Why This Matters
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MANY EDUCATION ADMINISTRATOR JOBS REQUIRE MORE THAN A MASTER’S DEGREE
37% of postsecondary administrator jobs require a doctorate, while 44% of K-12 administrator jobs require at least a post-master’s certificate.
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7,700 MORE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS ARE NEEDED BY 2032
Over the next decade, the number of jobs for postsecondary education administrators is expected to grow slightly faster than the projected rate for all occupations combined.
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AVERAGE SALARY EXPECTATIONS ARE OVER $90,000
The average salary for K-12 principals is $101,320, while the average salary for college administrators is $99,940.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online doctorate in educational administration degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary education.
We evaluated each school’s program on admission, retention, and graduation rates as well as tuition costs, faculty, reputation, and the resources provided for online students. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online doctorate in educational administration degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like U.S. News & World Report, among others, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
Why Trust Us
The Intelligent.com Higher Education Team is dedicated to providing students with independent, equitable school and program rankings and well-researched resources. Our expert-driven articles cover topics related to online colleges and programs, paying for school, and career outlooks. We use data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the National Center for Education Statistics, and other reputable educational and professional organizations. Our academic advisory team reviews content and verifies accuracy throughout the year for the most current information. Partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial decisions.
- Analyzed over 2,000 national, accredited, and nonprofit colleges and universities
- 800+ rankings pages are reviewed and updated yearly
- Content is informed by reputable sources, surveys, and interviews with academic advisors and other experts
- Over 100 data points are reviewed for accuracy and quality throughout the year, including sources
How we rank schools
Our list features the best online Educational Administration degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. We collected data from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics, individual school and program websites, school admissions counselors, and other data sources. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the following criterion:
Academic Quality:
- Admission rate versus enrollment rate
- Retention rate of students who return after year one
- Accreditation status (regional and programmatic)
- Nonprofit status, both private and public institutions
Graduation Rate
- Overall graduation rate
- Total number of currently enrolled students, including diversity metrics
- Student-to-faculty ratio
Cost and ROI
- In-state and out-of-state per-credit tuition rates and fees
- Required credits to graduate
- Earning potential after graduation
- Availability of federal student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid options
Student Resources
- Available student services for online-only and hybrid programs
- On-campus amenities like tutoring centers and the number of libraries
Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 52 hours to write this article
- 200 universities and colleges we assessed
- 378 education programs we compared
Best 28 Online Doctorate in Educational Administration Programs
FiltersInstitution Type
Status
- Intelligent Score
- Alphabetically By University Name
- Acceptance Rate
- Enrollment
- In-state Graduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Graduate Tuition
- In-state Undergraduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Undergraduate Tuition
Indiana State University
Intelligent Score: 99.97In-state: $9,186
Out-of-state: $20,290
In-state: $7,668
Out-of-state: $7,668
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$569
Online
Higher Learning Commission
72
Liberty University
Intelligent Score: 99.86In-state: $14,791
Out-of-state: $14,791
In-state: $7,935
Out-of-state: $7,935
SAT: 1040-1250
ACT: 21-29
$595
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
54
Andrews University
Intelligent Score: 99.7In-state: $29,808
Out-of-state: $29,808
In-state: $27,936
Out-of-state: $27,936
SAT: 1030-1380
ACT: 21-28
$1,471
Online
Higher Learning Commission
60
Arkansas State University
Intelligent Score: 97.51In-state: $5,232
Out-of-state: $10,800
In-state: $4,986
Out-of-state: $4,986
SAT: 1000-1220
ACT: 20-26
$440
Online
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
60
Belhaven University
Intelligent Score: 96.51In-state: $26,650
Out-of-state: $26,650
In-state: $10,350
Out-of-state: $10,350
SAT: 995-1135
ACT: 19-23
$595
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60
City University of Seattle
Intelligent Score: 95.59In-state: $13,658
Out-of-state: $13,658
In-state: $11,812
Out-of-state: $11,812
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$785
Online
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
90
Clark Atlanta University
Intelligent Score: 92.95In-state: $18,990
Out-of-state: $18,990
In-state: $14,814
Out-of-state: $14,814
SAT: 880-1040
ACT: 17-20
$640
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60
East Tennessee State University
Intelligent Score: 92.83In-state: $7,340
Out-of-state: $25,487
In-state: $8,640
Out-of-state: $8,640
SAT: 940-1170
ACT: 20-27
$765
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60-72
Concordia University Irvine
Intelligent Score: 92.24In-state: $32,660
Out-of-state: $32,660
In-state: $9,090
Out-of-state: $9,090
SAT: 990-1180
ACT: 19-25
$1,015
Online
WASC Senior College and University Commission
46
Drexel University
Intelligent Score: 92.17In-state: $53,868
Out-of-state: $53,868
In-state: $36,234
Out-of-state: $36,234
SAT: 1180-1380
ACT: 25-31
$1,396
Online
Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
60.5-61.5
Edgewood College
Intelligent Score: 91.76In-state: $31,700
Out-of-state: $31,700
In-state: $18,576
Out-of-state: $18,576
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$1,092
Online
Higher Learning Commission
54
Texas Tech University
Intelligent Score: 91.46In-state: $8,683
Out-of-state: $20,953
In-state: $6,788
Out-of-state: $6,788
SAT: 1070-1240
ACT: 22-27
$460
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
96
Endicott College
Intelligent Score: 91.21In-state: $34,470
Out-of-state: $34,470
In-state: $12,666
Out-of-state: $12,666
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$1,036
Online
New England Commission of Higher Education
60
Ball State University
Intelligent Score: 90.88In-state: $9,482
Out-of-state: $26,470
In-state: $9,328
Out-of-state: $9,328
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
Resident: $438
Non-Resident: $656
Online
Higher Learning Commission
90
Hampton University
Intelligent Score: 90.48In-state: $26,198
Out-of-state: $26,198
In-state: $13,099
Out-of-state: $13,099
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$695
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60
Sam Houston State University
Intelligent Score: 89.25In-state: $5,856
Out-of-state: $15,672
In-state: $5,765
Out-of-state: $5,765
SAT: 970-1120
ACT: 18-23
$842
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60
ECU College of Education
Intelligent Score: 88.98In-state: $4,452
Out-of-state: $20,729
In-state: $4,749
Out-of-state: $4,749
SAT: 1020-1170
ACT: 19-24
Resident: $289
Non-Resident: $1,020
Online
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
60
Lamar University
Intelligent Score: 88.57In-state: $6,129
Out-of-state: $15,945
In-state: $6,397
Out-of-state: $6,397
SAT: 943-1140
ACT: 17-23
Resident: $359
Non-Resident: $779
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60
What You Should Know About This Degree
A similar degree to a doctorate in educational administration is a doctorate in education. The main difference is that an educational administration program focuses on the systems of leadership within education and being able to support teachers, while a doctorate in education will focus more on theories of learning.
Only apply to schools approved by a DOE-recognized accrediting organization, such as the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) or Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). If your school isn’t accredited, you may be unable to access financial aid or transfer credits to another institution if needed.
Most employers at the K-12 level will be looking for you to be a licensed teacher in your state in addition to your doctorate degree. You may also need to get certified as a school administrator.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online doctorate in educational administration programs:
- Am I eligible for this program? To be eligible for a doctorate in educational administration program, you’ll need a master’s degree in a relevant field. You may also need a certain number of years of work experience and an active teaching license.
- How long does it take to complete this online degree? The programs on our list range from 51 to 67 credits. For most people, this will take around two years of full-time study to complete. If a dissertation is required, this could increase the length of the program.
- What financial aid opportunities are available? With the help of grants, fellowships, and other resources, you may even be able to earn your doctorate for free.
Another thing to keep in mind as you start the application process is that programs usually have very specific deadlines. You’ll have to provide documentation of your master’s degree, teaching license, and possibly some test scores, and that can take time to get together. If you want to do an assistantship or require loans to fund your doctorate program, you’ll also need to keep track of the deadlines for that.
Compare School Options
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