Best Online Doctorate in Higher Education

As a private research institution, GW serves over 26,000 students annually. The university offers a doctorate in higher education administration that primarily serves working professionals who want to advance into executive management positions. This program offers a hybrid delivery method that requires students to attend some weekend classes at GW's campus in Foggy Bottom.

The program's 53-credit curriculum includes core courses like comparative and international higher education, college and university curriculum, and theories for research on college students. Students also learn to implement qualitative research methods and analyze group comparison models. The program requires a dissertation and a comprehensive examination.

Admission requirements include GRE/MAT scores, a resume, a statement of purpose, and two recommendation letters. Students can only enroll in the fall.

Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, NSU serves over 20,000 students. The university offers several flexible degrees, including an online doctor of education in higher education leadership. Throughout this program's 55-credit curriculum, students gain the advanced skills needed to succeed as corporate staff developers, university administrators, and policy analysts.

Required courses in the program cover topics like higher education student affairs and quantitative data analysis. Students also learn to oversee the planning, budgeting, and financing of institutional resources. NSU's online doctorate in higher education requires students to complete a summer institute residency.

Admission requirements include a regionally accredited master's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants also need to submit adequate GRE/MAT results and two professional recommendation letters. NSU's graduate and professional students can access scholarships, grants, and loans.

CSU serves about 12,500 students through its Global Campus. Distance learners can enroll in the university's online Ph.D. in higher education leadership program, which uses a scholar-practitioner learning model. Graduates are prepared for senior administrative positions in enrollment management, student services, and institutional research.

Students spend five years earning this doctorate in higher education and must attend some on-campus meetings at CSU's Fort Collins campus. Coursework covers topics like education policy analysis, higher education law, and student development in a collegiate context. Distance learners round out their degree with a dissertation and a comprehensive examination.

Applicants need a regionally accredited master's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. They must also have two or more years of relevant work experience. CSU does not require standardized test scores for admission.

CUC provides more than 100 career-focused undergraduate and graduate programs. Offerings include online Ed.D and Ph.D. in leadership pathways with a specialization in higher education. Requiring 61-67 credits, these programs help students develop the advanced research skills needed for evidence-based decision-making.

Core courses in the program include developing an organization's human capital and promoting sustainable change. As part of the specialization, students delve into higher education law in the context of governance and leadership. To earn their online doctoral degree in higher education, learners need to complete dissertation research and pass a comprehensive exam.

CUC requires applicants to have a master's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. The university also requires at least two years of administrative/teaching experience. Prospective students must submit GRE/MAT scores, two recommendation letters, a scholarly writing sample, and a statement of purpose.

GMercyU serves about 2,800 students in over 40 academic programs. The school powers distance education with the Blackboard platform, offering online degrees like an executive Ed.D. in education leadership. In this accelerated program, learners take one course at a time in five-week or seven-week sessions, ultimately graduating in less than three years.

Requiring 54 credits, the program's curriculum covers topics like statistical analysis, methods, and research; U.S. education policies and practices; and finance and fiscal administration. Students learn to manage university enrollment and implement data-driven program evaluations. They also gain hands-on experience through three residencies.

Applicants need a relevant master's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. They also need at least three years of full-time professional experience. GMercyU grants GRE/MAT waivers to applicants with a 3.5 GPA or higher.

Located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, Andrews delivers distance learning programs through the Moodle platform, including online Ed.D. and Ph.D. options in higher education administration. These 60-61-credit programs primarily serve experienced education professionals, allowing participants to continue working while earning their degree in five years.

Students who pursue the Ed.D. track take classes like higher education finance and administration of academic services, preparing for executive positions. The Ph.D. curriculum covers college student development theory and pertinent issues in educational leadership, allowing graduates to pursue careers as researchers and professors. Both tracks require a dissertation.

To earn an online doctorate in higher education, applicants need a master's degree with a minimum 3.3 GPA. They also need to submit a statement of purpose, a resume, and three recommendations.

Located in Terre Haute, ISU offers more than 70 online programs through Blackboard, including an online Ph.D. in educational administration with a specialization in leadership in higher education. This program uses a cohort model — students complete the same course sequence in lockstep with a group of their peers. Learners graduate in two years.

The program's 72-credit curriculum follows a scholar-practitioner philosophy and includes courses like foundations of modern education, resource management in higher education, and organizational governance. This doctorate in higher education helps learners gain practical skills through intensive on-campus workshops and an integrated internship experience.

ISU requires applicants to have a regionally accredited master's degree with a minimum 3.3 GPA. Prospective students need to send in three recommendation letters, GRE scores, and an essay detailing their contributions to the education leadership field.

Maryville enrolls about 6,000 distance learners in over 30 fully online programs. Graduate students can complete the school's Ed.D. in higher education leadership within 32 months. In addition to a practitioner-focused curriculum, this program offers personalized guidance by pairing each student with a faculty mentor.

Required courses in the program include reflective leadership practice and inquiry, understanding data and analysis, and the competitive context of higher education. Students also delve into design thinking, which prepares them to spearhead strategic change and innovation. Learners expand their professional network by attending an in-person or virtual residency.

To gain acceptance into this online doctorate in higher education program, applicants need a master's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA and three years of relevant work experience. Maryville may award up to nine transfer credits based on post-master's coursework, certification, and professional training.

MBU delivers several career-focused, online degrees through the Canvas platform, including an Ed.D. in higher education leadership that students can earn in 30 months. The program prepares graduates for senior administrative careers with postsecondary schools, community-based organizations, and research and policy centers.

The program's 42-45-credit curriculum includes required courses in curriculum development and advanced research methods. Students also delve into leadership and strategic planning, learning how to foster a collaborative culture and make moral decisions. Participants personalize their education with three elective classes and gain hands-on experience by completing an on-campus residency.

Applicants must have an education specialist degree with a minimum 3.25 GPA. Admission materials include a resume, three academic references, and a graduate-level research writing sample.

Offering one of the state's largest teacher preparation programs, NDMU helps professionals in the education field effectively respond to diverse student needs and shifting government policies. Graduate learners can obtain a fully online Ph.D. in higher education leadership for changing populations.

The program's 51-credit curriculum includes courses like linguistic and cultural diversity; assessment, evaluation, and accreditation; and quantitative and qualitative research methods. Students round out the program with a dissertation and a comprehensive examination. NDMU provides students with ample flexibility by offering multiple entry dates and no residency requirement.

Applicants submit a one-page personal statement and two recommendation letters. NDMU provides several financial aid opportunities, including awards specifically for students enrolled in the School of Education.