Ed.D. Programs in Kentucky

Online Ed.D. Programs in Kentucky

Online doctorates in education are offered by both public and private schools in Kentucky. A number of these schools will allow you to customize your educational leadership doctorate with electives and specialization courses. The following universities offer online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) programs in Kentucky:

1. Eastern Kentucky University (CAEP-accredited)
2. Morehead State University (CAEP-accredited)
3. Murray State University (CAEP-accredited)
4. Spalding University (CAEP-accredited)
5. University of Kentucky (CAEP-accredited)
6. University of the Cumberlands (CAEP-accredited)
7. Western Kentucky University (CAEP-accredited)

Public Kentucky Universities

Hoping to connect with your fellow doctoral students? The University of Kentucky’s Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is worth investigating. It’s a four-year, 100% online program that’s open to candidates with a minimum 3.5 GPA. To encourage interaction, you’ll be expected to attend synchronous “real-time” online activities 5-6 times per semester, usually on a Saturday or in the evening. And you’ll have the opportunity to attend the optional week-long Doc Week on the UK campus.

Interested in social justice? Eastern Kentucky University’s Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies is available in two concentrations: Leadership, Policy Studies, and Social Justice and Curriculum Leadership for Social Justice. Independent study and Ed.D. field experiences are available as electives. Applicants must have a master’s in education or a related field and professional experience; preference will be given to candidates with leadership experience. EKU is a CPED member.

Looking for a customizable doctorate that includes opportunities to put theory into practice? Western Kentucky University’s 60-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership includes 21-27 credits of personalized learning electives and a mandatory internship. Fall-entering cohorts are offered online and KASA members & KEA members receive a tuition discount. WKU is a CPED member.

Another public option is Murray State University, which offers a 3-year Online Ed.D. in P-20 and Community Leadership with four specializations: Postsecondary Leadership, PK-12 Leadership, Agriculture Education, and STEM Leadership. This is a 100% online version of MSU’s executive-style, weekend program. It’s a particularly good choice if you have an Ed.S. since MSU will transfer up to 30 Ed.S. credit hours into the Ed.D.

Finally, although Morehead State University classifies it as hybrid, we’ve put the Online Ed.D. with five specializations in the distance learning category. All classes are online except for 4 on-campus days in the first week of the Summer I term for the EDD 800 course. Specializations are centered around the PreK-20 space, with dedicated tracks in P-12 Administrative Leadership and Adult & Higher Education Leadership.

Private Kentucky Universities

Or you could go private. The University of Cumberlands has developed a 60-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with one of the lowest tuition rates we’ve seen among any private or public school. It’s also fairly short (3 years or fewer), packed with relevant core coursework, and includes the option to pursue a specialty emphasis area (e.g. Education, Health Professions, Public Administration, etc.).

Have a tight schedule? Spalding University’s accelerated and 100% Online Ed.D. in Leadership can be completed in two years. Unlike some of the PreK-20 offerings, Spalding’s curriculum is focused on organizational leadership. It includes work in topics like ethical leadership and creating change across an organization. It also features a real-world capstone project.

Note: Our overview of online doctoral programs in education has listings for online Ed.D. programs in every state.

No Dissertation Ed.D. Programs in Kentucky

A few Kentucky universities have developed alternatives to the traditional 5-chapter dissertation. For example, Morehead State University’s Online Ed.D. features a doctoral capstone instead. This is a practice-based, research-heavy project that addresses a particular educational challenge.

• Some MSU Ed.D. students have chosen to focus their capstone work on a particular school, district, or organization (i.e. working in the role of an analyst‐adviser or management consultant).
• Others have chosen to collaborate in a small group of Ed.D. students, addressing different aspects of the same issue.

Spalding University takes a slightly different approach in its Online Ed.D. in Leadership. Like MSU, Spalding wants Ed.D. students to tackle a research-based capstone project that directly applies to their place of employment or to the needs of a for-profit or not-for-profit organization. But it also expects students to produce some specific deliverables, including a submission-ready scholarly article that describes and discusses the student’s approved capstone project and findings.

Doctoral Education Funding in Kentucky

The following section includes ideas for doctoral funding opportunities within Kentucky universities, including links to Ed.D. fellowships, tuition breaks, diversity awards, payment plans, and more. The Office of Financial Aid and/or the Graduate School will be able to assist with advice on the FAFSA and external aid (e.g. federal & private loans).

Eastern Kentucky University

EKU graduate students may be eligible for some general scholarships, but it’s always best to ask if doctorate in education students are classified as “graduate.” If so, full-time students can look into Graduate Assistantships. Employees of EKU’s current corporate partners may also qualify for a tuitioin discount.

Morehead State University

MSU has a section on Paying for Graduate School, with details on the financial aid process, scholarships, and Graduate Assistantships. Doctoral students are not eligible for the Major James Scott Dehart Fellowship, because the award only applies to master’s-level students.

Murray State University

The College of Education has a section on Scholarships and Funding. There are some COE awards for graduate students, but it’s best to check if Ed.D. students are eligible.

University of Kentucky

Check the College of Education’s extensive section on Scholarships. This list includes info about the Arvle and Ellen Thacker Turner Research Fund for doctoral research. Then pay a visit to the Graduate School’s section on Funding. Here you’ll discover info on assistantships, general fellowships, and external funding ideas.

University of Louisville

The College of Education & Human Development (CEHD) has a section on Financial Aid & Scholarships, with info on scholarships, fellowships, and graduate assistantships. You may also wish to skim through the Graduate School’s comprehensive section on Funding Opportunities, which includes details on research & travel grant funds. The UofL Student Financial Aid Office can provide general advice on aid.

University of the Cumberlands

In UC’s section on Graduate Student Aid, there is info about payment plans.

Western Kentucky University

The Ed.D.’s section on Future Students includes a list of ideas for funding. The School of Teacher Education also has a helpful rundown of Financial Aid for Graduate Students and the Graduate School has a lengthy section on Financial Resources.

• You may want to look into Research & Travel Grants and Graduate Assistantships. The Office of Sponsored Programs can also assist you in searching for grants and external funding.
• Plus there is the list of general scholarships available through the College Heights Foundation. For instance, Ed.D. in Educational Leadership students are eligible for the Dr. Dorothy E. Reeves Scholarship Fund and the Dr. Victor J. Christenson Scholarship Fund.

In addition, WKU offers tuition waivers for credits obtained by public school teachers providing supervision of student teachers/interns and tuition waivers for WKU employees.

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 Kentucky

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) keeps close tabs on employment and wage data for K-12 education administrators and postsecondary education administrators in every state. Kentucky has respectable levels of employment for both categories, though wages aren’t always terrific.

• You can get a microscopic view of the K-12 employment landscape in Kentucky by consulting reports issued by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). KDE has an entire section devoted to School District Personnel Information, with details on Kentucky county staffing numbers and demographics.

Preparing for a KY higher education job opportunity?

• The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) has a Interactive Data Center crammed with statistics on enrollment, graduate rates, and more. We particularly liked the comprehensive summaries of Kentucky’s State Universities and KCTCS. These include links to budgets, financial reports, staff directories, and the school’s College Scorecard.
• You can also browse through Data issued by the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU).

Educational Leadership Salaries

BLS’s page on State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Kentucky lists annual mean wages for education administrators.

• Wages for Kentucky K-12 education administrators are often modest, but they’re not in the lowest bracket. You’ll usually see similar wage numbers in Indiana and Ohio.
• KDE’s section on School District Personnel Information has reports on certified salary schedules, average classroom teacher salaries, superintendent salaries (organized by district), and more.

Salaries for employees in Kentucky higher education institutions follow a similar pattern.

• Mean wages for postsecondary education administrators in Kentucky colleges & universities are often in the third lowest bracket.
• You can use Transparency.ky’s Advanced Salary Search to look up the salaries of employees in public post-secondary educational institutions. Search by Branch (i.e. Executive), Cabinet (i.e. Cabinet for the Universities), Title (e.g. President), and Department (i.e. the name of the university).

Educational Leadership Job Boards

Conventional job sites will contain postings for Kentucky education administrators (e.g. HigherEdJobs, SchoolSpring, LinkedIn, etc.). But we also wanted to point you toward some state-specific job boards.

• KDE’s Kentucky Educator Placement Services (KEPS) lists certified vacancies in public schools and districts. You can also submit your job profile.
• CPAK posts Career Opportunities for higher education personnel—primarily directors, coordinators, and advisors.

Educational Leadership Organizations in Kentucky

Educational Leadership Associations

• College Personnel Association of Kentucky (CPAK): CPAK is a state division of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). It’s made up of professionals in varied areas of student affairs, student services, campus life, academic support, and higher education administration. It also offers CPAK Awards to graduate students.
• Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education (KABHE): KABHE promotes the advancement of Blacks in higher education by articulating needs and concerns, promoting unity and cooperation, and enhancing the personal and professional growth of its membership.
• Kentucky Association of Professional Educators (KAPE): KAPE is a professional organization that provides a range of benefits to educators (e.g. legal services, insurance, discounts, etc.). Membership is open to all certified and classified employees of a Kentucky public or private school.
• Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA): One to bookmark! KASA is dedicated to serving school administrators through advocacy, professional development, leadership, and research. Its members include PreK-12 leaders and higher education administrators.
• Kentucky Association of School Councils (KASC): KASC is a non-profit membership organization designed to help school councils make decisions that ensure student achievement at higher levels. It provides assistance to parents, teachers, and principals of member schools.
• Kentucky Association of School Superintendents (KASS): KASS is a statewide, non-profit organization that aims to develop the capacity of Kentucky superintendents—and those who aspire to superintendency—to reach their full potential in transforming their educational systems.
• Kentucky Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (KASFAA): KASFAA is a professional organization that serves practitioners, users, and providers of student financial aid programs.
• Kentucky Education Association (KEA): KEA is a voluntary membership organization for school employees. Public school teachers make up most of the members, but there are school administrators in the mix.
• Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA): KSBA is private non-profit that supplies advocacy, consultation, information, professional development, and district support services to local school board members, as well as to district and school staff.

Educational Leadership Professional Groups

• Kentucky Educational Cooperatives: Cooperatives provide assistance and expertise to member school districts. This includes comprehensive educational services and programs that support member districts and their schools in their school improvement efforts. Member districts also work through the cooperatives to maximize their purchasing power.
• The Prichard Committee: We’re mentioning this organization because it’s heavily involved in KY educational efforts, standards & accountability, policy issues, and engagement initiatives (e.g. parent leaders).

Note: You’ll notice that some state and national educator organizations have funds and scholarships available for continuing education (e.g. Ed.D.). Check the association website and ask about opportunities.

Educational Leadership Events in Kentucky

Educational Leadership Conferences

• CPAK Annual Conference: CPAK’s flagship event for higher education personnel takes place early in the year.
• KABHE Annual Conference: KABHE’s three-day event in April offers opportunities for higher education administrators, faculty, staff, and students to explore best practices and current trends in higher education.
• KASA Annual Education Law & Finance Institute: This is a focused two-day event in March. It aims to deepen knowledge and improve practice among school administrators and their teams in implementing legal and financial decisions.
• KASA Annual Leadership Institute: This three-day event in July attracts 1500+ school leaders and industry partners. There’s a day of Pre-Event Workshops.

Educational Leadership Training

• CPAK Professional Development Programs: CPAK has developed a Career Mentoring Program for CPAK members and a Professional Shadowing Program for student affairs graduate students and professionals.
• KASA Leadership Development: KASA offers a huge range of professional development opportunities to P-20 administrators, including—but not limited to—Kentucky Women in Education Leadership (KWEL), The Leadership Challenge, Next Generation Superintendents, Principal’s Leadership Series, and more.
• KASC Professional Learning: KASC offers individualized training sessions and workshops that focus on helping schools reach proficiency.
• KEA Training Opportunities: KEA organizes a variety of training sessions for schools, districts, local KEA leaders, and local KEA associations.