Ed.D. Programs in Arizona

Online Ed.D. Programs in Arizona

Five Arizona universities have made the effort to develop distance learning Ed.D. programs. They’re offered in multiple flavors and concentrations, which gives you a surprising amount of choice. The following universities offer online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) programs in Arizona:

1. Arizona State University
2. Calvary Chapel University (Nationally Accredited)
3. Grand Canyon University
4. University of Arizona
5. University of Phoenix (For-Profit)

Arizona Public Universities

ASU’s highly ranked Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation has come up with a 90-credit Online Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation—a distance learning version of its on-campus program that has been shaped by the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED).

The 60-credit curriculum features an action-research dissertation, short 7.5 week courses, and a choice of three specializations (e.g. PK-12 Change Leadership, Higher Education Change Leadership, or Systems, Professional, and Reimagined Change Leadership). The affordable per credit tuition is the same for in-state and out-of-state students and folks with a 3.0 GPA or higher in their master’s degree can apply.

UA’s Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is offered by the large and well-known College of Education (COE). Like ASU, the University of Arizona is a member of the CPED. It’s a solid choice for Arizona principals and superintendents. The COE often achieves a top 50 U.S. News & World Report ranking for its Online Master’s in Education Programs and it makes a point of emphasizing diversity in its student body.

The 63-credit doctorate is split into 3 years; each course is offered in 7.5 week terms. The curriculum includes credits in current leadership concerns (e.g. Market-Based Education Reforms) and specific state issues (e.g. Arizona Education Law, Administration of Bilingual Education Programs, etc.). In lieu of a traditional dissertation, there’s a useful Dissertation in Practice (DiP). Plus there are case studies, simulations, group activities, and individual projects.

Arizona Private Universities

Grand Canyon University is a non-profit Christian university that plays an active role in AZ leadership organizations (e.g. ASA) and engages in educational initiatives such as K12 Targeted School Assistance. Its College of Doctoral Studies has developed Online Ed.D. Programs in a large number of Organizational Leadership specializations and an Online Doctor of Education in Teaching and Learning – Adult Learning.

A few things to note about GCU’s programs. You’ll work online, but you’ll get to take part in a residency. Most courses are eight weeks in length and the Ed.D. takes around three years to finish. Tuition is reasonable for a private institution and Active Duty & Active Reserve receive a small discount. Be prepared for high admissions standards—GCU wants to see a 3.4 GPA from Ed.D. candidates (GPAs of 3.0 – 3.39 will be accepted with specifications).

Calvary Chapel University’s Online Doctor of Christian Education – Educational Leadership is tailored to educators serving in Christian schools. CCU is nationally accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS). However, it is not regionally accredited.

Arizona For-Profit Universities

The University of Phoenix’s Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership comes in four concentrations: Educational Leadership, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Technology, or Higher Education Administration. We suggest you read student reviews and contact alumni to decide if an online program from a for-profit university will help you achieve your career goals.

UOPX’s online doctorate in education will allow you to transfer credits from previous master’s-level and doctoral work. It has an active networking group for doctoral students and it runs a number of research centers in relevant areas of interest (e.g. leadership studies, educational technology, etc.). But it does not lead to licensure or certification.

Note: Our overview of online doctoral programs in education contains a listing of online Ed.D. programs in every U.S. state.

Doctoral Education Funding in Arizona

For this section, we’ve highlighted institutional aid for doctoral programs in education in Arizona. Well-endowed universities like UA and NAU have multiple sources you can tap into, including awards from the Graduate College. The Graduate College and/or the Office of Financial Aid can also assist with questions on external aid (e.g. federal & private loans, tuition reimbursement from work, etc.).

Arizona State University

Begin with the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation’s section on Paying for College. This has links to scholarships, as well as advice on external loans and work-study programs. ASU participates in a Qualified Tuition Reduction program for ASU, NAU, and UA employees and family members. It also offers a tuition payment plan.

Grand Canyon University

GCU has an all-in-one section on Tuition & Financing; the section on Scholarships & Grants has details on awards for campus-based and online students. We also recommend you check the GCU Alliances page to see if your employer is participating in (or is interested in) tuition discount programs.

Active Duty and Active Reserve students pay less per credit for GCU’s doctoral programs. Learn more about Military Tuition Assistance.

Northern Arizona University

The College of Education (COE) has advice on Financial Aid and COE Scholarships. In particular, check out the Lyle Mullens Memorial Scholarship for graduate students in educational leadership and the Jerry Petersen Scholarship for doctoral students.

The other useful site is the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA), which has details on Graduate College and NAU Foundation scholarships. NAU offers a monthly payment plan and employee tuition reduction for NAU, UA, and ASU employees and eligible dependents.

University of Arizona

The College of Education (COE) has a large section on Financial Aid, with info about loans, grants, COE Scholarships, and more. If you’re considering the Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, check out the section on Arizona Online Financial Aid, which has useful answers to Online FAQs. UA’s Scholarship Universe can match you to awards, but it requires a student log-in.

You can also pay a visit to the Graduate College’s section on Funding and Financial Information, which has more ideas for funding opportunities. There are a lot of lucrative awards & fellowships for doctoral students—ask the program coordinator if Ed.D. students can apply.

UA employees and family members should look at the section on Qualified Tuition Reduction. And UA offers a Tuition Payment Plan.

University of Phoenix

UOPX has a University of Phoenix Tuition Guarantee, which locks in tuition from the start to finish of a program. It offers a Tuition Deferral Plan for folks who are receiving employer reimbursement.

Note: If a university name is missing from the list, we didn’t find specific examples of Ed.D. funding beyond private & federal loans and external aid.

Educational Leadership Jobs in Arizona

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks job & salary data for kindergarten through secondary education administrators and postsecondary education administrators in every state. The employment maps will show you—at a glance—how Arizona educational leaders are faring.

Overall, Arizona K-12 administrators aren’t doing too badly:

• Elementary & secondary school education administrators in Arizona are often in the second bracket for employment, handily outdoing New Mexico. The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ metropolitan area has the highest employment of K-12 administrators in the state, closely followed by Tucson.
• ADE issues AZ School Report Cards and publishes a huge variety of data on K-12 schools in Arizona, including accountability data and School District Employee Reports (SDER). You can use the SDER to view administrative headcounts and teachers by degree & years of experience.

When it comes to employment for postsecondary administrators in Arizona, the news is even better:

• Arizona universities are booming. The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ metropolitan area has one of the highest employment levels of postsecondary administrators in the USA and Flagstaff, AZ metropolitan area has one of the highest concentration of jobs. Big juggernauts such as ASU, UA, and NAU will be contributing to this phenomenon.
• The Arizona Board of Regents posts data on ASU, NAU, and UA, including Quick Facts and Operational and Financial Reviews (OFRs) for each institution. The Reports section has even more detailed info, such as the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

Educational Leadership Salaries

The BLS’s section on State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Arizona has firm numbers for all kinds of education administrators, including the preschool category. Arizona has a lower cost of living than, say, Massachusetts, so take these statistics with a grain of salt.

• Kindergarten through secondary administrators in Arizona are paid poorly. The state is frequently in the lowest wage bracket. Sometimes the only bright spot for salaries is around the Phoenix/southwest area. You can dig deeper by visiting the Arizona Auditor General and examining its section on Arizona School District Spending Reports. Each report lists the district’s average teacher salary (among other useful stats).
• Wages are a little healthier for postsecondary administrators. Arizona is often in the third bracket for annual mean wages and the Phoenix and Tucson areas have the highest salaries for college & university administrators in the state.

Educational Leadership Job Boards

Standard education job sites will post employment opportunities for Arizona educational leaders and school administrators (e.g. HigherEdJobs, SchoolSpring, LinkedIn, etc.). But local job boards for Arizona PreK-20 educators are also a valuable source of information:

• ADE runs a comprehensive Arizona Education Employment Board with a Job Search that’s organized by category (e.g. Administration).
• AZALAS has Job Postings for administrators in Arizona schools and education organizations.
• AASBO’s Career Center contains job postings for Arizona school business officials.
• ASBA runs Executive Searches for superintendents.
• ASA has a Career Center.
• ASPAA’s Career Center contains jobs for school administrators involved in human resources.

Educational Leadership Organizations in Arizona

Educational Leadership Associations

• Arizona Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (AZALAS): AZALAS provides professional development and support programs for Hispanic superintendents, school administrators, and aspiring school leaders in Arizona.
• Arizona Association of School Business Officials (AASBO): AASBO is a non-profit organization providing support and professional development opportunities for school business officials in Arizona. Check out the Pete Perkins Memorial Scholarship.
• Arizona Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development (AZ ASCD): AZ ASCD is a professional organization for Arizona teachers, administrators, higher education faculty, and others who are committed to improving education. It has around 400 members and it’s a state affiliate of the ASCD.
• Arizona Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (AASFAA): AASFAA is a non-profit association of professionals from post-secondary institutions and other related agencies and organizations involved in student financial aid.
• Arizona Education Association (AEA): AEA is the state’s teacher union and the largest professional association for public school employees in Arizona. It has 22,000+ members, including teachers, educators, community college professors, and more.
• Arizona School Administrators (ASA): ASA is a non-profit organization representing PreK-12 and higher education administrators in Arizona. Its mission is to promote and support educational excellence in school leadership. It’s an affiliate of the AASA.
• Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA): ASBA is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization that provides training, leadership, and essential services to public school governing boards in Arizona. It works closely with many Arizona superintendents.
• Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association (ASPAA): ASPAA represents HR professionals who serve in public or private school systems, regional or state personnel agencies, colleges or universities, or who teach persons preparing for personnel work in these institutions. Members can apply for Tuition Reimbursement.

Note: Remember that state and national educator organizations often have funds and scholarships available for continuing education (e.g. Ed.D.). Check the website and ask about opportunities.

Educational Leadership Events in Arizona

Educational Leadership Conferences

• AASBO Conferences: AASBO holds five conferences over the course of the year, including its Annual Conference & Exhibition in July, a Winter Conference and Vendor/Buyer Conference in late January, a three-day Spring Conference in April, and an ASBA/AASBO/ASA Legislative Workshop in November.
• ASA Fall Superintendency/Higher Ed Conference: ASA often hosts this event for district- and university-level administrators in mid-October. Check the calendar to learn when & where it might be held.
• ASA Summer Conference: ASA’s annual conference takes place in June. Check the calendar to learn when & where it might be held.
• AZALAS Conference: This two-day event for Arizona’s Hispanic school leaders usually takes place in late October/early November.
• ASPAA Conferences: ASPAA runs two conferences for HR administrators and professionals: a Spring Conference in April and a Fall Conference in November.

Educational Leadership Training

• AASBO Education and Training: AASBO runs a variety of one-day training workshops and four-day education classes for Arizona school business officials. It also organizes an Aspiring School Business Officials Academy.
• ASA Professional Development: In addition to conferences, ASA offers workshops, institutes, training sessions, and other professional development opportunities. Check the calendar for more details.
• ASPAA Academy: The Academy provides an opportunity for anyone who works in school district to learn more about the critical components of school district human resources.
• ASBA Summer Leadership Institute: This focused event in June encourages school boards and super­intendents to get away together to help expand their learning on diverse topics and current educational issues.
• GCU K-12 Educational Development Support Programs: Grand Canyon University offers a number of support programs to local administrators, including a Professional Development Directory, a Principals’ Collaborative Community, and a Superintendents’ Collaborative Network in collaboration with the ADE and ASA.