Ed.D. Programs in Georgia

Earning a Doctor of Education Degree in Georgia

When it comes to Georgia’s doctorates in education, public is the name of the game. Our school listings are dominated by USG universities, with Clark Atlantic and Piedmont providing some intriguing private alternatives. Public names figure prominently in online Ed.D. programs, Tier I or Tier II Educational Leadership certification programs (but see also Clark Atlantic), and programs being shaped by the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED).

What’s the upshot? If you live in Georgia, you may be able to take advantage of tuition breaks for in-state residents. Plus, thanks to their size and state funding, a number of these schools have Ed.D. scholarships & fellowships, including awards for doctoral students in specific fields (e.g. curriculum studies). Finally, there are plenty of concentrations in our school listings, so you shouldn’t have to sacrifice choice for price.

Once you’ve put together a shortlist, have a quick skim through our Career section. We’ve assembled job & wage data for Ed.D. graduates, with info on Georgia’s PreK-12 and higher education landscapes, high-paying hotspots, and average salary numbers for districts. You can also use our list of Georgia educational leadership associations and conferences & training events to decide where to concentrate your networking efforts.

Online Doctor of Education Programs in Georgia

Online Ed.D. Providers in Georgia

1. Kennesaw State University (CAEP-accredited)
2. University of Georgia
3. University of West Georgia (CAEP-accredited)
4. University of North Georgia (CAEP-accredited)
5. Valdosta State University (CAEP-accredited)

What to Know About Georgia Online Ed.D. Programs

Your choices for distance learning Ed.D. programs in Georgia come down to public universities in the USG System. That’s a good thing—four of your options hold CAEP accreditation and UGA’s College of Education has an excellent national ranking.

It also means that costs are fairly reasonable. All of these online doctoral programs in education have a similar tuition structure (though it always pays to look at how many credits you’ll need to take and what kinds of extra fees are included). If you commit to 100% online, eTuition rates are usually the same for in-state and out-of-state residents.

But they’re not the only options. Most of the so-called “campus” Ed.D. programs in Georgia are actually hybrid (e.g. Augusta, Columbus State, Georgia Southern, 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.

Note: Can’t find anything that suits your goals? Our overview of online Doctor of Education programs contains a full listing of online Ed.D. programs in every state, as well as our rankings the nation’s best online Ed.D. programs.

Online Ed.D. Programs with Multiple Concentrations at Public Georgia Universities

A couple of Georgia’s public schools have decided to cover the waterfront. For instance, UWG has developed 60-credit online doctorate of education programs in School Improvement (with multiple concentrations for PK-12 leaders), Higher Education Administration, Professional Counseling & Supervision (with an Accelerate track for Ed.S. in Counseling graduates), and even Nursing Education. All of these cohort-based options are delivered by UWG Online.

Most of UWG’s programs, with the exception of Nursing Education, only require one on-campus visit for orientation. This makes them almost 100% online. And they’re a pretty good deal for out-of-state students. Provided you don’t add any face-to-face courses (e.g. electives), the tuition rate is the same for residents and non-residents.

Or you could consider VSU and its 55-credit Online Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction: Learning & Development Concentration (with various pathways, including graduate certificates) and Online Ed.D. in Leadership (with multiple cognates). Programs are short (e.g. 24-30 months for the Ed.D. in Curriculum), charged at a standard eTuition rate, and fairly flexible. The Ed.D. in Leadership includes the option to add face-to-face electives and weekend classes. And post-master’s credit transfers are available.

Keep in mind that VSU has high admissions standards (e.g. 3.5 GPA). We also want to highlight that the university offers a number of blended Ed.D. programs, including one for folks seeking an action on their Georgia Certificate—the Hybrid Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction: P-12 Disciplinary Concentration.

Specialist Online Ed.D. Programs at Public Georgia Universities

Plus there are public universities that have gone down the specialist route. For instance, KSU offers a 48-credit Online Ed.D. in Teacher Leadership for current Georgia educators and a 66-credit Online Ed.D. in Instructional Technology in two tracks: the Advanced Track or Certification Track. Credit transfers are available for Ed.S. graduates.

• 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 a 6 to a 7. It’s 100% online.
• The Certification Track is aligned to GaPSC standards for Instructional Technology and ISTE standards for Technology Coaches.

And then there’s 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.

Finally, we wanted to mention UGA’s part-time, 60-credit Hybrid Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership. It’s a blended, cohort-based program, but weekly classes are delivered online. Face-to-face meetings occur several times during the semester. We’ve pointed it out because it’s “custom fit” for student affairs professionals, with a curriculum that includes supervised internships and advanced specialized study.

No Dissertation Ed.D. Programs in Georgia

Like a number of schools throughout the country, Augusta University is moving away from the traditional dissertation model. Instead, its Ed.D. in Educational Innovation contains a capstone project—15 hours of a “dissertation in practice.”

That means Augusta’s 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. We like the look of it because it a) is deliberately collaborative—students are placed in teams of at least two or three; and b) focused on modern challenges.

Augusta is part of the CPED initiative, which means it’s committed to examining (and re-examining) the goals of a doctorate in education.

Doctoral Education Funding in Georgia

Internal Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards

It’s not always easy to find internal doctoral funding for Georgia’s Ed.D. programs, especially when universities bury the info three-layers deep. To save you time (and aggravation!), we’ve provided links to major sources of institutional aid—College of Education scholarships, tuition breaks, assistantships, and more.

If you’re interested in external aid (e.g. national fellowships, federal loans, tuition reimbursement from your workplace, etc.), the university’s Office of Financial Aid and the Graduate School are going to be your best bets. Also, feel free to ask the Ed.D. program coordinator how students usually fund their education.

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. You may also want to 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 Alabama 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 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 Office of Student Financial Services has details on more general internal awards, financial aid packages, and payment plans. The Scholarship Resource Center also allows you to Search for Graduate Scholarships.

Finally, the Office of Graduate Programs has a Fellowship Advisor who works with students interested in national fellowships. The office can help with applying for the Second Century Initiative, the Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship, Graduate Assistantships, and Dissertation Library Travel Awards.

Kennesaw State University

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

Piedmont College

Piedmont’s Ed.D. Information Portal contains general financial advice. There are also a number of Endowed Scholarships that are open to graduate students, including folks who are studying education.

University of Georgia

Start with the College of Education (COE) and its well-organized section on Financial Assistance. This includes a searchable list of Financial Aid Opportunities (e.g. scholarships, grants, loan forgiveness, etc.). 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 Graduate School Fellowships, Graduate School Recognition Awards, and Travel Funding. In addition, full-time USG employees may be eligible for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

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. Or you can look into Graduate Student Assistantships (just bear in mind that UWG’s Ed.D. programs are online.)

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 Ed.D. (e.g. payment plans). You can also use the UNG Scholarship Opportunities database to search for institutional awards.

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.

A number of Ed.D. programs in our school listings will prepare you for Tier I and Tier II qualifications. GaPSC also maintains a directory of GaPSC-approved Educational Leadership certification programs.

We’ve included a summary of Tier I & Tier II requirements below, but we recommend you look at the complete 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 relevant 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 certificate in Educational Leadership – 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; all candidates must also complete the Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment – Program Entry prior to enrollment.
• Complete (or be exempt from) all applicable Special Georgia Requirements. These include:
  • A passing score on the GACE Educational Leadership content assessment test.
  • A passing score on the Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment – Program Exit.
  • 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”): Standard or Performance-Based. Both types of Professional certificate require at least three years of experience within the last five years and a passing score on the GACE content exam. However:

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

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

• Hold an Educational Leadership – Tier I certificate or a Standard Professional certificate in Educational Leadership – Tier II.
• Hold a Standard Professional certificate in Educational Leadership – Tier I or a master’s degree or higher from a GaPSC-accepted program.
• Complete a GaPSC-approved Educational Leadership – Tier II Performance-Based certification program; all candidates must also complete the Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment – Program Entry prior to enrollment (if not already completed).
• Complete (or be exempt from) all applicable Special Georgia Requirements. These include:
  • A passing score on the GACE Educational Leadership content assessment test (if not previously met).
  • A passing score on the Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment – Program Exit (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.

Educational Leadership Jobs in Georgia

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) keeps a close eye on employment & salary data for elementary & secondary school education administrators and postsecondary education administrators in every state. Georgia is often an overachiever, with particularly high employment levels for elementary & secondary school education administrators (especially in the Atlanta area). In its section on Occupational Trends, Georgia’s Department of Labor named this group to be one of the state’s Hot Careers until 2026.

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.

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.

Educational Leadership Salaries

Mean wages for elementary & secondary administrators in Georgia are solid, and often better than Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama. In recent BLS reports, administrators who lived in northwest metropolitan areas were doing particularly well. You’ll find the exact numbers in BLS’s section on State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Georgia.

It’s a similar story with mean wages for postsecondary administrators. Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC (home to Augusta University) is frequently one of the top-paying metropolitan areas in the country. The East Georgia nonmetropolitan area is also a high-paying spot—the presence of Georgia Southern in Bulloch County may have something to do with this statistic!

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 (e.g. Atlanta Public Schools) also post salary schedules.

Educational Leadership Job Boards

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

• TeachGeorgia’s Job Search allows you to filter by public school job openings by title (e.g. principal, director, superintendent, etc.), subject and/or school system.
• Georgia Charter Schools Association lists Charter School Jobs.
• 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 also 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.
• 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 Program: 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.
• 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.).