Ed.D. Programs in Georgia

Earning a Doctor of Education Degree in Georgia

What Kind of Georgia Ed.D. Programs Are Available?

When it comes to Georgia doctorates in education, public is the name of the game. Our listings are dominated by USG universities, with Brenau, CAU, and Piedmont providing some intriguing private alternatives. Better yet, these schools have developed online Ed.D. programs, Tier I or Tier II Educational Leadership certification programs, and degrees being shaped by the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED). No matter what you’re after, Georgia has a quality doctorate to suit your goals!

How Do I Choose a Georgia Ed.D. Program?

Case Study #1: Aspiring Georgia Educational Leader on a Tight Budget

Georgia is one of the cheapest states in the country for Ed.D. students. Tuition prices for in-state residents at Valdosta, UNG, and UWG are nothing short of miraculous. And big schools like Georgia State, Georgia Southern, and KSU offer plenty of graduate-level scholarships & fellowships, including awards for doctoral students in specific fields. We provided tuition links in our listings so you can compare prices.

Bear in mind that some of these Georgia schools may offer tuition discounts to educational partners—make a time to talk to your employer about your plans. You can save even more money by choosing an online or hybrid doctorate in education in Georgia—we profile all your distance learning options below. You’ll be able to customize a leadership degree to suit your goals and cut down on commuting costs.

Case Study #2: Georgia K-12 Administrator Seeking Tier II Certification

Let’s say you’re ready to earn the Tier II Performance-Based Professional Educational Leadership Certificate. You’ve examined the list of GaPSC-approved Educational Leadership – Tier II Performance-Based certification programs, but you’re unsure whether to opt for a certification-only program, an Ed.S. degree, or a doctorate in education.

1. Ask your employer if they have existing certification relationships with universities. For example, at Georgia State, applicants for the Ed.S. or Ed.D. with Tier II certification must be employed in an approved position in a partnering school system.
2. Check the admissions requirements. Tier II certification-only/add-on programs are usually reserved for candidates who already have an Ed.S. Other options will be open to applicants with a master’s degree.
3. Talk to current administrators who have recently earned Tier II certification and ask them about their choice of program. We’ve provided links to Georgia educational leadership associations and conferences to help you begin networking.
4. Weigh your current responsibilities against long-term career goals. Do you have the time & energy to invest in an Ed.D. program with a dissertation or capstone project? Are you excited about a problem of practice that you wish to address? Or would you prefer to earn an Ed.S. and bank your credits for a possible doctorate in the future?

Case Study #3: Georgia Higher Education Leader Climbing the Ladder

Are you a higher education administrator who’s stuck in a career rut? Considering a Georgia doctorate in education, but wondering if the pay-off will be worth the price?

• Skim through our Career section to learn more about the employment landscape. We highlight data on high-paying hotspots in Georgia for higher education professionals, fact books on individual colleges & universities, and links to job boards.
• Use our listings to get a sense of your options. Georgia schools offer an extensive range of Ed.D. programs in higher education. You can study online, select it as a concentration within a major like Curriculum & Instruction, or choose to focus on high-level administrative issues. UGA has even developed an Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Management.
• Reach out to organizations like the the Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education (GAWHE). In addition to offering the Louise McBee Scholarship for graduate studies, GAWHE also runs a leadership program with mentoring & coaching for Georgia women in higher education.
• If you are currently employed in an USG System institution, talk to your employer about applying for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

Online Doctor of Education Programs in Georgia

Online Ed.D. Providers in Georgia

1. Brenau University
2. Columbus State University
3. Georgia Southern University
4. Kennesaw State University
5. University of North Georgia
6. University of West Georgia
7. Valdosta State University

What to Know About Georgia Online Ed.D. Programs

Your choices for distance learning Ed.D. programs in Georgia will primarily come down to Brenau University and public universities within the USG System. That’s a good thing!

• Quality: Many of these schools hold CAEP accreditation, some of them are CPED members, and a few have a strong national reputation for quality (e.g. UGA). You won’t be pinged for choosing a distance learning degree.
• Price: Costs for Georgia graduate students at USG schools are very reasonable. If you commit to 100% online study, eTuition rates are usually the same for in-state and out-of-state residents.

But they’re not your only options. Most of the so-called “campus” Ed.D. programs in Georgia are actually hybrid (e.g. Augusta, UGA, etc.). That means you may only have to commit to evening classes and/or weekend commutes. Plus you may find blended programs that have scholarships & fellowships attached to them. So it’s worth doing a little bit of comparison shopping before making a decision.

Online Ed.D. Programs in Educational Leadership at USG Schools

If you’re determined to earn a traditional distance doctorate in educational leadership, start by investigating programs such as:

• Georgia Southern’s cohort-based Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in P-12 or Higher Education. It’s 100% online, with a blend of asynchronous and synchronous/real-time coursework. If you have Tier II certification, you’ll be able to reduce the number of credits needed to graduate. Candidates are expected to have a minimum 3.25 GPA.
• UNG’s 60-credit Online Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Practice. This is a three-year, 100% online program with no campus visits required. It’s also cohort-based, with each cohort beginning in the fall semester. Candidates are expected to have a 3.5 GPA on their master’s degree, but UNG will consider other applicants on a provisional basis.

We’d also recommend a look at UWG and VSU’s affordable offerings in school improvement and leadership (see below).

Online Ed.D. Programs with Multiple Concentrations at USG Schools

Searching for ways to customize your degree with unique concentrations? A couple of Georgia’s public schools have decided to cover the waterfront. For instance, UWG has developed super affordable online doctorate of education programs in:

• School Improvement (multiple concentrations for PK-12 leaders)
• Higher Education Administration
• Professional Counseling & Supervision (with an Accelerate track for Ed.S. in Counseling graduates)
• Nursing Education

All of these cohort-based options are delivered by UWG Online. The Ed.D. in School Improvement is 100% online; Higher Education Administration and Professional Counseling require one on-campus visit for orientation; and Nursing Education involves a couple of trips. Provided you don’t add any face-to-face courses, the tuition rate is the same for residents and non-residents.

Or you could consider VSU, which usually offers the cheapest Ed.D. tuition rates in the country! Your choices will include:

• Online Ed.D. in Leadership (multiple cognates)
• Hybrid Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction: P-12 Disciplinary Concentration (various pathways)
• Hybrid Ed.D. in Adult & Career Education

Programs are short & fairly flexible and post-master’s credit transfers are available.

Specialist Online Ed.D. Programs at USG Schools

Plus there are Georgia public universities that have gone down the specialist route. For instance:

• Higher Education: The Higher Education Administration concentration within Columbus State’s Ed.D. in Curriculum & Leadership is 100% online, with both synchronous and asynchronous coursework (other concentrations are hybrid).
• Teacher Leadership: KSU offers a 48-credit Online Ed.D. in Teacher Leadership for current Georgia educators.
• Instructional Technology: KSU has also developed a 66-credit Online Ed.D. in Instructional Technology in two tracks. The Advanced Track is designed for educators who are focused on technology leadership positions at the school, district, or state level. You can improve your existing IT certificate level from an S-6 to an S-7. The Certification Track is aligned to GaPSC standards for Instructional Technology and ISTE standards for Technology Coaches.

Online Ed.D. Programs at Private Georgia Universities

Prefer to go private? Consider Brenau University’s Online Ed.D. with six concentrations for PreK-20 educators (including an All But Dissertation track). It’s not 100% online—you will be expected to visit the campus for two residencies—but it’s customizable and it can be finished within 3 years. Candidates must have at least 3 years of relevant professional experience and a minimum 3.25 GPA in order to apply.

No Dissertation Ed.D. Programs in Georgia

Are you looking for an innovative final project in lieu of a traditional 5-chapter dissertation? Augusta is part of the CPED initiative, which means it’s committed to examining (and re-examining) the goals of a doctorate in education. That’s why its Ed.D. in Educational Innovation contains a capstone/Dissertation in Practice (DiP).

At Augusta, Ed.D. students have the chance to address a real-world problem of practice, provide a service to a client, and engage themselves in a research team.

Doctoral Education Funding in Georgia

Augusta University

The College of Education has a useful section on Scholarships & Graduate Assistantships and the Financial Aid Office can help with more general advice. Once you’re accepted, you can look into travel funding from the Graduate School.

Columbus State University

The College of Education and Health Professions maintains a list of COEHP Scholarships. The Graduate School also has more info on Graduate Assistantships and Institutional Scholarships; CSU offers a modest CSU Alumni Scholarship. In addition, CSU supplies Out-of-State Tuition Waivers to full-time public school & TCSG employees and bordering state residents.

Georgia Southern University

The College of Education has a useful section on Graduate Student Scholarships. In particular, prospective Curriculum Studies majors should check out the Bryan Deever Memorial Scholarship Fund and prospective Educational Leadership students should look at EDLD Scholarships.

The College of Graduate Studies has further info on Graduate Assistantships (Ed.D. students are eligible to apply). All Ed.D. students at GSU are also eligible to apply for Research and Travel Funds from the Graduate Student Organization. And the Office of Career and Professional Development has good advice for Financing Graduate School.

Georgia State University

The College of Education & Human Development has an extensive section on Awards, Scholarships, and Fellowships. There are both graduate awards and doctoral fellowships (e.g. Dean’s Research Doctoral Fellowship). The Scholarship Resource Center also has a tool to Search for Graduate Scholarships.

Over at the Office of Graduate Programs, you’ll find a comprehensive section on Graduate Fellowship Opportunities. The office can help with applying for external funds and dissertation travel awards. And the Office of Student Financial Services has details on financial aid packages and payment plans.

Kennesaw State University

The Bagwell College of Education (BCOE) maintains a list of BCOE Scholarships. This includes awards for graduates (e.g. Hubert W. Tino Endowed Scholarship in Education). Better yet, the Graduate College has an entire section devoted to Financial Information, with a rundown of tuition, financial aid, scholarships, and graduate assistantships. Once you have applied, you can use the Scholarship Search to find relevant awards.

Piedmont College

Piedmont has a number of Endowed Scholarships that are open to graduate students, including folks who are studying education (e.g. Mary C. Lane Graduate Scholarship).

University of Georgia

Start with the College of Education (COE) and its well-organized section on Financial Assistance. There are a large number of scholarships open to COE graduate students, although some are reserved for teacher education programs. The COE also has info on departmental Graduate Assistantships.

The other site to visit is the Graduate School’s section on Financial Information, which has details on fellowships, travel funding, tuition waivers, and more. Keep in mind that nominations for Graduate School Fellowships must come from your graduate program.

University of North Georgia

The section on Financial Information in Graduate Admissions is a good place to start for info on funding for the online doctorate in education (e.g. payment plans). According to UNG, research assistantships are occasionally available and open to non-TAP (Georgia Tuition Assistance Program) students.

University of West Georgia

The College of Education (COE) maintains a list of COE Scholarships, with a separate section for graduate students. In particular, check out the Leona Ingram Scholarship and the Thomas S. Upchurch Educational Leadership Scholarship. You can also use UWG’s Scholarship Search to find relevant awards.

University System of Georgia

Full-time employees of the University System of Georgia (USG) who have successfully completed at least 6 months of employment in a benefits-eligible position may be eligible for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). TAP pays for a maximum of 9 credit hours per semester based upon the graduate rate of your University System of Georgia (USG) institution. View the full list of USG institutions.

Valdosta State University

The College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) has instructions on applying for COEHS Scholarships. The Graduate School also has a section on Financial Aid for Graduate Students, with a list of general graduate scholarships and info on Graduate Assistantships.

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

Educational Leadership Certification Requirements in Georgia

Educational Leadership Certification

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) handles certification for educational leaders who wish to work in P-12 administrative positions in a Georgia Local Unit of Administration (LUA). GaPSC issues two tiers of Educational Leadership certificates:

• Educational Leadership – Tier I: An entry-level qualification. Tier I certificate-holders can work in school-level leadership positions below the principal and/or district-level leadership positions that do not supervise principals.
• Educational Leadership – Tier II: An advanced-level qualification. Tier II certificate-holders may work in any leadership position, including school-level principal, superintendent, or another type of position that supervises principals.

GaPSC maintains a current directory of GaPSC-approved Educational Leadership certification programs that can help you achieve these two goals. We’ve included a summary of Tier I & Tier II requirements below, but we recommend you look at the section on Leadership Field Rules under GaPSC’s Certification Rules. This section also contains:

• Instructions for adding a field, upgrading the level, and renewing certificates
• Details on the Superintendent Certificate
• Rules for other qualifications such as Teacher Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, Instructional Technology, and more

Note: Tier I and Tier II certificates can be issued to out-of-state educators who meet reciprocity requirements. See GaPSC’s section for Out of State Educators.

Educational Leadership – Tier I (Standard)

The Standard Professional Educational Leadership Certificate – Tier I is a three-year credential. To earn it, you must:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution.
• Complete a GaPSC-approved Tier I Educational Leadership certification program (certification-only or master’s degree); if a certification-only program is completed, you must hold a Level 5 or higher certificate prior to enrollment.
• Complete (or be exempt from) all applicable Special Georgia Requirements. These include:
  • A passing score on the Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment prior to enrollment in the certification program.
  • A passing score on the GACE Educational Leadership Content Assessment Exam.
  • Completion of the Special Education requirement (i.e. coursework or professional learning units in special education).
• Be employed by a Georgia LUA; the rules have details on exceptions (e.g. receiving a Certificate of Eligibility while you look for a job).

See the Leadership Field Rules under GaPSC’s Certification Rules for further stipulations.

Note: Performance-Based Professional certificates are not issued in the Tier I stage.

Educational Leadership – Tier II (Performance-Based)

Tier II certifications come in two forms (“titles”): Performance-Based or Standard.

• Performance-Based Professional Educational Leadership Certificate – Tier II: This certificate requires the completion of an education program and the PASL (see below) or the conversion of an older Performance-Based credential.
• Standard Professional Educational Leadership Certificate – Tier II: This certificate is issued to an educator who meets reciprocity requirements or has converted their older Professional credential.

Overall, a Performance-Based Tier II certificate is the usual goal. It’s a three-year credential. To earn it, you must:

• Hold an Educational Leadership Certificate – Tier I or a Standard Professional Educational Leadership Certificate – Tier II.
• Complete a GaPSC-approved Educational Leadership – Tier II Performance-Based certification program (certification-only, specialist or doctoral degree); if a certification-only program is completed, you must hold a minimum of an Ed.S. prior to enrollment.
• Complete (or be exempt from) all applicable Special Georgia Requirements. These include:
  • A passing score on the Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment (if not previously met).
  • A passing score on the GACE Educational Leadership Content Assessment Exam (if not previously met).
  • Completion of the Special Education requirement (i.e. coursework or professional learning units in special education).
  • A passing score on the Performance-Based Assessment for School Leaders (PASL).
• Be employed by a Georgia LUA in a position requiring Tier II certification; the rules have details on exceptions (e.g. receiving a Certificate of Eligibility while you look for a job).

See the Leadership Field Rules under GaPSC’s Certification Rules for further stipulations.

Note: A number of Ed.D. in Educational Leadership programs in our listings will prepare you for Tier II certification—you’ll see the same names appearing in the directory of GaPSC-approved Educational Leadership certification programs.

Educational Leadership Jobs in Georgia

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) keeps a close eye on employment & salary data for kindergarten through secondary school education administrators and postsecondary education administrators in every state. Georgia is often an overachiever, with high employment levels for K-12 administrators (especially in the South Georgia area).

• K-12 Administrators: If you want to dive deeper, the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) provides some fascinating insights into the makeup of each school in its annual Certified Personnel report. Here you can learn about administrative employment numbers, the degree earned, male/female ratios, and more. You can also match your choice of school against Georgia School Grades Reports.
• Higher Education Administrators: Considering a public opportunity in higher education? The University of System of Georgia (USG) posts statistics on Semester Enrollment, Faculty Data (including the number of full-time administrators), Student Retention Rates, and more. The Georgia Independent College Association (GICA) publishes its own annual Fact Book on private universities.

Educational Leadership Salaries

K-12 Administrators: Mean wages for kindergarten through secondary administrators in Georgia are solid, and often better than surrounding states. In recent BLS reports, K-12 administrators who lived in the Atlanta area were doing particularly well. Or you can go to state sources. In the realm of K-12, GOSA tracks annual average salaries for each school in its annual Certified Personnel report (search for the school name and then find the Average Annual Salary and Administrators columns). School districts also post salary schedules (e.g. Atlanta Public Schools).

Higher Education Administrators: Mean wages for postsecondary administrators in Georgia are superb. Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC—home to Augusta University—is frequently one of the top-paying metropolitan areas in the country. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell area is another lucrative spot. No surprise when you consider that the Atlanta area has the largest concentration of colleges and universities in the Southern United States.

Educational Leadership Job Boards

Conventional job sites will contain listings for Georgia education administrators (e.g. TopSchoolJobs, LinkedIn, HigherEdJobs, SchoolSpring, etc.). But we also wanted to direct you to some state-specific boards:

• TeachGeorgia’s Job Search allows you to filter public school job openings by title (e.g. principal, director, superintendent, etc.), subject and/or school system.
• The Georgia Charter Schools Association lists Charter School Jobs.
• The Georgia Independent School Association posts Job Openings in administration.
• The University System of Georgia has USG Institution Job Links to all its member institutions.

Educational Leadership Organizations in Georgia

Educational Leadership Associations

• Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instructional Supervisors (GACIS): GACIS is a Georgia professional organization for persons working in the field of curriculum development and instructional supervision. It offers a small Flanders Scholarship to help with expenses in pursuing a higher degree in Educational Leadership.
• Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL): One to bookmark. GAEL is a statewide “umbrella” organization composed of seven professional affiliate associations: GACIS, GAESP, GAMSP, GASPA, GASSP, G-CASE, and GSSA. Members include assistant and associate superintendents, assistant principals, college and university administrators, state Department of Education administrators, and school leadership personnel. It offers a small John Yates Scholarship to members who are currently enrolled in a college or university leadership preparation/development degree program.
• Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals (GAESP): GAESP provides Georgia elementary school principals with opportunities for networking, professional learning, and legislative advocacy.
• Georgia Association of Middle School Principals (GAMSP): GAMSP membership is open to state certified administrators (e.g. principals, assistant principals, administrative assistants, central office administration, curriculum directors, etc.) who are actively engaged in the administration of middle schools.
• Georgia Association of School Personnel Administrators (GASPA): GASPA is a professional organization for Georgia individuals working in the field of human resources.
• Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals (GASSP): GASSP supports Georgia’s secondary education administrative leaders through a combination of professional development, networking, awards, and more.
• Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education (GAWHE): GAWHE is a statewide association dedicated to providing professional support to women educators through programs, services, advocacy, and publications. It offers a Louise McBee Scholarship for graduate studies.
• Georgia Council of Administrators of Special Education (G-CASE): G-CASE supports educators who are involved in the administration of special education programs at a regional, system, or building level, as well as college faculty involved in the preparation of administrators.
• Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA): GSSA represents Georgia’s superintendents and serves as a chief advocate for the state’s public school children.

Note: 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 Georgia

Educational Leadership Conferences

• GACIS Conferences: GACIS often hosts a Winter Conference in December and a two-day Fall Conference in September.
• GAEL Conferences: GAEL brings together individuals in its member associations in two major events: a Winter Conference in late January and a Summer Conference in July.
• GAESP/GAMSP Annual Fall Conference: Elementary and middle school leaders find common ground in this annual three-day conference in November.
• GASSP Fall Conference: Like the GAESP/GAMSP joint conference, this three-day event for secondary school leaders usually takes place in November.
• GAWHE Annual Conference: Held in conjunction with the American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network, this annual event for women educational leaders takes place in late February/early March.
• G-CASE Conferences: G-CASE hosts a Fall Conference and a Spring Legal Forum. One-day, single topic, Drive-In Conferences also pop up throughout the year.
• GSSA Bootstrap Conferences: GSSA organizes these two-day events for school leaders and superintendents in April and October.

Educational Leadership Training

• GADOE Professional Learning Events & Conferences: Georgia’s Department of Education hosts a variety of institutes, academies, and conferences throughout the year (e.g. McREL’s District Balanced Leadership Institute, Instructional Leadership Workshops, etc.).
• GAEL Aspiring Principals Academy: GAEL’s program trains public school leaders to handle their complex roles as building managers, HR administrators, change agents, student disciplinarians, cheerleaders, instructional leaders, school improvement specialists, and surrogate parents.
• GAWHE Fellows Leadership Program: GAWHE’s program provides coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities for women in higher education positions. Applicants must be in full-time employment with an institution of higher education in the state of Georgia.
• Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI): GLISI is a private non-profit that provides training, coaching, and technical assistance to leaders who wish achieve excellence in the classroom, school building, and central office. It was founded by a bipartisan team of Georgia business and education leaders and the state Governor.
• GSSA Professional Development: GSSA has developed multiple professional development programs for P-12 educational leaders, including the Superintendent Executive Leadership Program, New Superintendent Orientation, Planning, Funding & Budget Institute, and much more.
• The Principals Center: Run by GSU, the center provides practicing and aspiring school leaders with learning and networking opportunities designed to develop their capacity to create schools that work for all children (e.g. Expert Leaders Series, Toolbox Series, etc.).