Is An Ed.D. Worth It? Pros, Cons, and Considerations

Who Should Consider an Ed.D. Program?

The best candidates for an Ed.D. have often reached a plateau in their education careers. They’ve spent a number of years gaining experience in teaching and/or administration, but they’re looking for a leadership-focused, practice-based doctorate that they can apply to their workplace. Examples of ideal Ed.D. candidates include:

K-12 teachers or administrators who need an education doctorate in order to apply for leadership positions in their field (e.g. principal, superintendent, curriculum developer, district administrator, etc.) and/or qualify for a pay raise
Folks with master’s degrees in other fields who specifically want to acquire educational expertise in fields like curriculum & instruction, educational technology, etc.
Higher education administrators who would like to deepen their understanding of educational leadership & administrative issues within their college or university but don’t want to apply for faculty positions
Professionals who are seeking to establish themselves as organizational leadership consultants, public policy analysts, adjunct education professors, chief learning officers, or education lobbyists
Top-level experts who would like to use an Executive Ed.D. to connect with their peers, explore educational work around the world, and implement major initiatives

Ed.D. students usually have full-time jobs and family responsibilities. They can’t afford to devote 5-7 years of study to a Ph.D. and they’re not interested in pursuing original, high-level research. Instead, they want a degree that will allow them to:

Remain in their job while they earn a doctorate
Take advantage of Ed.D. laboratories of practice to test innovative concepts in the workplace
Use their Ed.D. dissertation or capstone project to tackle a specific problem of practice
Transform their ideas around leadership and education

For more on the purpose of an Ed.D., check out the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) and its comprehensive framework. CPED also organizes monthly events, annual convenings, and more.

Is an Ed.D. as Good as a Ph.D. in Education?

The answer depends on your situation! Many would argue that the Ed.D. is a “tick the box” degree with a lot of puffy coursework. It doesn’t add any appreciable value in most applications. It can’t compete with the prestige and intellectual rigor of a research-focused doctorate like the Ph.D. And it’s an expensive undertaking.

Others would counter that a solid Ed.D. provides excellent training in practical leadership skills, data-driven decision-making, and sustainable interventions. It teaches doctoral students how to move beyond their daily concerns and take a 30,000-foot-view of challenges within their schools, districts, or organizations. Generally speaking:

Ed.D. Programs: The Ed.D. is often a good fit for K-12 teachers & administrators who are seeking to climb the career ladder. In some cases, you can even pursue state-specific educational certifications & endorsements while you are earning your doctorate (e.g. superintendency). A reputable Ed.D. with a strong research base could also set you up for adjunct teaching positions and non-faculty positions in higher education administration.
Ph.D. Programs: The Ph.D. in Education is the best choice for aspiring college professors, academic researchers, and policy experts, especially if you wish to qualify for tenure positions and publish books on education. See our section on becoming a professor for more on this path. If you’re in charge of a large school district or university, you may also feel that a Ph.D. in Education gives you more freedom to investigate complex ideas.

We recommend you do a lot of field research before you make a decision. Talk to faculty and recent alumni of Ed.D. and Ph.D. programs, dig deep into the curricula, read through dissertation examples, and explore our Ed.D. vs. Ph.D. Guide.

Are Ed.D. Programs Respected in the Workplace?

Again, the answer will depend on your workplace and—more importantly—where you earned your doctorate. An Ed.D. from one of the best teaching universities in the country is going to have a lot more clout than an online doctorate from an obscure school. Especially if your Ed.D. professors are engaged in groundbreaking projects! In broad terms:

In K-12 circles, an Ed.D. may be on its way to becoming a standard qualification for educational leaders. According to NCES’s report on Graduate Degree Fields, in the decade between 2011 and 2021, the total number of doctoral degrees awarded in education increased by 42%.
In subject-specific fields like science education and health & physical education, your work experience may be more valuable than the title of your doctoral degree. A science educator with an Ed.D. and 10+ years of experience as a K-12 science teacher or administrator trumps any Ph.D. graduate with little exposure to classrooms.
In medically-related fields like counseling & psychology or nursing education, an Ed.D. is often regarded as the country cousin. For example, CACREP is willing to accredit Ed.D. programs in counseling, but APA only accredits Ph.D. or Psy.D. programs.
In higher education circles, a Ph.D. in Education is going to be more respected. That’s usually the degree required for tenured and full-time faculty positions. You may also discover that a university likes to promote from within—elevating faculty members to administrative roles like dean, provost, and chair. In this scenario, an Ed.D. can’t compete.

At some point in time, you will have to deal with the preconception that the Ed.D. is a “lesser” degree. However, it won’t matter if you feel like your doctorate has improved your practice, inspired your colleagues, and made a difference in your field. That’s when you are respected in the workplace.

What Jobs Have Ed.D. Requirements?

A doctorate in education becomes a standard job requirement once you reach top-level positions in PK-20 education and policy & consultancy work. Many employers are willing to consider the Ed.D. or the Ph.D. unless it’s for tenure-track positions in academia. We’ve created a long list of opportunities in our Ed.D. Career & Salary Guide. We also explore career possibilities for Ed.D. graduates within each specialty page.

Try not to overthink it. An Ed.D. will usually present itself as the next logical step in your career development. For example:

You may be advised by your K-12 district or university that the time has come to earn a doctorate in educational leadership to qualify for high-level administrative openings.
You may be working in the private sector and hearing from clients that they will only hire consultants who have a doctorate in organizational leadership.
You may be hoping to transform the reputation of your community college by pursuing an executive-style doctorate in higher education.
You may be eager to implement large-scale projects in AI and instructional technology, but you’re lacking the research and planning skills.
You may be interested in using your experience with adult learners to create & manage unique professional development programs in adult education.

How to Choose an Ed.D. Program

Basic Quality Factors

Choosing the right Ed.D. program requires thought, research, and a monstrous pot of coffee. Before we get into the nitty-gritty, here are a few rules to live by:

Check that the college or university is regionally accredited in the USA or holds the equivalent standing in its native country. A diploma from an unaccredited school is worth about as much as one you print yourself. All of the schools in our listings are regionally accredited.
Avoid earning your Ed.D. from a for-profit institution, even if it’s regionally accredited. Make sure the institution that awards your Ed.D. is either a private nonprofit or a state-funded public institution. This should not be difficult, as the vast majority of traditional regionally accredited schools are.
Online Ed.D. programs have become more acceptable in a post-pandemic climate, but look for ones that are backed by reputable universities with a track record of quality and experience in distance learning. There’s nothing more frustrating than a poorly taught online doctorate.

In-Depth Quality Factors

So let’s say that you’ve examined our specialty guides, state guides, and/or rankings. You’ve come up with ~10 local and online Ed.D. programs that look intriguing and created a spreadsheet to keep track of your choices. How do you decide which ones are going to be worth the agony of the application?

Program Reputation: Find out who is running your program within the College of Education. What research institutes does the department fund? What projects are Ed.D. faculty currently working on? What connections does the program have to outside partners (e.g. George Washington University and the military)? Can you take advantage of this expertise for your dissertation or final project?
Location: Texas universities may have more of a stake in Latinx education than Minnesota schools. California schools may have funding for educational technology research. Chicago and NYC schools will have expertise in urban education. Appalachian schools may be well-versed in rural issues. Location will matter, even if you’re choosing an online doctorate in education.
Class Profile: Many Colleges of Education will monitor the makeup of each Ed.D. cohort. We love to see class profiles that feature diversity in ages, genders, and backgrounds. But we also favor programs that foster collaborations between classmates who are facing similar challenges at work.
Research Components: Some Ed.D. programs have an academic feel, with heavy coursework in quantitative & qualitative research, a traditional 5-chapter dissertation, and opportunities to publish in journals. Others are more workplace-based, with group capstone projects, internships, and laboratories of practice. Which one would your employers value more?
Real-World Training: In addition to courses that allow you to explore new theories of practice, look for training in areas like statistics, analytics, and AI. Educational leaders are expected to know how to deploy 21st century tools.
Dissertation/Capstone: Your final project is going to consist of a dissertation, Dissertation in Practice (DiP), or a capstone project. We talk more about these options in our No Dissertation guide. Take the time to browse through projects from recent Ed.D. students in the program to assess their quality and focus. Shoddy work means shoddy professors.
Portfolio/Dossier: A number of Ed.D. programs now provide their graduates with more than one deliverable (e.g. dissertation + portfolio of projects + journal-ready article). These elements can be particularly valuable if you’re thinking of applying for new jobs or moving into consultancy after graduation.
Career Outlook: Contact each school to see if they have any career outlook information for their Ed.D. alumni. Some schools maintain lists of prominent alumni, median salary of graduates, and other information that could tip the balance in their favor (e.g. University of Miami’s section on Student Outcomes and Alumni Stories for the Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership).
Pragmatic Considerations: We’re talking about boring factors like commuting times, cost, GPA requirements, and your level of work experience. If you’re not yet qualified for an Ed.D. program that you adore, you may want to wait a couple of years and get to the point where you feel financially and professionally secure.

Practical Tips on Funding Your Ed.D. Studies

The cost of an Ed.D. at a regionally accredited school ranges from under $20,000 for the most affordable online options to $100,000+ for the best of the best. Unlike Ph.D. programs, Ed.D. programs are rarely funded by the university. That means you’re going to be on the hook for tuition bills. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to cover the cost.

Part-Time Study: If you’re planning to pay for the program yourself while you work, you’re in luck—nearly all Ed.D. programs offer classes on a flexible part-time schedule. Ask the Ed.D. program coordinator for a comprehensive budget that includes per semester fees. And see if you can sign up for a monthly payment plan.
Online Learning: Choose an online doctorate in education and you won’t have any regular commuting costs. Nor will you be required to pay campus-based fees. If you like the human touch, think about hybrid Ed.D. programs that limit on-campus time to weekends and the summer.
Scholarships & Fellowships: Ed.D. scholarships are not common, but they do exist! On each state page, we’ve created a unique section on funding, with links to scholarship & fellowship opportunities listed under each school. You may find you qualify for unique funds.
Tuition Reimbursement: A number of states and districts are willing to provide tuition reimbursement for doctoral education. This may not cover the cost of the entire degree, but it will give you a solid start.
Tuition Remission: College & university employees are often eligible for tuition remission on the institution’s degrees—this may be especially attractive if you’re looking move up the career ladder in higher education administration. You’ll need to check what remission covers and what you’ll be responsible for (e.g. taxes, fees, books & materials, etc.).
Student Loan Forgiveness: Some student loan forgiveness options may be available for K-12 professionals who volunteer to teach or work in underserved areas.
Third Party Support: Educational leadership and teaching associations often have some funding available for members who are committed to advancing their education (e.g. AASA’s Educational Administration Scholarship). The money may be modest, but every little bit helps.
Pay Increases: Many states reward K-12 teachers and administrators with a higher payscale than peers with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. In certain cases, this fact can put hiring committees off, so talk to your mentors about your decision before applying for an Ed.D.

What Do Ed.D. Graduates Say About Their Experience?

Reddit is full of threads where Ed.D. students talk about their experiences. The ones who focused on Ed.D. programs that met their career goals, engaged with professors on projects, and recognized that they were pursuing a practice-based degree are very happy with their choice. The ones who were hoping for a Ph.D.-like experience are not.

Some universities conduct their own surveys on Ed.D. graduate outcomes & satisfaction levels. If they don’t, we recommend you reach out to recent Ed.D. graduates through LinkedIn and/or the university’s alumni network. Here are a few questions you can ask them to get the conversation rolling:

Why did you decide to earn an Ed.D. at this point in your career?
What conversations did you have with your employer before making the decision?
How did you fund your degree? Did you receive a pay rise after graduation?
Did you look at Ph.D. programs as well? What made you reject them?
Did you know what your dissertation was going to focus on before you applied? How did you land on a topic?
How did you fit your studies around work & family life?
Which parts of the program did you enjoy? Which parts did you think were superfluous?
Do you feel like the Ed.D. gave you enough training in research?
Can you see your studies making a positive impact on your work?

Final Considerations

Whether an Ed.D. is worth it ultimately depends on which program you choose and how you use it. For example, if you currently teach with an Ed.S. and make $43,000 per year, a doctoral pay increase to $48,000 per year would quickly cover the cost of a $20,000 program, but would take 20 years to pay off a $100,000 program. On the other hand, a $100,000 Ed.D. program that eventually moves you from a $90,000/year administrator position to a $180,000/year administrator position may justify the investment.

If you’re not 100% sure you have a good reason to pursue an Ed.D. program, focus on building up your work experience. Or choose one of the lower-cost regionally accredited options to reduce your tuition burden and satisfy your employer’s demands. However, if your career plan allows you to pursue a more expensive program, there are few terminal degrees that are a more reliable investment—dollar for dollar—than the Doctor of Education.

Is an Ed.D. Worth It?