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Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership Programs

Arkansas State University's online Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership programs are CAEP-accredited, 100% online and available in two tracks. Both programs total $24,837 in tuition ($487 per credit hour) and can be completed in as few as 40 months, with no GRE required for admission.

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Why Choose an A-State Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership?

  • Rigorous curriculum: Licensure programs within A-State's College of Education & Behavioral Science are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the national standard for educator preparation programs, recognized by state departments of education and school districts across the country.
  • One consistent price, either track. Both Ed.D. tracks total $24,837 in tuition ($487 per credit hour), with no additional fees for online students. This is the same rate regardless of which track you choose.
  • No entrance exam required. Neither program requires a GRE for admission.
  • A fast, flexible path forward. Complete either program in as few as 40 months, with accelerated 7-week spring/fall and 5-week summer terms and multiple start dates per year.
  • Full doctoral support throughout. From your first course to your dissertation defense, you'll have a personal mentor, a dedicated dissertation chair, an online writing lab and a statistics expert.

Which Online Program is Right for You?

Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership online

GRADUATE DEGREE

Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership

As few as 40 months Duration
51 Credit Hours
$24,837 Total Tuition

Rise to the highest standard in education with the Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from A-State. This dissertation-based online program prepares both master's level and post-master's level professional educators for career growth to higher-level administrative and leadership roles.

In this writing-intense online doctoral program, you will explore different approaches to fostering a safe and diverse learning environment, closely examine ethical leadership practices, reflect on educational best practices that integrate theory and research, and gain expanded leadership skills needed to lead in high-performing organizations. Throughout the coursework, you will conduct thorough research and collaborate with faculty as part of your dissertation.

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Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Higher Education Administration online

GRADUATE DEGREE

Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Higher Education Administration

As few as 40 months Duration
51 Credit Hours
$24,837 Total Tuition

Prepare to help shape the future of higher education in the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Higher Education Administration online program. This highly specialized program gives you the essential tools for successful institutional leadership, including an in-depth knowledge of organizational theory, assessment and accreditation, finance, policy and law, and more.

No GRE is required for admission into this accessible, 100% online program, which is designed for working educators like you. In this program, you will gain expertise in educational practices that combine theory with research, then utilize those skills to develop solutions to contemporary issues in higher education administration. You will have the full support of highly qualified faculty and staff throughout the program.

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The educator preparation programs at Arkansas State University are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Contact CAEP at 1140 19th St. NW, Suite 400, Washington D.C. 20036 or by calling 202-223-0077.

Which Path Fits Your Goals?

To choose an Ed.D. track that’s right for you, consider where you want your career to go next. Start with the statement below that sounds most like you.

Program Comparison: K-12 vs. Higher Education Administration

Both tracks share the same tuition, duration, dissertation structure and CAEP accreditation. What differs is audience and outcome. Use this table to compare on that basis alone.

Ed.D., Educational Leadership (K-12) Ed.D., Higher Education Administration
Target Audience Current or aspiring K-12 school/district leaders Current or aspiring higher education administrators
Career Outcomes Superintendent, Principal, Curriculum Director Academic Dean, Provost, University President, Chief Academic Officer
Key Courses (examples) Educational Policy and the Law, Politics of Education Higher Education Policy and Law, Higher Education Finance
Leads to Licensure? Does not lead to licensure (academic credential) Does not lead to licensure (academic credential)

Built for Arkansas Educators

CAEP accreditation isn't a licensure requirement for either Ed.D. track. These are academic doctoral credentials, not certification programs. But it's still the same national quality standard search committees and governing boards look for, whether they're vetting a superintendent finalist or a university provost candidate.

Every course in both tracks is built 100% online for people already leading full time, not squeezed into a format designed for someone else's schedule. That reach shows up in real terms: A-State has trained at least one teacher, principal, curriculum director or superintendent in every county in Arkansas, and the Higher Education Administration track carries the same Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) affiliation that signals an applied, practice-oriented research model to university hiring committees well beyond the state. That combination — real accreditation, genuine flexibility and a track record across both K-12 and higher ed leadership — is why Arkansas State stands among the strongest choices for doctoral-level leadership training, wherever your next step takes you.

Student Voices

"Arkansas State had the most cost-effective program for me. ... I loved the fact that I could work at my own pace."

Tanya Ruble, A-State online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership graduate

Online Ed.D. Programs FAQs

Both tracks total $24,837 for the full 51-credit-hour program, at $487 per credit hour, with no additional fees for online students.
Most working professionals complete either track in as few as 40 months.
No. Neither track requires a GRE or GMAT for admission.
A master's degree is all that's required for admission; an Ed.S. is not a prerequisite. If you already hold an Ed.S. or 39+ hours of graduate coursework, you may qualify to waive some pre-doctoral coursework.
If your goal is a specific administrative credential — principal, superintendent — an Ed.S. may be the more direct and less expensive path. If your goal is the terminal academic credential for senior district or institutional leadership (or you're aiming for roles like dean, provost or president), the Ed.D. is designed for that path.
A Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) is the terminal degree in education practice, designed for experienced educators who want to lead at the highest institutional levels. Unlike the Education Specialist (Ed.S.), which prepares professionals for specific administrative credential areas, the Ed.D. is a research-and-dissertation degree that qualifies graduates for senior leadership across K-12 districts, community colleges, and four-year universities.
The K-12 track prepares graduates for district-level leadership (superintendent, principal, curriculum director); the higher education track prepares graduates for institutional executive roles (dean, provost, university president).

Learn from the Best: Meet A-State's Online Ed.D. Faculty

Arkansas State University's online Doctorate of Education faculty bring decades of combined experience as school leaders, university professors and international researchers into every dissertation they guide. Expert faculty pair deep research credentials with real administrative practice to mentor students from their first course through their final defense.

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

Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership

Duration: 40 months Credit Hours: 51 Tuition: $487 {tuition_specification_type_per_course}*

Apply by: 12/28/26 Start class: 1/11/27

Rise to the highest standard in education with the Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from A-State. This dissertation-based online program prepares both master's level and post-master's level professional educators for career growth to higher-level administrative and leadership roles.

In this writing-intense online doctoral program, you will explore different approaches to fostering a safe and diverse learning environment, closely examine ethical leadership practices, reflect on educational best practices that integrate theory and research, and gain expanded leadership skills needed to lead in high-performing organizations. Throughout the coursework, you will conduct thorough research and collaborate with faculty as part of your dissertation.

Apply Now Request Info

Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership with a Concentration in Higher Education Administration

Duration: 40 months Credit Hours: 51 Tuition: $487 {tuition_specification_type_per_course}*

Apply by: 12/28/26 Start class: 1/11/27

Prepare to help shape the future of higher education in the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Higher Education Administration online program. This highly specialized program gives you the essential tools for successful institutional leadership, including an in-depth knowledge of organizational theory, assessment and accreditation, finance, policy and law, and more.

No GRE is required for admission into this accessible, 100% online program, which is designed for working educators like you. In this program, you will gain expertise in educational practices that combine theory with research, then utilize those skills to develop solutions to contemporary issues in higher education administration. You will have the full support of highly qualified faculty and staff throughout the program.

Apply Now Request Info

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