Quick Facts: Earning an Ed.D. in New Jersey
- 11 universities in New Jersey offer Ed.D. programs. Rutgers Graduate School of Education is probably the most prestigious and highly ranked option in our listings, but there are plenty of respectable alternatives. Rider University, Rowan University, and Rutgers are members of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED).
- Annual mean wages for New Jersey K-12 education administrators and postsecondary education administrators are some of the best in the USA. However, New Jersey is also known for its high cost of living—it’s one of the 10 most expensive states in the country.
- Many Ed.D. programs in New Jersey feature a Dissertation in Practice (DiP) as their final requirement. This will involve using applied research to tackle a real-world problem of practice with the goal of improving outcomes in a professional setting (e.g. school district).
Online Ed.D. Programs in New Jersey
Online doctorate in education programs in New Jersey fall into two broad categories: flexible choices from public schools in the New Jersey Association of State Colleges & Universities and educational leadership doctorates from private Catholic universities. In addition, many campus Ed.D. programs in New Jersey feature some online courses. The following universities offer online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) programs in New Jersey:
- New Jersey City University (CAEP-accredited)
- Rowan University (CAEP-accredited)
- Saint Elizabeth University (CAEP-accredited)
- Saint Peter’s University
- Stockton University
Public New Jersey Universities
Rowan’s 60-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership has been developed by a public research university that’s participating in the CPED initiative. Tuition is the same for in-state and out-of-state residents. And it’s available in four tracks: Higher Education Track, P-12 Track, Nurse Educator, and the unusual Community College Leadership Initiative (CCLI). The CCLI track features a hybrid CCLI Leadership Institute with in-person and virtual synchronous leadership experiences.
Working in the field of educational technology? Consider NJCU’s Online/Hybrid Ed.D. in Educational Technology Leadership. This three-year, cohort-based program features online courses in the fall & spring and hybrid courses in the summer, including an on-campus Summer Institute. View the alumni profiles to learn whether you’d be the right fit for the degree.
In charge of an organization? Stockton University’s executive-style Online Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership features synchronous online coursework on Friday nights & Saturdays and one week-long summer intensive at the Atlantic City campus. It takes three years and one semester to complete and it’s open to leaders of all organizational backgrounds.
Private New Jersey Universities
Or you can go private. From Saint Peter’s, a private Jesuit university, comes the 54-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership (K-12) and the 48-credit Online Ed.D. in Higher Education. The K-12 education doctorate is 100% online, with an average of 8-10 students per class. The Higher Education doctorate is designed for mid-career professionals and college & university executives. Both programs take 3-4 years to complete.
You can place Saint Peter’s offering side-by-side with Saint Elizabeth University’s Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, which is available in three tracks: Pre-K to 12th Grade, Higher Education, and Organizational Leadership. In the PreK-12 and Organizational Leadership tracks, a solid portion of the coursework is asynchronous. However, there will be scheduled Zoom meetings throughout the semester.
Note: Our overview of online Ed.D. programs has a full listing of distance learning Ed.D.s in every state, rankings of the best programs, and advice on how to decide which program is best for you.
No Dissertation Ed.D. Programs in New Jersey
We didn’t find any Ed.D. programs in New Jersey that completely eliminated the dissertation requirement. Even Monmouth University’s Ed.D. in Education Leadership, which contains a fascinating Transformative Leadership Project, still includes a dissertation component. What we did find were plenty of New Jersey doctoral programs in education that contain a Dissertation in Practice (DiP). Rider, NJCU, Stockton, Saint Elizabeth University’s “action research dissertation”—the list goes on.
We mention this because it’s a useful component to be looking for when you’re examining Ed.D. options. A dissertation in practice means you’ll get to address a challenge in your own district. You’ll often have an opportunity to present your project findings to relevant stakeholders. And you’ll have a chance to marry research with practice. Our listings contain links to the curricula pages—you’ll find more info on the final project there.
Doctoral Education Funding in New Jersey
This section contains information on institutional aid for New Jersey Ed.D. programs. With the exception of Rutgers, we didn’t unearth much beyond assistantships and general graduate awards. But there a few private schools with potential discounts. If you have questions on external aid, such as federal loans, the Office of Financial Aid or Graduate School will be able to help.
Caldwell University
Graduate Studies has info about Graduate Assistantships, which are open to doctoral students. There are a number of graduate tuition discounts on offer; check with the Ed.D. program coordinator to see if the doctoral program qualifies.
Kean University
Doctoral students are eligible for the Graduate Assistantship Program, which involves tuition & fee waivers for 15-20 hours of work per week. You can also ask the program coordinator if Ed.D. candidates are eligible for Graduate Scholarships and check out the general advice in Graduate Financial Aid.
Monmouth University
Monmouth offers Grants and Scholarships for Graduate Students, as well as Graduate Assistantships.
New Jersey City University
NJCU’s section on Graduate Tuition & Aid has info on Graduate Scholarships and Graduate Assistantships for full-time students. However, Ed.D. students are typically on a part-time schedule.
Rider University
Rider has a section on Scholarships for Graduate Students, with info on loans and assistantships. Employees of certain New Jersey companies & school districts may also be eligible for a Partnership Tuition Reduction/Discount.
Rowan University
Rowan Global’s section on Graduate Financial Aid may of help. The School of Graduate Studies has a separate section on Graduate Assistantships.
Rutgers University
The Graduate School of Education (GSE) devotes a section to Tuition, Scholarships, and Financial Assistance. In particular, check out the Koffler Family Endowed Fellowship and the Samuel D. Proctor Fellowship, which are explicitly for Ed.D. students. We also recommend a visit to the School of Graduate Studies’s section on Funding, since it has even more opportunities for graduate-level students (e.g. conference travel awards).
Saint Peter’s University
The Graduate Admissions website has info on Graduate Assistantships. You may also want to browse through the FAQ Regarding Financial Aid: Graduate Studies.
Seton Hall University
The College of Education and Human Services only offers scholarships to undergraduates, but the Office of Financial Aid can tell you if doctoral students qualify for Graduate Scholarships. SHU also offers Graduate Assistantships.
Stockton University
The Graduate Studies’s section on Financial Information has a breakdown of tuition rates and ideas for financing a graduate education, including details on Graduate Assistantships, the Distinguished Research Fellowship, and Foundation Scholarships.
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 Leaders Certification Requirements in New Jersey
Certifications for School Leaders
The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) handles administrative certification for School Leaders in New Jersey public schools. There are four titles for this type of administrative certificate:
- Principal (Endorsement Code: 0200)
- School Administrator (Endorsement Code: 0101)
- School Business Administrator (Endorsement Code: 0109)
- Supervisor (Endorsement Code: 0106)
We’ve outlined the basic requirements for the Principal and School Administrator Certificate of Eligibility (CE) below. Because a doctorate is not required for an NJ administrative certificate, a lot of Principal and School Administrator certification preparation programs at New Jersey universities take the form of a master’s, post-master’s certificate, Ed.M., or the like. See the NJDOE’s list of Approved School Leadership Programs for more details. The NJPSA’s NJEXCEL program is another state-approved alternative.
Note: The NJDOE’s section Out-of-State Reciprocity has a sub-section on Administrative Certificates.
Principal Certificate of Eligibility (CE)
A Principal Certificate of Eligibility (CE) is the first step in the certification process. It is required for New Jersey school & district positions such as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, principal, assistant principal, vice-principal and director. To earn it, you must:
- Hold a master’s degree. This is usually in educational leadership, curriculum & instruction, or a similar field in leadership & management.
- Complete a 300 hour internship in educational leadership that is aligned with NJ Professional Standards for School Leaders, in accordance with the roles and responsibilities of a principal.
- Have five years of successful educational experience under a valid provisional or standard New Jersey or equivalent out-of-state instructional, educational services or administrative certificate.
- Pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) test from ETS.
School Administrator Certificate of Eligibility (CE)
A School Administrator Certificate of Eligibility (CE) is the first step in the certification process. It is required for any New Jersey position that involves services as a district-level administrative officer in PreK-12 public schools (e.g. superintendent, assistant superintendent, and director). There are two options. In Option 1, you must:
- Hold a master’s degree. This is usually in educational leadership, curriculum & instruction, or a similar field in leadership & management.
- Complete a 150 hour internship in educational leadership that is aligned with NJ Professional Standards for School Leaders, in accordance with the roles and responsibilities of a school administrator.
- Pass the School Superintendent Assessment (SSA) test from ETS.
- Have five years of successful educational experience in a school district, non-public school, or an accredited college or university.
Options 2 is for folks who already hold a valid New Jersey Standard Principal Certificate. Have a look at the School Administrator Certificate of Eligibility Option Two section for more details.
Educational Leadership Jobs in New Jersey
Educational Leadership Career Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monitors job & salary data for K-12 education administrators and postsecondary education administrators in every state. Examine the maps to see—at a glance—how New Jersey is doing. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan areas are employment hotspots for both categories.
- If you want to dig even deeper, the NJDOE’s District Portal for Administrators is a great resource for PreK-12 public school leaders. It contains links to NJDOE Data & Reports, including NJ School Performance Reports. The section on Certificated Staff will also tell you how many administrators are employed in each county, district, or school.
- In addition, New Jersey’s Office of the Secretary of Higher Education posts extensive Institutional Profiles of New Jersey colleges & universities. Princeton and Rutgers—as you might expect—are the largest employers of higher education administrators.
Educational Leadership Salaries
BLS’s posts mean wages for all types of education administrator in the section on State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for New Jersey. This is the first place to look for real numbers.
- If you glance at the wage maps for K-12 education administrators, you’ll usually see New Jersey near the top of the list for high-paying states. Good wages in Trenton, Newark, and Jersey City—and a higher cost of living—may have something to do with this statistic. In the NJDOE’s section on Annual School District Budget Summaries, you’ll find annual district budgets. The budget contains names, salaries & benefits for administrators in each NJ district—see the section labeled Employee Contract List.
- Postsecondary education administrators are also well-paid—New Jersey is often one of the top 3 states in the country for annual mean wages. The Detroit Free Press runs a public records site called Data Universe, which posts the names and salaries of NJ higher education faculty and certain administrators in the public sector. The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Salary Data Library also posts salary data for executives at public & private universities.
Educational Leadership Job Boards
Conventional job sites will have postings for New Jersey educational leaders (e.g. SchoolSpring, TopSchoolJobs, LinkedIn, HigherEdJobs, etc.). But we also want to direct you toward some state-specific job boards.
- NJEA has a section on Education Jobs in New Jersey with various links, including listings of all New Jersey school districts that have a starting salary of $50,000/$60,000 and above.
- NJSBA posts Superintendent Positions and Other Vacancies in New Jersey.
- NJASA’s Job Search includes New Jersey and out-of-state listings for PreK-20 administrators.
- NJASBO maintains a Career Center with openings for school business officials and other administrators (e.g. superintendent).
- The New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS) has a Find a Job section for teachers & administrators.
Educational Leadership Organizations in New Jersey
Educational Leadership Associations
- New Jersey Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NJACTE): NJACTE is focused on the preparation and professional development of teachers and educational leaders in New Jersey. Members included regionally accredited colleges & universities with CAEP accreditation or educational leadership programs.
- NJ Association of School Administrators (NJASA): NJASA is the state’s professional association for school leaders. It aims to effect educational policy, regulations, and legislation and support school leaders through professional development programs and membership services.
- New Jersey Association of School Board Officials (NJASBO): NJASBO is comprised of individuals who administer or supervise a variety of operations within the school district, including accounting, budgeting, negotiations, maintenance, payroll, and more.
- New Jersey Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development (NJASCD): NJASCD is devoted to transforming teaching and learning to promote excellence in the learning community. It’s a state affiliate of ASCD.
- New Jersey Education Association (NJEA): NJEA is the state’s largest teachers’ union. Membership is open to any individual who is employed in a public school or college.
- NJ Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA): NJPSA is a membership organization that supports New Jersey’s school leaders via government advocacy, legal assistance, leadership programs, professional learning, and retirement counseling. It has nearly 6,700 members, including principals, assistant principals, supervisors, directors, and other school district leaders.
- New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA): NJSBA serves local New Jersey school boards through advocacy, training, and direct services.
Note: Remember that 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 New Jersey
Educational Leadership Conferences
- NJACTE Day of Assessment Conference: NJACTE’s flagship event in March showcases the latest developments in assessment in educator preparation.
- NJASA/NJAPSA Spring Leadership Conference: This co-hosted event for building-level and district-level administrators usually occurs over three days in May.
- NJASBO Annual Conference: NJASBO’s flagship event is held over three days in June. It includes workshops, presentations, and activities to assist school business leaders in managing their schools and school districts.
- NJBSA Annual Workshop Conference: NJBSA claims this is the largest professional development event for school leaders in New Jersey. The entire district team is welcome, including school board members, school business administrators, superintendents, school technology professionals, school facilities managers & staff, and curriculum professionals.
- NJPSA/FEA/NJASCD Fall Conference: This annual two-day conference is dedicated to professional development for school leaders. It includes workshops, keynotes, and exhibits.
- Women’s Leadership Conference: Organized by the NJASA and NJPSA/FEA, this conference is designed for women in—or aspiring to—positions in educational leadership.
Educational Leadership Training
- NJASA Professional Development Directory: NJASA lists a number of opportunities for New Jersey school leaders, including the NJ Leadership Academy and NJASA Executive Coaching.
- NJASBO Professional Development: NJASBO organizes in-service Programs for school business officials and provides mentoring for the state’s Residency Program for Business Administrators and Assistant Business Administrators.
- NJBSA Training Programs: Most of NJBSA’s programs are aimed at school board members and charter school trustees, but some of the meetings & workshops are relevant for other K-12 educational leaders.
- NJPSA Foundation for Educational Administration (FEA) Programs: The FEA provides all kinds of professional learning development programs to NJPSA members, including in-district workshops, the New Jersey Leadership Academy, LEGAL ONE (school law training), NJ Leaders to Leaders (mentoring), NJEXCEL (alternatives to graduate coursework for certification), and more.
School Listings
11 Schools Found
Caldwell University
School of Education
Caldwell, New Jersey
Kean University
Department of Educational Leadership
Union, New Jersey
Monmouth University
School of Education
West Long Branch, New Jersey
New Jersey City University
Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education
Jersey City, New Jersey
Rider University
College of Education and Human Services
Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Rowan University
Graduate School
Glassboro, New Jersey
Rutgers University
Graduate School of Education
Camden, New Jersey
Saint Elizabeth University
Graduate and Continuing Studies
Morristown, New Jersey
Saint Peter's University
Caulfield School of Education
Jersey City, New Jersey
Seton Hall University
College of Education and Human Services
South Orange, New Jersey
Stockton University
School of Education
Galloway, New Jersey