Ed.D. Programs in Indiana

Earning a Doctor of Education Degree in Indiana

Indiana is an intriguing state for the doctorate in education. There aren’t many universities in our school listings, but all of them are contenders. IU Bloomington’s School of Education is the most obvious pick, thanks to its high national ranking and participation in the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED). But USI is also part of the CPED initiative, Oakland City is affordable, and Ball State has a host of concentrations. You’ll have choices when it comes to CAEP-accredited schools.

To make that decision a little easier, our Ed.D. listings contain specific links to costs & curricula. While you’re noodling around this guide, you may also wish to browse through our rundown of online & blended programs, ideas for doctoral funding (IU Bloomington wins this contest, too), and our discussion of administrative licensure requirements in Indiana.

Planning for the post-graduation phase? Check out the career section. It contains data on administrative jobs & wages and directons to a tool for viewing Indiana public employee salaries. You’re welcome to use the list of Indiana educational leadership organizations to decipher acronyms (e.g. IAPSS) and fill your calendar with conferences & training programs. Professional development opportunities in Indiana are rife.

Online Doctor of Education Programs in Indiana

Online Ed.D. Providers in Indiana

1. Ball State University (CAEP-accredited)
2. Indiana University-Bloomington (CAEP-accredited)

What to Know About Indiana Online Ed.D. Programs

Options for online doctoral programs in education come down to two affordable public Indiana universities: IU Bloomington and Ball State University. Since BSU has gone for more of a blended/hybrid approach, we’ve discussed them separately below.

One thing to note for both schools—in-state and out-of-state tuition rates are different, even for online programs. Ball State also charges out-of-state residents extra for any on-campus coursework, so keep this in mind when you’re examining its blended degrees.

Note: Our overview of online doctoral programs in education has a listing that lets you view online Ed.D. options in every state.

Online Ed.D. Programs at Indiana Public Universities

IU Bloomington’s specialist Ed.D. programs have a lot going for them. They’re supported by a School of Education with a stellar reputation. They’re almost 100% online. And they’re relatively cheap (even the out-of-state rate isn’t a great deal more than the in-state). But you will need to budget for 60 credits.

• The best thing about the Online Ed.D. in Instructional Systems Technology is that it’s customizable—you can choose 24 credits of electives and 9-12 credits of a minor. It only has one residency requirement—attendance at the IST Annual Conference or IST Colloquium on the Bloomington campus.
• The cohort-based Online Ed.D. in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education starts in fall. It also includes a residency component—at least one conference led by the LCLE department—but there are no internships and practicums. Plus you can transfer credits from post-master’s coursework.

Blended Ed.D. Programs at Indiana Public Universities

If you live in Indiana, you may also want to consider BSU’s Online/Blended Ed.D. Programs. BSU has a respectable ranking for online graduate education programs and the Teachers College is proactive in research & engagement. Plus in-state students get an excellent deal on per credit tuition rates.

All of BSU’s hybrid programs are 90 or 91 credits, but the university expects you to transfer credits from your master’s (and Ed.S. if relevant), which will reduce the total credit count. At least 48 credits must be completed through Ball State. Here are few more things to know:

• The 90-credit Blended Doctor of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision can lead to superintendent licensure. It’s a mix of online courses and campus classes that meet monthly on Thursday afternoons.
• The 90-credit Blended Doctor of Education in Special Education comes in many concentrations. Most courses are online, but the degree includes a residency requirement (at least 15 credits).
• The 91-credit Blended Doctor of Education in Adult & Community Education is a mix of online, blended, and on-campus courses on both the main campus in Muncie and in the greater Indianapolis area.

Doctoral Education Funding in Indiana

Internal Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards

This section contains ideas for institutional aid for Indiana doctorates in education (e.g. internal Ed.D. scholarships, assistantships, grants, etc.). Before you commit to a program, talk to alumni and ask the Ed.D. program coordinator how students are usually funded. The Office of Financial Aid and the Graduate School can help with external aid procedures (e.g. finding national fellowships, applying for federal loans, etc.).

Ball State University

The Teachers College’s list of Scholarships only has a small list of graduate scholarships in elementary education, so we recommend you check the Graduate School’s section on Costs and Funding of Graduate Study, which includes details on assistantships, student employment, and employer assistance programs.

According to BSU’s Ed.D. program pages, a limited number of doctoral assistantships are available. In addition to a stipend, doctoral assistants receive a remission on tuition, remission of the graduate course fee, and an out-of-state fee waiver.

Indiana University-Bloomington

Each Ed.D. program page contains a helpful sub-section on Financial Aid. All graduate students who are admitted into the School of Education (SOE) are automatically considered for SOE Assistantships and SOE Fellowships & Travel Awards; there are a number of awards for doctoral students in Educational Leadership & Higher Education and graduate students in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education.

Another site to visit is the Graduate School’s section on Financial Support, which has info on general Graduate Fellowships & Awards (e.g. John H. Edwards Fellowship), research grants, and student loans. You can also look into IU Foundation Scholarships & Grants (e.g. Women’s Philanthropy Leadership Council Grant).

University of Southern Indiana

The Department of Teacher Education in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education has a section devoted to Scholarships & Aid, though awards are primarily for undergraduates and master’s students. You may have better luck with the Office of Graduate Studies’s section on Financing Graduate School. USI also offers payment plans.

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 Licensure Requirements in Indiana

Administrative Licenses

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) handles administrative licenses for educational leaders in Indiana public schools. There are five major types of administrative license:

• Building Level Administrator (e.g. Principal)
• Superintendent
• Director of Exceptional Needs
• Director of Career & Technical Education
• Director of Curriculum & Instruction

We’ve provided a quick rundown of requirements for the first two types below. You’ll find much more detail on all five options in the IDOE’s section on Administrative Licenses.

IDOE also maintains a database of approved educator preparation programs. University programs for building level administrators often take the form of a master’s or special licensure program. Aspiring superintendents in Indiana frequently earn an Ed.S. or an Ed.D. A number of doctoral programs in our school listings (e.g. Ball State, Oakland City, etc.) incorporate superintendent licensure preparation into the curriculum.

Note: IDOE’s section on Administrative Licenses also contains advice & requirements for out-of-state applicants.

Building Level Administrator License

To earn the Building Level Administrator License in Indiana, you must:

• Hold a minimum of a master’s degree or higher from an accredited institution.
• Complete an approved educator preparation program in Building Level Administration.
• Hold an initial, standard, provisional, proficient, or accomplished practitioner Instructional or School Counselor license.
• Have at least two years of experience as a teacher.
• Pass the approved Building Level Administrator content licensure exam.
• Obtain valid CPR certification from an IDOE-approved provider.
• Obtain a Suicide Prevention Training Certificate.

Superintendent License

To earn the Superintendent License in Indiana, you must:

• Successfully complete one of the following:
  • An Ed.S. or higher at an institution of higher education.
  • An approved District Administrator: Superintendent program.
• Hold an Initial, standard, provisional, proficient or accomplished practitioner Instructional License.
• Have at least two years of experience as a teacher.
• Pass the approved District Level Administrator content licensure exam.

Educational Leadership Jobs in Indiana

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. Exact job numbers for administrators—including a Preschool category—are published in BLS’s section on State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Indiana.

Overall, the employment picture for Indiana K-12 administrators is similar to Kentucky—good, but not always as great as neighbors such as Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan. You can get a better sense of the school landscape by examining IDOE Data. Here you’ll find annual school performance reports and IDOE’s Compass tool.

The career outlook for Indiana postsecondary administrators is rosier. Indiana is often in the top employment bracket for this category. It also happens to have a high concentration of higher education administrative jobs, a statistic which takes into account population numbers.

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) publishes Reports & Analyses on Indiana colleges & universities (e.g. ROI reports, enrollment numbers, etc.)—use the Data Dashboards for a quick overview. Big public players like IU Bloomington, IUPUI, and Purdue tend to have the largest student enrollment numbers (i.e. more administrative jobs).

Educational Leadership Salaries

You’ll find annual mean wages for educational administrators posted in State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Indiana. Annual mean wages for both K-12 education administrators and postsecondary education administrators In Indiana tend to be on the low side, much like Ohio or Kentucky. Having said that, the Hoosier State also has a relatively affordable cost of living.

Interested in some incredible salary insights? The Indiana Gateway for Government Units publishes detailed Employee Compensation by Unit reports for all public PreK-20 employees.

• Use the “Search by Unit” tool to find your school corporation (e.g. Adams Central Community School Corporation) and view K-12 salaries by position (e.g. Principal/Admin) and name.
• This method also works for Indiana’s public universities (e.g. Indiana State University, Indiana University, Purdue University, etc.). The unit for universities is “state.”

Educational Leadership Job Boards

Familiar sites (e.g. LinkedIn, Indeed, HigherEdJobs, etc.) will have postings for educational leadership opportunities in Indiana. But we also want to highlight some state-specific job boards.

• The IDOE School Personnel Job Bank contains administrative jobs in Indiana K-12 schools (e.g. principal, director, superintendent, etc).
• IAPSS advertises Administrative Vacancy Postings for Indiana superintendents, principals, directors, and more.
• ISBA publishes Administrative Vacancies for in-state superintendent positions and out-of-state positions.
• ICASE lists Employment Opportunities for special education administrators (e.g. director of special education).
• IU allows you to search for Staff Positions across all IU campuses.

Educational Leadership Organizations in Indiana

Educational Leadership Associations

• Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS): IAPSS is a non-profit organization serving 425 members, including superintendents and school administrators, professors of education, university students studying educational administration, and retired superintendents. It’s a state affiliate of AASA.
• Indiana Association of School Business Officials (IASBO): IASBO represents Indiana individuals who are involved in school business affairs (e.g. finance, accounting, purchasing, maintenance and operations, human resources, etc.). It offers voluntary certification and it’s a state affiliate of ASBO.
• Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP): IASP is a non-profit professional association that supports more than 2,900 building level administrators in Indiana. It’s a state affiliate of NAESP and NASSP.
• Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education (ICASE): ICASE was created to serve, support, and represent special education administrators in Indiana. It offers a Presidential Scholarship to individuals who are interested in becoming administrators in special education.
• Indiana CTO Council: Indiana CTO Council is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the professional growth of technology administrators and education leaders who use technology to improve teaching and learning (e.g. CIOs, technology directors, etc.). It offers voluntary CETL certification through CoSN.
• Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA): ISBA serves school board members in 10 member regions across Indiana. It often works closely with IASP and IAPSS. Superintendents, assistant superintendents, and/or business directors may become Associate members.
• Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA): ISTA is the state’s teachers’ union. Members include 45,000+ public school teachers and education support professionals, staff in state higher education institutions, retired educators, and college students preparing to become teachers.

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 Indiana

Educational Leadership Conferences

• IASBO Annual Meeting: Indiana’s signature event for school business officials is held over 2.5 days in early May. It features pre-conference workshops, clinic sessions, guest speakers, and over 200 exhibitors.
• IASP Aspiring Principals Conference: Facilitated by principal-practitioners, this two-day conference and learning opportunity occurs in April.
• IASP Assistant Principals Conference: This one-day event in late November addresses key educational issues for assistant principals through 30+ concurrent sessions.
• IASP Fall Professionals Conference: This one-day conference for principals & building-level leaders is also in late November, usually in the same venue as the Assistant Principals event.
• ICASE Fall Conference: This three-day conference in October is a popular professional development event for Indiana special education administrators. ICASE also hosts a New Directors and Administrators Day in July.
• ISBA/IAPSS Fall Conference: This two-day conference in late September/early October attracts Indiana school board members, superintendents, and district-level leaders. ISBA also organizes an ISBA/IAPSS/IASBO Budget/Finance Seminar in June and an ISBA/IAPSS Collective Bargaining Seminar in August.

Educational Leadership Training

• IAPSS Educators Preparing Inspired Change (EPIC): This one-year leadership program for Indiana’s public school superintendents was created in collaboration with Butler University. IAPSS also runs a Superintendent Mentor Program and Superintendents’ Assistance Program.
• IASBO Professional Development: IASBO sponsors full and half-day professional development seminars each school year on pertinent business management topics.
• IASP Principal Programs: In addition to hosting conferences, IASP organizes coaching programs, school climate audits, the Indiana New Administrator Leadership Institute (INALI), Extra-Curriculum Account (ECA) Workshops, and other professional development opportunities.
• Indiana CTO Clinic: This two-day clinic is an in-depth professional development event for district technology leaders
• Indiana CTO2B Mentorship Program: Indiana CTO has partnered with IDOE to offer mentorship to technology directors and coordinators, eLearning specialists and curriculum staff with a desire to become district leaders, and assistant superintendents who desire additional IT knowledge.
• Indiana Principal Leadership Institute (IPLI): IPLI is run by Indiana State University. It’s a two-year institute that’s designed to address the professional needs of Indiana principals with an emphasis on student success.