Ed.D. Programs in Arkansas

Online Ed.D. Programs in Arkansas

We found two universities in Arkansas that are willing to offer online doctorates of education. The following universities offer online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) programs in Arkansas:

1. Arkansas State University (CAEP-accredited)
2. University of Arkansas (CAEP-accredited)

Arkansas State University’s 51-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for P-12 educational leaders is open to applicants with a 3.0 GPA or higher. The total tuition price is under $25,000 for both in-state and out-of-state students and there are three start dates per year. This 100% online program from a CAEP-accredited institution covers most of the important issues for PreK-12 administrators, including policy & law, and culminates in a traditional 5-chapter dissertation.

The University of Arkansas also has plenty to offer. It’s a CAEP-accredited school that’s actively involved in initiatives like the Arkansas Leadership Academy. We’re also pleased to report that per credit tuition for U of A online doctorates is extremely affordable for in-state and out-of-state students.

• Are you interested in the K-16 space? Examine the cohort-based, 42-credit Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership. It contains a solid portion of qualitative and quantitative research and 18 credits of a DiP or traditional dissertation. The coursework is 100% online, but Ed.D. students must attend an intensive weekend seminar in each semester.
• Do you wish to focus on adults and community colleges? The 60-credit Online/Blended Doctor of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning comes in two flavors: Adult Education Leadership and Community College Leadership. 75% of the coursework is online and there are six face-to-face campus sessions per year.
• Are you interested in HR development positions? The 54-credit Online Doctor of Education in Human Resource Development is 100% online.

Note: Not seeing what you need? Our overview of online doctoral programs in education has an all-in-one listing of online Ed.D. programs throughout the U.S.

Doctoral Education Funding in Arkansas

The following is a list of internal doctoral funding options for Ed.D. programs in Arkansas. You’ll probably need to supplement these sources by applying for external aid (e.g. federal & private loans). The Office of Financial Aid and the Graduate School can help with those procedures. Although it’s an external source, we also want to highlight the ADHE’s Teacher Opportunity Program (TOP), which offers tuition reimbursement grants to Arkansas teachers and administrators. You can apply for reimbursement for up to $3,000 per year.

Arkansas State University

A-State’s College of Education & Behavioral Science (COEBS) has info on COEBS Scholarships. Be sure to check out the section on Educational Leadership, Curriculum, and Special Education, since there are at least two awards for doctoral students, including the Dr. Eugene W. Smith Research Fellowship.

Another useful site is A-State’s section on Graduate Students: Paying for College, where you’ll find info on tuition & fees, assistantships, grants, scholarships, and loans. According to the Ed.D. handbook, the Center for Excellence in Education offers Graduate Assistantships to a limited number of qualified doctoral students.

Arkansas Tech University

Award hunters should take a look at Scholarships at Arkansas Tech, which has details on all types of awards, including ideas for external scholarships. In addition, the Graduate College has some useful advice on Funding Your Degree and info on Graduate Assistantships. Ask the Ed.D. Program coordinator for more info.

Harding University

Harding’s College of Education has a section on COE Scholarships. In addition, Harding’s section on Graduate Financial Aid has more details on graduate assistantships, fellowships, payment plans, and private funding.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

UALR’s Graduate School has a section devoted to Financial Assistance, with info on Graduate Assistantships, general UALR Scholarships, Graduate Financial Aid procedures, and Payment Plans. The scholarship site contains a listing of all College of Education and Health Professions (CEHP) Scholarships.

University of Arkansas

U of A’s College of Education and Health Professions (COEHP) has instructions for applying to COEHP Scholarships and details on Graduate Assistantships for students in Higher Education programs. The Academic Scholarship Office has more info on university awards (listed in University of Arkansas AcademicWorks). In particular, see the:

• Donald R. Miller Memorial Endowment (Phi Delta Kappa) for doctoral students in education.
• Dr. Roy B. Allen Endowed Scholarship (ELCF) for Educational Leadership doctoral students.
• George S. Denny Memorial Scholarship for doctoral students in COEHP departments.

Considering the online Ed.D.? The University of Arkansas Global Campus offers W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarships to students in undergraduate and graduate online degree programs. Awards are based on financial need, academic merit, or significant community service.

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 Arkansas

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) keeps a watchful eye on employment & salary data for elementary & secondary school education administrators and postsecondary education administrators in every state.

• In addition, ADE has put together an all-in-one resource for K-12 Arkansas Education Administrators, with links to the ADE Data Center and leadership support services. You can use ADE’s Statewide Information System Reports to view the numbers of Certified Staff & Teachers by school. ADE’s site on My School Info contains School Report Cards.
• Postsecondary administrators in Arkansas should be aware that the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) has a section devoted to Data & Publications on Arkansas public colleges & universities. The Comprehensive Report will tell you almost everything you need to know about an Arkansas postsecondary institution, including its financial status.

Educational Leadership Salaries

You can find annual wage data for all kinds of Arkansas education administrators in the BLS’s section on State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Arkansas.

• As you might expect, wages for elementary & secondary school education administrators are often in the bottom bracket, along with Mississippi and Louisiana. You’ll see this phenomenon play out in the annual Teacher Salary Schedules published by the ADE’s Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services. U of A’s Office for Education Policy also posts salary data in its section on Arkansas Financial Databases.
• Wages for Arkansas postsecondary education administrators are still not stellar, but they’re better than Mississippi and similar to Louisiana. ADHE posts the results of its annual Administrator’s Compensation Survey—with the name, title, salary, and benefits of each public university or college administrator—on its website. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette also monitors Arkansas Public College and University Salaries.

Educational Leadership Job Boards

Conventional job sites will almost always contain openings for Arkansas educational leaders (e.g. HigherEdJobs, Indeed, LinkedIn). But there are also a couple of state-specific job boards that have focused listings:

• AAEA has teamed up with SchoolSpring to sponsor Arkansas Jobs in Education, which contains postings for PreK-12 administrative positions in Arkansas public schools (e.g. principal, director, superintendent, etc.).
• ASBA posts openings for Superintendent Jobs in Arkansas. It also conducts Superintendent Searches.

Educational Leadership Organizations in Arkansas

Educational Leadership Associations

• Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators (AAEA): One to bookmark. AAEA is a professional association that encompasses thirteen state education administrator organizations. All school administrators who are members of the AAEA are also members of at least one of the constituent groups. View all of the Scholarship Opportunities for graduate study.
• Arkansas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (Arkansas ASCD): Arkansas ASCD is dedicated to the development and support of leadership and best practices in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and supervision. It’s a state affiliate of the ASCD.
• Arkansas Education Association (AEA): AEA is Arkansas’s teacher union and a state affiliate of the NEA. Members include teachers, education support professionals, students, and school advocates.
• Arkansas School Boards Association (ASBA): ASBA is a private, non-profit organization that provides leadership, training, advocacy, and specialized services to school boards throughout Arkansas. It’s a state affiliate of the NSBA.

AAEA Constituent Groups

• Arkansas Association of Curriculum & Instruction Administrators (AACIA): AACIA is an organization dedicated to professionals who are involved in any phase of school administration related to curriculum and instruction.
• Arkansas Association of Career and Technical Education Administrators (AACTEA): AACTEA membership consists of professionals engaged in the administration of career and technical education programs.
• Arkansas Association of Elementary School Principals (AAESP): AAESP membership is open to Arkansas principals and folks who are employed in professional work related to elementary school principalship.
• Arkansas Association of Federal Coordinators (AAFC): AAFC is an organization dedicated to persons engaged in any phase of the administration of federal programs.
• Arkansas Association of Gifted Education Administrators (AAGEA): AAGEA membership is open to professionals who are involved in gifted and talented education administration or supervision. Check out the AAGEA Mentoring Program.
• Arkansas Association of Middle Level Administrators (AAMLA): AAMLA represents Arkansas middle level principals and educators engaged in any phase of school administration—directly or indirectly—related to middle level education. It offers a small AAMLA scholarship for graduate study.
• Arkansas Association of School Administrators (AASA): AASA membership is open to Arkansas superintendents, assistant superintendents, and all central office school administrators who serve in public and/or private educational institutions, persons having instructional responsibilities in the field of educational administration, the State Department of Education, and the Department of Higher Education.
• Arkansas Association of School Business Officials (AASBO): AASBO represents Arkansas school business officials who are concerned with issues such as school business management, fiscal accountability, and support for the effective delivery of instruction. It also offers voluntary certification. Check out the AASBO Mentoring Program.
• Arkansas Association of School Personnel Administrators (ArkASPA): ArkASPA serves the needs of educators engaged in any phase of school personnel administration.
• Arkansas Association of Secondary School Principals (AASSP): AASSP membership is open to Arkansas school leaders involved in practicing—or teaching—secondary school administration and/or supervision.
• Arkansas Association of Special Education Administrators (AASEA): AASEA is a professional organization representing educators in special education administration or supervision, including those serving in public or private educational institutions.
• Arkansas School Plant Management Association (ASPMA): ASPMA membership is open to all persons responsible for the management and day-to-day maintenance operations of educational facilities.

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 Arkansas

Educational Leadership Conferences

• AACIA Conference: This one-day conference for Arkansas’s curriculum & instruction administrators is often focused on a topic of particular interest (e.g. literacy). It occurs in late January/early February.
• AACTEA Conference: Career and technical education administrators will find plenty to talk about in this April conference.
• AAEA Annual Summer Conference: AAEA’s flagship event takes place over three days in July. AAEA also hosts a smaller, one-day Fall Conference in late October and a School Law Conference in June.
• AAFC Spring Conference: AAFC’s three-day conference for federal coordinators includes talks, mentoring workshops, exhibits, a legislative update, and more. It’s usually held in May. AAFC also hosts a three-day Fall Conference in September.
• AAGEA Conference: AAGEA’s signature conference is aimed at Arkansas educators and administrators who are involved in gifted education. It’s typically held in September.
• AASA Superintendent Symposium: This two-day summit for Arkansas’s district-level leaders is usually held in January.
• AASBO Conference: This popular two-day conference for Arkansas school business officials includes CASBO classes, leadership sessions, business lunches, and more. It takes place in February.
• AASEA Special Ed Conference: Over 200 Arkansas special education administrators, LEA supervisors, and school administrators attend this two-day conference on special education topics. It’s held in June.
• Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Summit: This large four-day summit in June is a combined effort of ADE and Arkansas ASCD. It includes mini-conferences in multiple areas, including data & reporting, ESOL, school improvement, and more.
• ArkASPA Drive-In Conference: This one-day event in February is for Arkansas administrators who are interested in school personnel issues (e.g. EEOC).
• ASBA/AAEA Joint Leadership Conference: ASBA and AAEA’s combined one-day conference in May attracts district-level leaders and school board members from across Arkansas.
• Assistant Principal Workshop: This one-day event in January includes breakout sessions, a principal panel, and networking opportunities.

Educational Leadership Training

• AASA Superintendent Mentoring Program: AASA organizes professional development activities and the assignment of a trained mentor to first-year Arkansas school superintendents.
• ArkASPA New Personnel Administrator Workshop (HR Boot Camp): This focused bootcamp in September includes sessions in areas like worker’s compensation, records, licensure, and more.
• Arkansas Leadership Academy: Located on the U of A Fayetteville campus, the Academy is a collaborative partnership that consists of many members, including state professional organizations (e.g. ASBA, AEA, etc.). It runs a number of leadership Institutes and the Master Principal Program, which is designed to develop leadership skills of Arkansas principals through three phases of professional development.
• ASBA Seminars: These workshops aren’t just for school boards. Superintendents and school leaders may want to sign up for training in School Law, Administrative Directives, and more.