Ed.D. Programs in New Jersey

Earning a Doctor of Education Degree in New Jersey

New Jersey is an Ed.D. diamond in the rough—a fact borne out by the doctoral programs in education in our school listings. The Rutgers Graduate School of Education is probably the most well-known and highly ranked option, but there are plenty of respectable alternatives. And all of them are CAEP-accredited.

You can have your pick of schools that specialize in online Ed.D. programs, schools with tuition discounts, and schools that put a strong emphasis on the dissertation in practice. Better yet, four of them—NJCU, Rider, Rowan, and Rutgers—are taking part in the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED).

To get you started, our directory of school listings contains links to curricula and costs. Once you have an Ed.D. or two in mind, you may want to glance through our career section. We’ve dug up state data on administrative jobs & salaries and posted links to NJ-specific job boards. You may even wish to join an administrator organization (e.g. NJPSA) or sign up for conferences & training programs (e.g. NJEXCEL for NJDOE certification).

Online Doctor of Education Programs in New Jersey

Online Ed.D. Providers in New Jersey

1. College of Saint Elizabeth (CAEP-accredited)
2. New Jersey City University (CAEP-accredited)
3. Rowan University (CAEP-accredited)
4. Saint Peter’s University (CAEP-accredited)

What to Know About New Jersey Online Ed.D. Programs

Online doctoral programs in New Jersey fall into two broad categories: flexible choices from public schools in the New Jersey Association of State Colleges & Universities and higher education specialties from private Catholic universities. None of them are inexpensive, but all of them come with distinctive upsides, which we’ve highlighted below.

We also want to point out that New Jersey is groaning with hybrid options. Many so-called “campus” programs are, in truth, blended. In particular, check out the doctorates in education from Rider, Monmouth, Caldwell, Stockton, and Seton Hall. With a hybrid Ed.D., your commute time may be very limited and you’ll have the chance to network with fellow students and professors.

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.

Online Ed.D. Programs at Public New Jersey Universities

Rowan’s 60-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership has a lot of positives. It’s been developed by a public research university that’s participating in the CPED initiative. It’s available in three tracks: Higher Education Track, P-12 Track, and the unusual Community College Leadership Initiative (CCLI). It can be taken in a hybrid or online form with three required residencies. Tuition is the same for in-state and out-of-state residents. And there are no fees. We particularly appreciate the last point, since fees can blow out a distance learning budget.

You can compare Rowan’s CCLI option with NCJU’s 55-credit Online Doctorate in Community College Leadership. Tuition rates are very similar—the same for in-state and out-of-state—and the program includes one-week summer residencies (e.g. Community College Leadership Institute). Plus the curriculum looks sturdy, with mandatory elements like experiential learning, mentoring, and a dissertation in practice. We’ve looked at a lot of online Ed.D. curricula, and these are quality markers we like to see.

If community college leadership is not your jam, you could also consider NCJU’s 60-credit Hybrid Ed.D. in Educational Technology Leadership. All fall and spring courses are fully online; summer courses are hybrid, including a one-week on-campus Summer Institute.

Online Ed.D. Programs at Private New Jersey Universities

Or you can go private. Here’s where you can really compare apples to apples, because both schools have chosen to focus on the same concentration. From Saint Peter’s, a private Jesuit university, comes the 48-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership – Higher Education. It’s short (i.e. 2.5-3 years), cohort-based, and it appears to be 100% online. It’s also designed for mid-careerists. It’s pricier than Rowan, but there are fewer total credits and graduate credit transfers are allowed.

Place it side-by-side with the College of Saint Elizabeth’s 52-credit Online/On-Campus Ed.D. in Educational Leadership – Higher Education, which is offered through ED CHOICE. We’ve included it because ED CHOICE gives students the option to switch between campus and online courses, all with the same professor. Again, it’s a shortish program that only takes three years to complete. The curriculum incorporates two research projects that lead to the development of an action research dissertation. And admissions criteria are strong—you’ll need a 3.25 GPA to apply.

No Dissertation Ed.D. Programs in New Jersey

Doctoral Research Projects & Capstones

First, a disclaimer—we didn’t find any Ed.D. programs that completely eliminated the dissertation requirement. Even Monmouth University’s Ed.D. in Education Leadership, which contains a fascinating Transformative Leadership Project/Capstone, still includes a dissertation component.

What we did find were plenty of New Jersey doctoral programs in education that contain a dissertation in practice. Rider, NJCU, Stockton, the College of Saint Elizabeth with its “action research dissertation”—the list goes on and 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 emerge with a good-looking résumé. Our school listings contain links to the curricula pages—you’ll find more info on the final project there.

Doctoral Education Funding in New Jersey

Internal Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards

For this section, we’ve pulled as much information on institutional aid for New Jersey Ed.D. programs as we could find! 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. You’ll probably need to add external aid into the mix (e.g. federal & private loans, tuition reimbursement, etc.). The Ed.D. program coordinator and the Office of Financial Aid or Graduate School are the best folks to help with this process.

Caldwell University

Graduate Studies has info about Graduate Assistantships, which are open to doctoral students. And there’s a section for Graduate and Adult Undergraduate Students in Scholarships and Grants. There are a number of graduate discounts on offer—a 50% discount for Newark Archdiocese Faculty and Staff, a 10% discount for Caldwell Family/Siblings, and a 25% discount for members of the Caldwell Principals Roundtable—but it’s unclear whether a doctorate counts as a graduate program. Talk to the program coordinator about your options.

Centenary University

It’s all about the discounts at Centenary. Employees of Professional Development Schools (PDS)-eligible school districts receive a discount on GED courses in the Ed.D. Doctorate Special Program Rates are also available for Centenary Alumni and Veterans/Active U.S. Military. There are no specific graduate scholarships for the Ed.D.

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’s section on Graduate Cost and Financial Aid is a useful place to start. Here you’ll find links to Grants and Scholarships for Graduate Students and info about Graduate Assistantships and On-Campus Employment.

New Jersey City University

NJCU’s section on Graduate Tuition & Aid has info on Graduate Scholarships and Graduate Assistantships for full-time students, but be aware that the Ed.D. programs are primarily online.

Rider University

Rider has a section on Scholarships for Graduate Students, with info on loans and assistantships. But the Ed.D. is hybrid and has a different tuition structure, so you’ll need to check with the program coordinator about aid eligibility. The same advice applies for the Partnership Tuition Reduction/Discount—read the fine print (many partners don’t allow the Ed.D.) and check with the coordinator.

Rowan University

Rowan Global’s section on Graduate Financial Aid will be of help. Adult learners at the graduate level are eligible for the modest Rowan Global Scholarship—ask the Ed.D. program coordinator if you can apply. Rowan has a separate section on Graduate & Research Assistantships.

Rutgers University

The Graduate School of Education (GSE) devotes a section to GSE Fellowships, Scholarships & Assistantships. In particular, check out the Burns Family Endowment for Teacher Leadership 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 Fellowships & Awards, since it has even more opportunities for graduate-level students (e.g. Ralph Bunche Fellowship, Conference Travel Awards, etc.).

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 Graduate Affairs can assist with Graduate Financial Aid (e.g. corporate tuition reimbursement) and answer questions about Graduate Assistantships. You can also ask the Ed.D. program coordinator if doctoral students qualify for any of SHU’s general Graduate Scholarships.

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 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 (Standard Only: Endorsement Code 0106)

We’ve outlined the basic requirements for the Principal and School Administrator Certificate of Eligibility (CE) below, but you’ll find full details on all four titles in the School Leaders Certificate Subject Area/Grade Level and Codes. The section on School Leaders also has info about proceeding from a Certificate of Eligibility -> Provisional Certificate -> Standard Certificate (e.g. completing the state-approved residency/mentoring program).

The NJDOE doesn’t have a specific database of leader preparation programs, but it does list New Jersey schools that provide CEAS Educator Preparation Programs. Because a doctorate is not required, a lot of Principal and School Administrator certification programs at New Jersey universities take the form of a master’s, post-master’s certificate, Ed.M., or the like. 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)

The Principal Certificate is required for 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, but the NJDOE has a list of alternative options.
• Complete a minimum of 30 graduate credits—either within the master’s program or in addition to it—that are aligned with NJ Professional Standards for School Leaders.
• 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. The NJDOE will want to see a copy of this certificate.
• Pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment test from ETS.

School Administrator Certificate of Eligibility (CE)

The School Administrator Certificate is required for any position that involves services as a district-level administrative officer (e.g. superintendent, assistant superintendent, and director). There are three ways to earn the certificate. 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, but the NJDOE has a list of alternative options.
• Complete a minimum of 30 graduate credits—either within the master’s program or in addition to it—that are aligned with NJ Professional Standards for School Leaders.
• 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 test from ETS.
• Have five years of successful educational experience in a public or non-public school, a public or non-public school district, or a regionally accredited higher educational setting in New Jersey or out-of-state.

Options 2 and 3 are for folks who already hold an out-of-state School Administrator Certificate or a valid New Jersey Standard Principal Certificate. Have a look at the School Administrator Certificate of Eligibility Requirements for more details.

Educational Leadership Jobs in New Jersey

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

Happily, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monitors job & salary data for elementary & secondary administrators and postsecondary administrators in every state. You can look at 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 predictable 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. You can find actual employment numbers in the Office of Research and Accountability Student Unit Record (SURE). 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.

However, if you glance at the wage maps for elementary & secondary 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 stat. In the NJDOE’s section on School District Budget Summaries/Salaries & Benefits, 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 administrators also do extremely well—New Jersey is often the top-paying state in the country for this category. The Asbury Park 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. (You can search by school, but not by job title.) The Chronicle’s records show that executives at the Stevens Institute of Technology, Princeton, Seton Hall, Monmouth, and Rutgers frequently command the best salaries.

Educational Leadership Job Boards

Conventional job sites (e.g. SchoolSpring, TopSchoolJobs, LinkedIn, HigherEdJobs, etc.) will have postings for New Jersey educational leaders. 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) posts Employment Opportunities for teachers & administrators.
• The State of New Jersey provides links to Employment Opportunities at NJ Colleges & Universities (i.e. HR/employment sites)—this list includes both public & private schools, but be aware that some of the links are outdated.

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. It has a voluntary certification program.
• 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

• FEA/NJPSA/NJASCD Fall Conference: This annual two-day conference is dedicated to professional development for school leaders. It includes workshops, keynotes, and exhibits.
• NJACTE Annual Conference: NJACTE’s flagship event in March showcases the latest developments in teacher education.
• 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.

Educational Leadership Training

• NJASA Aspiring Leaders Workshop: NJASA often organizes a one-day workshop in June for folks who are seeking their first or next administrative position.
• NJASA New Jersey School Administrator Residency Program: This capstone learning experience can help you achieve a Standard School Administrator Certificate. It includes a mentoring component and the New Superintendents’ Academy (NSA).
• NJASBO Professional Development: NJASBO organizes In-Service Programs for school business officials, runs an Academy, 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 programs and services to support new school leaders in the successful completion of the two-year Residency for Standard Principal Certification.