Ed.D. Programs in Idaho

Earning a Doctor of Education Degree in Idaho

Your choices for Idaho doctoral programs in education consist of three big public players—BSU, ISU, and UI—and one solid private option—NNU. Each university has something unique to offer in the way of concentrations, from STEM to higher education administration. Use our handy school listings to view their Ed.D. program pages, curricula, and costs.

Want to avoid a commute? Explore our detailed comparisons of online & blended Ed.D. programs in Idaho. Interested in subsidizing your degree? Follow the links to doctoral funding opportunities at each university. Planning to earn a degree in order to qualify for the Administrator Certificate? Learn what’s required for principal & superintendent endorsements.

Or you can skip ahead to the career section, which contains detailed job & wage data on educational administrator positions and useful career resources (e.g. school report cards, staff headcounts, state job boards, etc.). We’ve also provided you with an annotated list of important Idaho educational leadership associations and ideas for administrator conferences & training programs (e.g. Project Leadership).

Online Doctor of Education Programs in Idaho

Online Ed.D. Providers in Idaho

1. Boise State University (CAEP-accredited)
2. Idaho State University (CAEP-accredited)
3. Northwest Nazarene University (CAEP-accredited)
4. University of Idaho (CAEP-accredited)

What to Know About Idaho Online Ed.D. Programs

Idaho universities aren’t playing around when it comes to online doctorates in education. All of the schools in this list expect online Ed.D. candidates to have a 3.5 GPA on any previous graduate work (e.g. master’s or Ed.S.). They’re also focused on getting you stuck into the field—their curricula almost always contain a practicum or on-the-ground element. We’ve grouped them into categories so you can skip to your area of interest.

One more thing to mention—some of the distance learning language provided by Idaho public universities on their Ed.D. program websites is a little vague. In a few instances, it’s not always clear which concentrations are available in a blended or 100% online format. Talk to the Ed.D. program coordinator before you make a decision.

Note: Looking for other specialties? Our overview of online doctoral programs in education has a full listing of online Ed.D. degrees in every state.

Online Ed.D. Programs in Educational Technology at Public Idaho Universities

Choice #1 is BSU’s 66-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Technology. This is a 100% online, cohort-based program that takes around 4 years to complete. We might point out that it comes from a School of Education with a highly respectable national ranking.

BSU’s doctorate has other pluses. Per credit tuition is the same for in-state and out-of-state students (500-level courses cost less than 600-level courses). Credit transfers are permitted. And it includes an “Innovative Experience”—a practical work experience (e.g. teaching an online course) or research experience (e.g. program evaluation project). It’s also extremely competitive. Be prepared to show GRE scores in the 33rd percentile or above.

Choice #2 is ISU’s 61-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership – Instructional Design and Technology, which is available completely online through ISU’s existing and emerging technologies. This is another cohort-based program that takes around 4 years. Credit transfers are permitted, but at least 30 credits must be completed at ISU.

This is an Ed.D. with real-world applications. There’s a mandatory practicum and coursework involves creating instructional projects & products. As far as we can determine, residents pay less than than non-residents for Ed.D. tuition. But we recommend you check with ISU to see if there are special rules for online degrees. You may also want to ask if the other Ed.D. programs in administration are available through blended/online coursework.

Online Ed.D. Programs at the University of Idaho

The University of Idaho is a bit of a puzzler. The College of Graduate Studies’s List of Online Degrees states that the Ed.D. is available through distance learning, but it also says that the program may vary from all to mostly online. So you’ll need to talk to the Ed.D. program coordinator for more specifics.

Your best bet may be the 83-credit Online/Hybrid Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. You can transfer master’s credits to reduce the 83 credits down to around 59. According to UI, all educational leadership specialties are offered in a variety of face-to-face and online delivery models to meet students’ needs.

This Ed.D. is a good fit for aspiring research-based faculty members and high-level administrators. We like the fact that it includes a mandatory professional internship, which is tailored to your area of interest (e.g. teaching, applied research, service work, political engagement, etc.). But it’s not designed for certification. If you want that, consider UI’s Online M.Ed. or Ed.S. in Educational Leadership.

Online Ed.D. Completion Programs at Private Idaho Universities

If you already hold an Ed.S. and just need to make the final push, then have a look at Northwest Nazarene University’s 36-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. The cohort-based program takes around 26 months to complete and is made up of educational leadership courses, research analysis & methods credits, and the dissertation. There is one residency requirement—a two-week on-campus summer session.

NNU is a private, non-profit Christian University that’s CAEP-accredited and a state-approved provider of certification programs, so it’s a respectable option. What’s more, per credit tuition is quite reasonable for a private school. Only have a master’s degree? You can also choose to take the Online Ed.S. (there are options that lead to Administrator Certificate endorsements) and work on the Ed.D. afterward.

Doctoral Education Funding in Idaho

Internal Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards

To save you time, we’ve pulled out as many links to institutional aid opportunities (e.g. internal scholarships, payment plans, etc.) as we could find! The Office of Financial Aid and/or the Graduate School will be able to assist with federal aid applications and questions on loans. You should also feel free to ask the Ed.D. program coordinator how most doctoral students are funded. There may be some little-known scholarships that would fit your circumstances.

Boise State University

If you’re interested in the Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction, start with the program’s section on Financial Support. This has details on doctoral graduate assistantships, Ed.D. fellowships & scholarships, and financial aid processes. According to the FAQ section, students can also consider potential adjunct faculty openings.

In addition, BSU’s Scholarships Database has details on scholarship terms and the Graduate School has a useful section on Funding. You may want to look into the GEM Scholarship and conference travel funding.

If you’re considering the Online Ed.D. in Educational Technology, check out the EdTech sections on Financial Aid and Scholarships. Because the Department of Educational Technology is a self-support program, employees of BSU do not receive a tuition break on this Ed.D. As a distance program, it’s also ineligible for the GEM Scholarship.

Idaho State University

There are three key funding sites at ISU for doctoral students to visit:

• The Scholarship Office maintains a list of College of Education Scholarships and provides Scholarship Information for Graduate Students.
• The Graduate School also has an extensive section on Funding and Support, with details on graduate assistantships and non-resident tuition waivers.
• The Office of Financial Aid provides advice for Graduate Students who are interested in loans.

ISU employees & their spouses can also look into the possibility of educational benefits (i.e. reduced fees). However, the Ed.D. is ineligible for the WGRP discount.

Northwest Nazarene University

NNU’s Office of Financial Aid has a section on Graduate Student Financial Aid, with details on outside scholarships and loans. We didn’t see any internal awards, but NNU does offer a monthly payment plan.

University of Idaho

Student Financial Aid Services has a section on Graduate Funding, with details on assistantships, outside fellowships, and current funding opportunities.

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.

School Administration Certification Requirements in Idaho

Administrator Certificate & Endorsements

The Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) is in charge of Certification for public school educators. School leaders typically seek the Administrator Certificate. This is available in a number of endorsements:

• School Principal (Pre-K-12)
• Superintendent (Pre-K-12)
• Director of Special Education (Pre-K-12)

We’ve provided a rundown of principal & superintendent endorsement requirements below. Complete details can be found in the Education section of the Idaho Administrative Code—IDAPA 08 Administrative Rules: 08.02.02.

A few things to note about the state-approved educator preparation program (i.e. your graduate program):

• The State Board of Education (SBOE) dictates rules for educator preparation programs. They must meet CAEP standards in order to be considered an SBOE-approved program.
• Administrator Certificate endorsements require candidates to meet the Idaho Standards for School Principals, so your graduate degree or certificate program will always need to include this competency.
• Idaho’s Superintendent Endorsement requires an Ed.S., Ed.D., or comparable program. Most Idaho universities stick with the Ed.S., but at least one doctorate in education in our school listing leads to this endorsement—ISU’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership – K-12 Administration.

If you’re in any doubt about certification/endorsement training, ask the Ed.D. program coordinator.

Note: The SDE has a separate Out-of-State section for school leaders who wish to transfer a valid out-of-state license or certificate.

Administrator Certificate: School Principal (Pre-K-12) Endorsement

To earn an Administrator Certificate with a School Principal (Pre-K-12) Endorsement, you must:

• Hold a master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Have completed a state-approved program of graduate study in school administration for the preparation of principals (at least 30 semester credits or 45 quarter credits) at an accredited college or university. This program should include the competencies of the Idaho Standards for School Principals. You’ll also need to receive an institutional recommendation for the endorsement.
• Have four years of full-time certificated experience working with students (Pre-K-12) while under contract in an accredited school setting.
• Have completed an administrative internship in a state-approved program, or have one year of experience as an administrator in grades Pre-K-12.

The Administrator Certificate is valid for five years. Six semester credit hours are required every five years in order to renew the certificate.

Administrator Certificate: Superintendent (PreK-12) Endorsement

To earn an Administrator Certificate with a Superintendent (Pre-K-12) Endorsement, you must:

• Hold an education specialist or doctorate degree or complete a comparable post-master’s sixth year program at an accredited college or university.
• Provide verification of completion of an approved program of post-master’s degree graduate study for the preparation of school superintendents (at least 30 semester credits or 45 quarter credits) at an accredited college or university. This program should include the competencies in Superintendent Leadership, in addition to the competencies in the Idaho Standards for School Principal. You’ll also need to receive an institutional recommendation for the endorsement.
• Have four years of full-time certificated/licensed experience working with Pre-K-12 students while under contract in an accredited school setting.
• Have completed an administrative internship in a state-approved program for the superintendent endorsement or have one year of out-of-state experience as an assistant superintendent or superintendent in grades Pre-K-12.

The Administrator Certificate is valid for five years. Six semester credit hours are required every five years in order to renew the certificate.

Educational Leadership Jobs in Idaho

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks employment & salary data for elementary & secondary school education administrators and postsecondary education administrators in every state. The employment & wage maps will give you a bird’s-eye-view of the landscape. But the BLS also lists specific job data for Idaho educational administrators in State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Idaho.

Like Wyoming and Montana, Idaho is often in the lowest employment bracket for K-12 administrators. That’s no surprise, when you consider population numbers. If you’d like a more nuanced view of schools & districts, Idaho school report cards can be viewed in SDE’s Idaho Schools. Further findings are issued by the Assessment & Accountability Division (e.g. K-8 Schools Top Performers). Another useful comparison tool is IdahoED Trends.

Job data aren’t always available for Idaho’s postsecondary education administrators on the BLS website. However, the State Board of Education publishes a great deal of Data & Research on K-20 institutions, including Postsecondary Headcounts (for academic staff) and extremely detailed Financial Audits for Idaho public institutions. BSU and UI tend to be the largest public employers of postsecondary educators.

Educational Leadership Salaries

Overall, annual mean wages for Idaho K-12 administrators tend to be very low—often even worse than Wyoming and Montana. The southwest part of the state is particularly tough for wages. You’ll find K-12 Staff Salary Summaries posted in the SDE’s section on Public School Finance. The District Charter summaries contain specific employee headcounts & salary numbers for administrators (e.g. superintendents, principals, directors, etc.).

Mean wages for Idaho postsecondary education administrators are also in the bottom bracket when compared to the nation. Interested to know precisely what higher education staff are being paid? Transparent Idaho publishes all kinds of Payroll Reports on State of Idaho employees, including educators in public universities. As you might expect, the highest paid employees are at UI and BSU.

Educational Leadership Job Boards

Conventional job sites (e.g. Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.) will contain openings for Idaho school administrators & educational leaders. Another option is to try state-specific job boards.

• IASA members post K-12 jobs on Idaho Education Jobs, a database that’s maintained by SchoolSpring. You can search by category (i.e. administrator).
• ISBA conducts Superintendent Searches and hosts a Job Center that lists Idaho Administrator Positions.
• IASBO lists Job Postings for Idaho school business officials, but you must log-in as an IASBO member to view them.

Educational Leadership Organizations in Idaho

Educational Leadership Associations

• Idaho Association of School Administrators (IASA): IASA is an umbrella organization for four K-12 school administrator organizations in Idaho (see below). It also tracks membership for the Idaho Education Technology Association (IETA).
• Idaho Association of School Business Officials (IASBO): IASBO is a non-profit organization of school employees who manage the business affairs of public and private schools in Idaho. It’s a state affiliate of ASBO International.
• Idaho Education Association (IEA): IEA represents Idaho elementary and secondary teachers, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students. It is the state’s largest professional employee organization and an affiliate of the NEA.
• Idaho School Boards Association (ISBA): ISBA is a non-profit organization that provides policy services, legislative advocacy, and leadership support to Idaho school boards. It often works closely with Idaho superintendents.

IASA Member Associations

• Idaho Association of Elementary School Principals (IAESP): IAESP exists to serve Idaho elementary school principals and administrators. It’s a state affiliate of NAESP.
• Idaho Association of Secondary School Principals (IASSP): IASSP acts as the voice of Idaho secondary school principals and assistant principals. It’s a state affiliate of NASSP.
• Idaho Association of Special Education Administrators (IASEA): IASEA was created to support Idaho’s special education administrators. It’s affiliated with CASE and CEC.
• Idaho School Superintendents’ Association (ISSA): ISSA represents the needs & concerns of Idaho’s superintendents. It’s a state affiliate of AASA.

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

Educational Leadership Events in Idaho

Educational Leadership Conferences

• IASA Summer Leadership Conference: IASA’s flagship event for K-12 school administrators takes place over three days in late July/early August. The conference includes keynote speakers, workshops, and exhibits. Professional development credit is often available through Idaho universities.
• IASBO Annual Conference: This three-day event for Idaho school business officials is usually held in June.
• ISBA Annual Convention: This three-day conference in November attracts Idaho school board members, superintendents, and clerks.

Educational Leadership Training

• IASA Project Leadership/Vanhemert Academy: This is a popular three-year training program for all levels of school administrators in Idaho. University credit is available for this program from several Idaho institutions offering administrative programs.
• IASBO Spring Financial Workshops: IASBO often hosts these two-day workshops for school business officials in March.
• ISBA Summer Leadership Institute: This day-long program of professional development workshops is designed for new & experienced school board members and district leadership teams. It’s held in various locations in July.