Best Online Doctorate in Educational Administration

An educational administration doctorate develops leadership and entrepreneurial skills, preparing graduates to oversee academic organizations.

Educators often pursue graduate degrees to expand their career prospects and increase their earning potential. An online doctorate in education administration helps educators advance into leadership roles. With a doctorate, graduates can work as K-12 education administrators and higher education administrators, earning median salaries of over $95,000 per year.

During online doctoral programs in educational administration, graduate students choose specializations and complete advanced coursework in educational leadership, school administration, and higher education administration. Enrollees strengthen their research and analytical skills through coursework and a dissertation. Online learning formats prioritize flexibility, which appeals to working educators who need to balance school with their careers.

This page explores the best online doctoral programs in educational administration. Prospective applicants can use our rankings to find the right fit for their interests, budgets, and career goals.

An online doctorate in educational administration prepares graduates for roles as school administrators, college administrators, education researchers, policymakers, and education professors. The degree strengthens decision-making, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Practitioner-focused doctoral programs incorporate real-world situations to train students for leadership roles in education.

Many doctoral programs use specializations to tailor coursework to specific careers. For example, many institutions offer specializations for superintendents, higher education administrators, and education policymakers. Other concentrations include special education administration, international education, and learning technologies.

During a doctoral program, graduate students take core courses and electives in their specializations and typically complete a comprehensive examination to demonstrate mastery. After coursework is completed, doctoral candidates research and write a dissertation. Many Ed.D. programs also incorporate an internship or practicum to help students develop practical experience.

Professionals with doctorates in education work at the highest levels of the field. At the K-12 level, they can work as principals and superintendents. In higher education, they can pursue research roles or work as higher education administrators.

At the doctoral level, graduate students can pursue Ed.D. or Ph.D. degrees in educational administration. An Ed.D. trains students to work in a secondary or administrative teaching environment, while a Ph.D. focuses on research and academia.

Both degrees require coursework, comprehensive exams, and a dissertation, but they differ in some key ways. An Ed.D. typically requires three years, while a Ph.D. takes 4-5 years. With an Ed.D., graduates can work in school administration and higher education administration, while a Ph.D. leads to careers in academia and research.

During an online doctorate in educational administration, incoming degree-seekers use specializations to focus their coursework. Common specializations include school leadership, higher education, and administrative licensure, all offering focused coursework that prepares graduates for specific career paths.

Some doctoral programs offer a licensure track to prepare graduates for school administrator licenses. Coursework covers school leadership, instructional supervision, and human resource management in education. This specialization may focus on principal preparation, superintendent licensure, or other administrative roles. Most programs with licensure options train graduates for roles in the public school system.

A school leadership specialization emphasizes planning, management, and administrative abilities at the school level. Educators and administrators in school leadership concentrations study community engagement, instructional leadership, and data analysis. The degree strengthens administrative skills and helps educators advance their careers.

In a higher education specialization, doctoral students learn best practices for managing student services and administration at the college level. Coursework focuses on evaluating institutional and student needs, designing and implementing programs, and evaluating program effectiveness. Graduates pursue careers as college and university administrators.

A concentration in preK-12 education focuses on administration and leadership at the preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. Doctoral students take courses in school leadership, data analysis, and curriculum development. Some concentrations meet licensure requirements for principals. The specialization also explores research at the preK-12 level, preparing graduates for policymaking and administrative roles.

Earning an online doctorate in education administration typically takes around three years for full-time students. Some programs offer an accelerated route to the degree, which can take as little as two years. Program length depends on several factors, including program requirements, the student’s enrollment status, and whether the school uses a cohort model.

Online doctorates can use either synchronous or asynchronous delivery. Synchronous courses use live meetings, while asynchronous courses have no set login times — only assignment deadlines. Working professionals or doctoral candidates with busy schedules may prefer asynchronous delivery.

Prospective students should always choose regionally accredited institutions for doctoral programs. Regionally accredited universities meet the highest standards for awarding degrees.

Educational administration programs can also hold programmatic accreditation from specialized accrediting agencies, such as the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. This agency evaluates programs based on their student learning outcomes, faculty qualifications, and graduation requirements.

Doctoral students can pay for their degrees with savings, scholarships, fellowships, and student loans — or some combination thereof. Graduate students qualify for many of the same financial aid opportunities as undergraduates.

Graduate students can receive federal financial aid, including student loans and work-study wages. To qualify for federal aid, degree-seekers must submit Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms for every year they are in school.

FAFSA automatically considers graduate learners independent students when determining their federal student aid eligibility. Doctoral students who demonstrate financial need qualify for the federal work-study program, which connects recipients with job opportunities on campus or in their local areas.

In addition to federal aid, doctoral students often rely on institutional support to pay for their degrees. Many universities offer graduate assistantships or fellowships that include a tuition waiver and stipend. Private organizations, including professional associations, also offer fellowships for graduate learners.

Other funding sources include state financial aid, private and local scholarships, private student loans, and employer tuition assistance programs. Finally, many graduate students pay for some of their college costs out-of-pocket. An online program makes it easier to continue working while earning a degree, allowing students to maintain a steady source of income during graduate school.

Educational administrators can work in several settings. At the K-12 level, they can become principals, instructional coordinators, and superintendents. These careers often require a license, and a doctorate in education administration with a licensure option qualifies graduates to apply for this credential.

Educational administrators can also work in higher education as college administrators and professors. For example, a doctorate in educational administration can lead to employment as a tenure-track professor.

Outside of education, the degree prepares graduates for roles in training and development and instructional design. Below are a few common careers for individuals with doctorates in educational administration, including median salary data and projected job growth.

Both educational administration and educational leadership programs train educators for advanced positions. However, educational leadership often focuses on principal or superintendent training, while educational administration focuses on K-12 school administration and higher education administration. The top online doctoral programs in educational leadership also prepare graduates for academic roles, like professorships.

An education administrator typically needs a master’s degree to work as a school principal or superintendent. Some roles require a doctorate, including tenure-track teaching positions in higher education.

Most school administrators work as teachers before moving into administrative roles. In some states, a principal must hold a teacher’s license before applying for a school administrator license. However, other administrative roles may not require classroom experience.

School administrators set policies for their schools or districts, oversee daily school operations, and manage budgets. They also direct staff, promote a welcoming learning environment, and report to the superintendent or school board.