacy in Exceptionalities — with additional concentrations on-campus, and a dual EdS/EdD option. The cohort-model program requires at least 60 credits, and is designed “to prepare students for leadership roles in public schools, community colleges, and universities.” Of the 60 credits, six are allocated to dissertation work. Students who have an EdS degree may be eligible for a waiver of half the credits. Sample courses include: Multi-Disciplinary Seminar on Emerging Issues; Organizational and Systems Theory; Concepts and Constructs in Curriculum and Instruction.

Irvine, California

Concordia University-Irvine (CUI, est. 1976) is a private, nonprofit institution. It is a member of the Concordia University System and affiliated with the Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod). The university has gained recognition from various sources including U.S. News & World Report (2019: Regional Universities West; Best Colleges for Veterans; Best Value Schools).

CUI offers associate’s through doctorate level degree programs. It has one relevant program: a blended Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership. The cohort-model program typically takes three years and requires 33-36 credits. Curriculum courses are delivered with a blend of three modes: on-campus (one Saturday per term); Real-time Online Learning (three times per term, Tues. or Thur. evening); Asynchronous Online Learning (three weeks per term). Courses typically run eight weeks each. Dissertation seminars, proposal and research are also blended, but in a different mix. Sample courses include: Leadership for Whole System Reform; Building Capacity for Learning and Continuous Improvement; Technology in a Systems Approach to Leadership.

Jackson, Tennessee

Union University (UU, est. 1823) is a private, nonprofit institution affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Academic programs incorporate a Christ-centered world view. Organizations recognizing Union include U.S. News & World Report (2019: National Universities; Engineering Programs with no doctorate; Business Programs). Union has had numerous heads of state visit during the university’s Annual Scholarship Banquet, including both U.S. Presidents Bush; several former British Prime Ministers (Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair); Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev (a Nobel Prize winner) and several more.

Union offers associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has one relevant educational leadership program: an online Doctor of Education (EdD) in P-12 School Administration and a concentration in Leadership in School Reform (non-Licensure track), requiring a minimum of 60 credits. (Note: The on-campus EdD offers two additional concentrations.) Admission to the program requires either leadership experience, school leadership license or a school leadership degree. Sample courses include: Community Involvement for School Improvement; Accountability for Greater Student Learning; Faith and Ethics in Educational Leadership.

Beaumont, Texas

Lamar University (LU, est. 1923) is a public institution and a member of the Texas State University System. It serves student on-campus and online. Accolades for Lamar include that from U.S. News & World Report (2019: National Universities; Business Programs; Engineering Programs; tier 2 university; 2015: Best Online Graduate Education Programs) and Forbes Magazine (America’s Top Colleges 2014), amongst others. The university has numerous notable alumni who have collectively entered numerous fields, including many in professional sports, art, photography, acting, music, politics and more.

Lamar offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs — over 100 programs in total. It has one relevant program: an online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, which includes a concentration in Global Educational Leadership. Courses are 100% online and run eight weeks each. This 60-credit program starts each summer and takes eight semesters. It is designed to prepare education leaders to be “innovative change agents” at any education level/geographic setting. Sample courses include: Cultural Influences; Dynamics of Leadership; Global Educational Leadership and Policy.

Fayetteville, Arkansas

University of Arkansas (UARK, est. 1871) is a public institution and a member of the University of Arkansas System. The university has recognition from several sources, including U.S. News & World Report (2019: National Universities; Top Public Schools; 2018: Best Online Programs – Grad Education and Bachelor’s). Numerous UARK alumni have entered politics, including governor and senate positions (e.g., J. William Fulbright, after whom the Fulbright Scholarships and Fellowships are named). A long list of athletes and olympians are alumni, as is the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton was a faculty member (School of Law) in the early to mid-70s.

UARK offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has one relevant program: an online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership (EduLdr) degree, delivered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. It requires a minimum 96 credits (including 18 dissertation credits) and takes three years for completion. There is also an online Specialist EduLdr degree and an online Master’s EduLdr degree. Up to 60 credits of the 96 can be from the Master’s and EdS programs. While the EdD has online courses, there is a once-per-semester residency requirement of an intensive weekend. Sample courses include: Problems of Practice; Educational Policy and Change; Statistical Literacy for Educational Leaders.

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

William Carey University (WCU, est. 1892) is a private, nonprofit institution affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. It serves students on two campuses and online. The university has received recognition from U.S. News & World Report (2019: Regional Universities South; Best Value Schools) and other organizations. Notable WCU alumni include Dan Jennings of the Miami Marlins baseball team (manager, MLB), amongst others.

WCU offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degree programs. It has one relevant program: an online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership degree, delivered by the School of Education — which announced construction plans for 2019, to meet the demand of the school’s enrollment numbers. It also has an online Specialist of Education (EdS) in Instructional Leadership degree. The cohort-model program requires 63 credits (in addition to a master’s degree), of which 30 credits are earned for the EdS. The curriculum includes 18 credits of Research (courses and process). Course work is online; however, there will be two “face-to-face” meetings per term (latter part of program), which can either be conducted in person or via Skype.

Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University (LU, est. 1971) is a private, nonprofit institution with an Evangelical Christian affiliation — one of the largest of its kind worldwide, and the largest university in the state of Virginia. It serves students on campus and online, integrating a biblical worldview into its academic programs. U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) included Liberty in a couple of 2019 rankings lists: National Universities; Engineering Programs (schools with no doctorate). Other recognition comes from Forbes Magazine, Barrons’s Profiles of American Colleges, and others. Students surveyed by USNWR unanimously agreed that they would recommend Liberty to a friend. Liberty has a long list of notable people associated, including co-founder Dr. Jerry Falwell (TV evangelist), his son (Jerry Jr., current LU president) and many graduates who have entered fields that include business, entertainment (film, music, television), journalism and literature, sports and more.

Liberty offers associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs — over 600 programs in total. It has one relevant program: an online Doctor of Education (EdD) with a specialization in Educational Leadership (EL), delivered by the School of Education. There is also an online Education Specialist (EdS) program which has multiple specialization options, including in Educational Leadership. The EdD requires 60 credits and takes three years on average. Course work is online, and Intensives are optional. Sample courses include: Advanced Learning Theory and Research; Theories of Educational Leadership; Educational Leadership and Public Relations. Potential careers for graduates include: College Administrator; Curriculum Specialist; Instructional Supervisor; K-12 or College Teacher; School Administrator. Related online degree options include: an EdD in EduLdr with a Curriculum and Instruction specialization; an EdD in Higher Education Administration; and an EdD in Christian Leadership.

Lincoln, Nebraska

University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL, est. 1869) is a public institution and a member of the University of Nebraska System. Recognition for UNL includes that from: Forbes Magazine (America’s Top Colleges: 2018); U.S. News & World Report (2019: National Universities; Best Colleges for Veterans; Best Value Schools; 2018 Best Online Programs for categories of Bachelor’s, Grad Education and others); Washington Monthly (National Universities 2018) and others. Notable UNL alumni include: billionaire Warren Buffet; Twitter social media site co-founder Evan Williams; Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee; Johnny Carson (deceased), the former host of the Tonight Show (currently hosted by SNL alum Jimmy Fallon). For students wishing to spend some time on campus, the city of Lincoln has high scores for several factors, including: quality of life; best downtowns; healthiest small cities; best cities for college students; bicycle friendliness; and more.

UNL offers associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has two relevant programs: an online Doctor of Education (EdD) and a hybrid Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Studies, each with a Specialization in “Educational Leadership and Higher Education” (ELHE) — both delivered by the Department of Educational Administration. The EdD requires 96 credits for completion. The PhD requires 90 credits, of which six credits are allotted to on-campus summer session seminars (first three years). Both these ELHE programs are both intended for student who will focus on leadership roles in P12 or “higher education, human resource development, student affairs, or community college.” However, the PhD track is intended for a more scholarly career. Alternative programs at UNL include a hybrid EdD in Education Administration with an area of study in P-12 School Leadership (online courses plus six credits of residency).

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Bethel University (Bethel, est. 1871) is a private, nonprofit institution affiliated with the Baptist Church.
The university has ranking awards from U.S. News & World Report, including for 2019: Regional Universities Midwest; Best Colleges for Veterans; Best Value Schools; Best Undergraduate Teaching. Notable Bethel alumni include: Joel Hodgson, creator of the comedy series “Mystery Science Theater 3000”; and conjoined twins Abigail Loraine Hensel and Brittany Lee Hensel, who have appeared on Oprah, and had a reality show on TLC, “Abby and Brittany.”

Bethel offers associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has one relevant program: a hybrid Doctor of Education (EdD) in Higher Education Leadership. While coursework is primarily online, each academic year requires 1-2 weeks of on-campus intensives. Total required credits is 61, with a minimum timeline of three years excluding dissertation work. Bethel indicates that the typical student is one who will seek a role in the day-to-day tactical management of a college or university. Sample courses include: Historical, Cultural, and Philosophical Issues Impacting Educational Leadership; Organizational Leadership in Higher Education; Curriculum Design and Instructional Management in Higher Education.

Nampa, Idaho

Northwest Nazarene University (NNU, est. 1913) is a private, nonprofit institution affiliated with The Church of the Nazarene. It serves students of all denominations on two campuses and online, plus in over 30 countries through academic partnerships. The university has recognition from various organizations, including: U.S. News & World Report (2019: Regional Universities West; Best Value Schools; Engineering Programs with no doctorate); Victory Media (Military Friendly School 2016); Princeton Review. Notable NNU alumni include astronaut Richard James Hieb (retired).

NNU offers associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs — over 60 areas of study in total. It has two relevant programs: an online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership (EL), both delivered by the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. (NNU also has an online Specialist of Education (EdS) in Leadership and Organizational Development, and it or an equivalent is a prerequisite to the EL programs.) The EdD requires 36 credits beyond the EdS degree, and the PhD requires 41 credits. Both EL tracks have a 22- to 26-month timeline, follow a cohort model, and provides a 2-week on-campus period (optional) in a summer session for dissertation and research preparation. Sample courses include: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods for Educational Research; Policy Influence and Development; Effective Leadership for Change Management.

Johnson City, Tennessee

East Tennessee State University (ETSU, est. 1911) is a public institution that is a member of SUCCST (State University and Community College System of Tennessee). It serves students at the main campus, a number of learning centers, and online. U.S. News & World Report ranked the university as a tier 2 institution for their 2019 lists, as well as in the National Universities and Business Programs categories. Other organizations recognizing ETSU include: Princeton Review (best value). ETSU has a long list of notable alumni that includes athletes (football, baseball, golf), entertainers (musicians, actors, directors), writers (playwrights, poets, novelists) and more. The list includes country music star Kenny Chesney, and suffragette Besse Cooper, who was briefly the oldest living person worldwide (until her death at 116).

ETSU offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has one relevant program: an online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership, delivered by the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA), within the College of Education. The EdD has three concentrations available online: Higher Education Leadership; School Leadership; Administrative Endorsement. (A fourth concentration, in Classroom Leadership, is only available on campus.) The EdD requires 66 credits for completion, with the selected concentration comprising either 36 credits (Administrative Endorsement) or 15 credits. The dissertation work takes up 12 credits. Students holding an Education Specialist (EdS) degree need complete only 42 credits instead of 66. Sample courses include: Leadership Studies; Theories of Administration; Research in Educational Leadership.

Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson University (Clemson, est. 1889) is a public institution and one of the largest in the state. Originally an all-male military, it serves students on its campus — which houses a number of historic sites — and online. It has recognition from organizations such as: U.S. News & World Report (2019: National Universities; Best Colleges for Veterans; Best Undergraduate Teaching); Forbes Magazine; Kiplinger’s; Princeton Review; Washington Monthly. Notable Clemson alumni include TV host Nancy O’Dell and Senator Strom Thurmond, the longest-serving U.S. senator in history, who died at 100 and served in both the Democratic and Republican political parties.

Clemson offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has one relevant program: a hybrid Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Leadership. Course delivery is a mix of off-campus, online or video conferencing. Students can choose from two areas of focus: Higher Ed or P-12. The latter provides additional options, include for South Carolina licensure. The PhD program requires 58 credits, including 18 for dissertation work and 18 for Concentration courses. Sample courses include: Principles of Educational Leadership; Theory and Practice in Educational Leadership; Systematic Inquiry in Educational Leadership.

Greeley, Colorado

University of Northern Colorado (UNC, est. 1889) is a public institution serving students at this campus and their Extended Campus, which consists of several learning centers and UNC Online. The university is ranked in U.S. News & World Report in the 2019 categories of National Universities and Business Programs. Alumni of UNC have been successful in many fields, including sports (football, boxing, judoka), entertainment (music and vocals, music producing, acting), literature (fiction and non-fiction, playwriting), politics, engineering, and more. Amongst these alumni are science fiction and social satire author Connie Willis, winner of Hugo and Nebula Awards.

UNC offers bachelor’s through doctoral level degree programs. It has one relevant program: a blended Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership degree. The program combines face-to-face Saturday meetings (six per semester) with online components and some fully online courses. Students holding an Education Specialist (EdS) and Master’s degrees, will complete 42 credits (including dissertation work), while Master’s-only students will complete 64 credits. Graduating students will fit into leadership roles in: advocacy; applied research; P-12 district leadership; teaching in higher education.

Gainesville, Georgia

Brenau University (Brenau, est. 1878) is a private, nonprofit institution. It serves students at the main campus, several co-ed campuses, plus online. In addition to the Women’s College, the main campus also houses the Brenau Academy, a women’s-only prep school. The Academy and the Women’s College has a long list of alumni/attendees who have achieved success, one of whom is Katherine Jane Bryant, winner of an Emmy Award for her costume designs featured on shows such as Mad Men and Deadwood, and who has a line of clothing for Banana Republic. U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 college rankings has Brenau listed in three categories: Regional Universities South; Best Colleges for Veterans; Best Value Schools. Brenau has also earned recognition from Victory Media (Military Friendly School 2018-19) and Princeton Review.

Brenau offers associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs, in over 50 areas of study. It has one relevant program: a cohort-model, online Doctorate in Education (EdD) in Leadership in Higher Education. The 54-credit curriculum takes a minimum of thee years to complete and offers onsite weekend residencies to maximize schedule flexibility for students. Sample courses include: Legal Issues and Ethics; Curriculum Design, Theory and Evaluation; Academic Program Assessment and Evaluation. Dissertation work takes up five courses, while research takes three. Opportunities for graduates of this EdD include administrator, master educator, policy advocate, teacher leader, or even roles outside of education.