1. Florida State University
Florida State University takes top spot on our list of the best online EdD programs because it has cheap tuition and a well-respected online doctoral education program. The specific degree offered online is an EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy. This three-year program requires three-day-long seminars each summer.
- Tuition per year: $5,656 in-state; $18,786 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 80%
2. University of Florida
The University of Florida may have been narrowly edged out by its in-state rival, but it still has one of the best online EdD programs in the country. UF offers three doctoral degrees that can be completed over the Internet: Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Technology, and Special Education. Students must attend on-campus summer sessions and dissertation defenses.
- Tuition per year: $6,381 in-state; $28,659 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 87%
3. University of Nebraska
The University of Nebraska is well-known for its graduate education degree programs. It offers two online doctoral degrees in the field: An EdD in Educational Studies with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Higher Education as well as an EdD in Educational Administration with a specialization in P-12 School Leadership. The Educational Administration degree requires several one-week on-campus residences, while students must come to campus to defend their dissertations if they choose the Educational Studies degree.
- Tuition per year: $9,522 in-state; $25,828 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 67%
4. University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas has a top-notch graduate education program. It offers three online EdD degrees: Educational Leadership, Human Resource and Workforce Development Education, and Adult and Lifelong Learning. Students must attend some on-campus sessions and seminars.
- Tuition per year: $9,384 in-state; $25,872 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 64%
5. University of Houston
The University of Houston is known as one of the top public universities in Texas, and its graduate education degree programs certainly contribute to this reputation. UH offers an online EdD in Professional Leadership. This program does not require any on-campus visits.
- Tuition per year: $9,221 in-state; $21,749 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 59%
6. Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University offers the top EdD program in the state. It offers two doctoral education degrees online: an EdD in Educational Leadership and an EdD in Higher Education Administration. Students must attend in-person orientations, summer sessions, and weekend sessions.
- Tuition per year: $15,616 in-state; $28,716 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 63%
7. Marshall University
Marshall University has the leading doctoral education program in the area. It offers an online EdD in Leadership Studies. This program does require a dissertation.
- Tuition per year: $8,412 in-state; $19,266 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 44%
8. Indiana University
Indiana University is one of the top public universities in the country. Its online EdD degrees include an Instructional Systems Technology program and a Literacy, Culture, and Language Education program. They also have two new Curriculum and Instruction Ed.D. programs – one in Arts Education and one in Science Education. In addition, they have a dozen certificate programs and six master’s programs online. Students in some programs must attend a conference on campus.
- Tuition per year: $8,208 (Indiana residents); $9,676 (non-residents)
- Graduation rate: 76%
9. University of Georgia
The University of Georgia offers one of the top EdD programs in the South. It offers an EdD in Student Affairs Leadership. This part-time program has a cohort structure, which means that students will keep the same classmates throughout the program.
- Tuition per year: $12,080 in-state; $31,120 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 84%
10. University of Alabama
The University of Alabama has another leading doctoral education program in the South. It offers an EdD in Higher Education Administration. This program also has a cohort model.
- Tuition per year: $10,780 in-state; $30,250 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 68%
11. Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University may be third in the state on our rankings, but it still has a top-notch EdD program. It offers an online EdD in Curriculum and Instruction. Students must attend three on-campus orientations.
- Tuition per year: $12,153 in-state; $38,602 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 80%
12. Arizona State Unversity
Arizona State University has a unique and innovative online EdD program. It is a Leadership & Innovation major. This program takes roughly three years to complete.
- Tuition per year: $11,338 in-state; $29,428 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 67%
13. University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina offers one of the top online EdD programs in the region. This degree program offered is an EdD in Curriculum & Instruction. Students only need to visit the campus for initial orientation.
- Tuition per year: $12,688 in-state; $33,928 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 74%
14. Oregon State University
Oregon State University has the leading online EdD program in the Pacific Northwest. It offers an online degree in Adult and Higher Education. Students meet in person twice per term during the first two years of the program.
- Tuition per year: ~$15,000
- Graduation rate: 63%
15. University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky has a cutting-edge online EdD program. The major offered is Educational Leadership. This four-year program does not require any on-campus attendance.
- Tuition per year: $12,360 in-state; $30,680 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 63%
Students who are looking for the perfect online EdD programs can find the right program on our site.
16. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the most prestigious public universities in the country, and its online EdD program is a big part of its reputation. The degree area offered is Education Policy, Organization, & Leadership. This three-year program can be completed without any on-campus attendance.
- Tuition per year: $15,122 in-state; $32,264 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 85%
17. University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is one of the oldest and most prestigious public universities in the South, and its EdD program is a leader in the field. This program offers a major in Curriculum & Instruction. This program can be completed in as little as three years, and students will not have to visit campus at all.
- Tuition per year: $17,798 in-state; $50,900 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 94%
18. Liberty University
Liberty University is a large Christian university, and its online EdD program incorporates elements of the Christian faith. The major is simply Education. Students can take the accelerated eight-week classes on their own pace.
- Tuition per year: $22,747
- Graduation rate: 34%
19. Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University is a leading private university with a main campus in Fort Lauderdale, FL. It offers an online EdD in Education with several different concentrations. Students must complete either a dissertation or a research project.
- Tuition per year: $32,110
- Graduation rate: 62%
20. University of Findlay
The University of Findlay may not be the most well-known school on this list, but it still offers a great online EdD program. Students can complete classes online but must attend summer sessions on campus. There are tracks available in Teaching and Superintendant.
- Tuition per year: $35,410
- Graduation rate: 64%
21. Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Pacific University is a private Christian school in California. It offers an EdD in Higher Education Leadership. Students must attend classes on campus for one week a month during the spring and summer. They must also attend summer sessions.
- Tuition per year: $40,220
- Graduation rate: 70%
22. Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is one of the most prestigious private universities in the South. Its online EdD program offers a major in Leadership and Learning In Organizations. Students must visit campus three times during the program.
- Tuition per year: $52,070
- Graduation rate: 92%
23. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University is another extremely prestigious private institution with an elite online EdD program. It offers three degrees in the field: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education, Mind, Brain, and Teaching, and Urban Leadership. These degrees can be completed without ever visiting campus.
- Tuition per year: $55,350
- Graduation rate: 92%
24. New York University
New York University has the leading online EdD program in New York City. The major offers is Leadership and Innovation. This program can be completed in only two years. Students must attend two one-week residencies.
- Tuition per year: $53,308
- Graduation rate: 85%
25. Northeastern University
Northeastern University has a well-regarded EdD program that can be completed over the Internet. Its program offers concentrations in Organizational Leadership Studies, Higher Education, and Curriculum, Teaching, and Leadership. Students must complete one residency per year.
- Tuition per year: $53,506
- Graduation rate: 84%
26. University of Southern California
The University of Southern California has the region’s leading online EdD programs. Degree Programs are offered in Education Leadership and Organizational Change and Leadership. Both programs require a dissertation in practice, which has a more practical focus than a traditional dissertation.
- Tuition: $87,505
- Graduation rate: N/A%
27. Touro University Nevada
Touro University Nevada offers an online doctorate in Education. Students must complete several two-week residencies on campus. This program does require students to complete a dissertation.
- Tuition per year: ~$38,100 ($635/unit)
- Graduation rate: 78%
28. Drexel University
Drexel offers a flexible, part-time online EdD program with a 3-year and 5-year plan of study. In the three-year program, students take two courses per term. In the five-year program, students take one course per term. Students learn online together in cohorts of up to 20 students. At no time will a student ever need to go to campus.
- Tuition per credit: $1,355
- Overall graduation rate: 71%
29. Fordham University
Fordham University is a private Catholic institution in Bronx, NY. It offers an online EdD in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy. Students must complete two on-campus immersions during their time in the program.
- Tuition per year: $54,393
- Graduation rate: 79%
Our Ranking Methodology
Our rankings are determined by ratings from our proprietary formula. Our formula takes two vital statistics from each school (yearly tuition rate and graduation rate) and uses them to determine these ratings. The schools on this list that have different tuition rates for resident and non-resident students only had their resident tuition rate counted. Our formula takes the tuition rate and adds a multiplier from the percentage of students who enrolled at the school but did not graduate. Example: ABC State University has a yearly tuition rate of $15,000 and a graduation rate of 60%. Its rating would be 21,000 (15,000 x 140%). Lower ratings are positive, so the schools on our list are ranked from lowest rating to highest rating.
If you’re looking for an online EdD program, our site will help you find the right fit based on your criteria.
Representatives of the institutions on this may contact us for corrections and questions.
