Best Online EdD Programs in 2023

Earning an EdD degree online can be a convenient way to get the training you need to move into educational leadership. Get the inside scoop on these programs, what it takes to get in, succeed, graduate, and take the next step toward the career you truly want.

Last Updated: 04/27/2023

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Best Online EdD Programs in 2023

Online EdD programs have become increasingly popular among mid-career educators who wish to attain the highest levels of leadership. However, selecting the right program can be challenging. It is essential to comprehend accreditation requirements, evaluate costs, and ensure the program format is flexible enough to accommodate a busy schedule. Our college rankings provide an excellent starting point, listing the top online EdD programs based on key criteria such as affordability, accreditation, and the level of student support services provided. Discover which schools rose to the top in 2023 and identify the online EdD program that best suits your needs.

About the ranking

Methodology for the STEPS Best Online Programs in 2022

Generate List of Eligible Schools and Programs

To be eligible for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on government data provided by The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

  • Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • At least one program in subject area offered partially or fully online.

Assign Impact of Data Points

After generating the list of eligible schools, the STEPS data team then assigned weights and ranked schools based on a mix of affordability, support services, and online program availability. Online program availability and overall affordability received the heaviest weightings.

Online Program Availability

  • Number of online programs in subject area reported by school to the U.S. Department of Education. When unable to verify this number, a star-based system was used to signify the number of programs relative to peers.

Affordability

  • Cost:
    Relative cost of attendance compared to peer schools on the list. Based on tuition and fees per academic year.
  • Students w/ Institutional Aid:
    Percentage of students who receive financial aid from the school itself.

Support Services

  • Academic Counseling:
    Existence of this service on campus or online.
  • Career Placement:
    Existence of this service on campus or online.

About Our Data

All STEPS rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: July 2021

1
New York University

New York, New York

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 8:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$$$
Institutional Financial Aid 57%
Online Students 11,371
2
Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 14:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 59%
Online Students 658
3
University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 14:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 71%
Online Students 4,488

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 20:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$$
Institutional Financial Aid 53%
Online Students 5,793
5
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, Nebraska

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 16:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 83%
Online Students 767
6
University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 21:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 92%
Online Students 637
7
Idaho State University

Pocatello, Idaho

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 13:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 70%
Online Students 782
8
University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, Maryland

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 17:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 43%
Online Students 3,214
9
Long Island University

Brookville, New York

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 10:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$$$
Institutional Financial Aid 89%
Online Students 817
10
Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 19:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 45%
Online Students 312
11
Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 18:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 68%
Online Students 266
12
Boise State University

Boise, Idaho

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 18:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 52%
Online Students 668
13

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 22:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 67%
Online Students 3,588
14
East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 19:1
Tuition (In-State) $
Institutional Financial Aid 49%
Online Students 829
15
Xavier University of Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 13:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 92%
Online Students 541
16
University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 17:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 35%
Online Students 5,583
17
Carson-Newman University

Jefferson City, Tennessee

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 14:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 99%
Online Students 168
18
Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 19:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 78%
Online Students 712
19
Arkansas State University

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 14:1
Tuition (In-State) $
Institutional Financial Aid 77%
Online Students 103
20
Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 15:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$$
Institutional Financial Aid 94%
Online Students 1,818
21
Ashland University

Ashland, Ohio

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 16:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 89%
Online Students 145
22
University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 14:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 75%
Online Students 711
23
Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 14:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$$
Institutional Financial Aid 100%
Online Students 150
24
University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 16:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 76%
Online Students 2,293
25
DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 17:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$$
Institutional Financial Aid 97%
Online Students 1,108

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 19:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 56%
Online Students 3,385
27
University of St Thomas

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 14:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$$$
Institutional Financial Aid 96%
Online Students 1,231
28
Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 16:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 61%
Online Students 3,367
29
Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 18:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 88%
Online Students 254
30
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 20:1
Tuition (In-State) $
Institutional Financial Aid 42%
Online Students 2,371
31
Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, Georgia

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 22:1
Tuition (In-State) $
Institutional Financial Aid 22%
Online Students 561
32
Concordia University-Wisconsin

Mequon, Wisconsin

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 11:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 100%
Online Students 399
33
Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 16:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$$
Institutional Financial Aid 51%
Online Students 3,201
34
Concordia University-Chicago

River Forest, Illinois

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 12:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 100%
Online Students 146
35
Cabrini University

Radnor, Pennsylvania

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 15:1
Tuition (In-State) $
Institutional Financial Aid 100%
Online Students 300
36
Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 13:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 100%
Online Students 252
37
University of Maine

Orono, Maine

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 16:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 99%
Online Students 574
38
Touro College

New York, New York

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 11:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 85%
Online Students 2,224

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 17:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 40%
Online Students 5,102
40
Oregon State University

Corvallis, Oregon

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 18:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 73%
Online Students 641
41
Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 14:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$$
Institutional Financial Aid 99%
Online Students 354

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 21:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 88%
Online Students 723
43
Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 19:1
Tuition (In-State) $$$
Institutional Financial Aid 72%
Online Students 469
44
Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

Total online programs:

Academic Counseling Yes
Career Placement Yes
Student-to- Faculty Ratio 18:1
Tuition (In-State) $$
Institutional Financial Aid 65%
Online Students 481

Types of Online Doctorates in Education

Given the professional goals and demographics of most EdD students, online EdD programs are typically designed for working professionals and individuals with family or personal obligations. As a result, EdD programs available online are developed with flexibility in mind, often allowing students to self-pace. Students will be happy to find that numerous options exist for online doctorates in education that can bring their professional goals within reach. These options include:

Full-Time Online EdD Programs

Prospective students frequently inquire about the expected length of time required to complete an online EdD program when reviewing program brochures and websites. Most programs estimate that completion will take approximately three years. However, this timeframe is based on full-time study, which generally involves taking one to three courses per semester year-round for three semesters per year. A full-time course load is ideal for individuals who wish to earn their degree quickly and have a professional and personal schedule that can accommodate it.

Part-Time EdD Programs Online

While most EdD programs offer a full-time track to accommodate students with full-time jobs, some individuals may have additional professional or personal obligations that make it challenging to manage even this accommodating curriculum. In such cases, a part-time track may be a better option, allowing students to more effectively balance work, family, and community responsibilities with their studies. This option is also well-suited for individuals who are not in a hurry to complete their degree and prefer a learning style that is less pressured. Typically, a part-time curriculum adds one to two years to the overall length of time required to complete an online EdD program.

Hybrid or Blended

Many online programs that offer the Doctor of Education have their coursework available 100% online, including the capstone project or dissertation. But some schools may have on-campus requirements before graduation, such as a dissertation defense that must be conducted in-person before a committee. These EdD programs can be considered as hybrid or blended online programs, with elements of in-person and online coursework. While not as convenient as programs that are 100% online, they can still be desirable if you wish to have face-to-face interactions with faculty, advisors, and fellow classmates.

Online EdD with No GRE

Many schools require applicants to submit their GRE or other standardized test scores as part of the admissions process, particularly at more competitive programs and well-known schools. However, not all individuals interested in pursuing an EdD can afford the time and expense required to prepare for and take this exam. In recognition of this additional challenge, some schools have made the GRE optional or replaced it with another application item, such as a writing assessment. Some schools have even eliminated the GRE requirement altogether.

Online EdD Program Concentrations

In recognition of the diversity of the education field, most EdD programs online make available a host of concentrations or specializations for students to focus on. Some are fairly common while others are more unique. If you’re interested in a common concentration, you have a wider range of programs to choose from. If you’re interested in one that’s less common, understand that you’ll have a far more limited number of programs you can consider. We discuss some of the more popular concentrations below.

Leadership

When most people think of a successful school, they think of great teachers and disciplined students. But creating this environment conducive for learning is not so simple. It takes the ability to manage multiple individuals at different levels and various areas of expertise. EdD students who focus on this area of specialization will learn how to create this successful learning environment. This includes learning communication, management, and analytical skills to coordinate the many moving parts within an academic setting.

Curriculum & Instructions

This concentration focuses on the development of research-based theories and principles to create the most effective learning environment possible for teachers and students. This means creating strategic academic goals and a curriculum that’s able to meet those goals. The curriculum will focus mostly on the classroom setting, but EdD students may learn about improving education within a corporate setting as well.

Higher Education

As its name implies, this concentration places an emphasis on education at the post-secondary level, primarily in colleges and universities. The curriculum will focus on learning styles and considerations of adult learners. Coursework will examine past, current and potential future issues in higher learning, including policy, governance, finance, and diversity in not just the academic setting, but government, nonprofit, and corporate settings as well.

Quantitative Methods in Education

This concentration is tailored for individuals who prefer numbers, statistics and using quantitative methods for policy analysis. The classes will therefore not only cover quantitative methods for research and data analysis, but also teach students to apply these findings to modify existing teaching methods, engage in independent research, and shift academic policy within an organizational setting.

How Much Does an Online EdD Cost?

The cost of obtaining an online EdD degree can vary significantly depending on several factors, including state of residency, type of school (public versus private), prior academic coursework, pace of learning, time to completion, and the availability of scholarships, grants, or other forms of gift-based financial aid. It is difficult to provide an exact figure for the cost of an EdD program. However, we have compiled a selection of various schools with online EdD programs to provide you with a rough idea of what you can expect in terms of tuition.

School Name No. of Credits Cost/Credit Total Cost
University of New England Online 51 $920 $46,920
Johns Hopkins University 48 to 54 $1,458 $69,984 to $78,732
Capella University 64 (quarter credits) $745 $47,680
Baylor University 54 $1,785 $96,390
Vanderbilt University 54 $1,938 $104,652

How Long Do Online EdD Programs Take?

It’s hard to predict how long an EdD program will take due to the self-pacing provided by an online curriculum. In addition, there’s the final capstone project or dissertation, where students have some flexibility on how long they can take to complete it. But generally speaking, the typical student will take about three years to complete their EdD degree when taking classes full-time. Many programs allow for an extra few years for students to complete the required coursework as well as their dissertation or capstone project.

EdD vs PhD in Education: What’s the Difference?

The EdD, or Doctor of Education, is similar to the PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, in that they are both terminal degrees in the education realm. However, they are not necessarily interchangeable. Depending on your career goals and desired job, one degree is far more useful and appropriate than the other.

For example, the EdD is best suited for those wishing to work in an administrative role concerning education policy and strategy. In contrast, a PhD is better suited for those who wish to work in academia, whether it be teaching future education leaders, developing post-secondary education curriculums to train future teachers, or engaging in research.

What Are the Admissions Requirements for an Online EdD Program?

Admissions requirements for online EdD programs vary by school and program. Some of the general requirements for a doctorate program in education include:

Online application

Transcripts for all post-secondary education

Letters of recommendation

Personal statement

Application fee

Curriculum vitae or resume

Proof of an undergraduate and master’s degree

However, students applying to some of the more competitive programs, or those interested in a specific concentration, may also be required to provide:

GRE or other standardized test scores

A minimum undergraduate GPA (usually at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale)

Writing sample

Proof of a minimum amount of relevant professional experience

Do You Need to Complete a Dissertation?

The majority of EdD online programs culminate in a dissertation or capstone project. Dissertations typically involve theoretical research resulting in a research project that must be defended before a committee. In contrast, a capstone project usually involves a different type of deliverable, such as a report or portfolio, and focuses on a practical problem or issue. However, in most EdD programs, the differences between a dissertation and capstone project are relatively minor. Both provide opportunities for students to engage in research and apply what they have learned to a practical issue or concern within the education field.