Ed.D. Programs in New York

Earning a Doctor of Education Degree in New York

What Kind of New York Ed.D. Programs Are Available?

New York’s Ed.D. landscape is dominated by private universities. NYU, Columbia, Fordham, Hofstra, the University of Rochester—you’re going to see a lot of their offerings in our listings. But you’ll also find Hunter College at CUNY and SUNY Binghamton, as well as online doctorates of education that are well-worth considering. Even Yeshiva has gotten in on the doctoral game, with a unique offering in Jewish education. Some schools are nationally ranked and a number are members of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED). You won’t be lacking for quality choices!

How Do I Choose a New York Doctorate in Education?

Case Study #1: K-12 Administrator Exploring Career Advancement in NYC

Let’s say you’re a hard-working administrator in a New York City secondary school. You’re considering a move to a school leadership position—or even the private sector—but you’d like some guidance on career paths and educational choices.

1. Browse through our listings to get a handle on what Ed.D. programs are available in your local area or online.
2. Explore our section on career resources to learn more about opportunities for Ed.D. graduates. We’ve provided links to New York-specific job boards and NYC wage data. You’ll learn what educational qualifications are preferred. And you’ll never go into salary negotiations unprepared.
3. Become a member of NY educational leadership organizations and attend NYC meetings & events. Organizations like NYSAWA also sponsor training opportunities such as the Educational Leadership Institute.
4. Ask if these organizations have ways to connect members. For example, anyone looking for a seasoned career guide can apply for SAANYS Mentoring.
5. Investigate our funding section to see if you qualify for Ed.D. scholarships & awards that match your situation.

Case Study #2: Aspiring New York Superintendent Seeking SDL Certification & Ed.D.

Let’s say you’ve set your sights on superintendency, but you don’t yet have your SDL. Is there a way to save money & time by combining your certification training with doctoral studies? Absolutely. And in a variety of ways! Here are a few tricks of the trade:

• Credit Transfers: Before enrolling in any SDL certification program (usually an advanced certificate), talk to the program coordinator about your goals and find out whether the School of Education also offers a doctorate. A solid portion of your certificate credits could be transferable to an Ed.D.
• Concurrent Programs: Many New York schools will allow you to enroll in a certification program and an Ed.D. concurrently—this reduces the number of credits you need to earn for both. Examples include Manhattanville’s Bridge Program, Molloy’s Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate in School District Leader (SDL), and Fordham’s School District Leader Certificate (SDL).
• Certification Scholarships: Think about how you can save on certification before you move on to an Ed.D. For instance, students in Syracuse’s Online CAS in Educational Leadership are eligible for a sizeable Future Leaders Scholarship and other School of Education awards.
• Ed.D. Discounts: Before you enroll in an SDL program, ask if the School of Education has special partnership deals on the doctorate. For example, the University of Rochester offers a scholarship on its Ed.D. in Educational Leadership to Warner SBL/SDL certification holders, as well as individuals who earn their SBL/SDL at SUNY Oswego or SUNY Brockport.

Case Study #3: Mid-Level Higher Education Administrator Eyeing Top Positions

Let’s say you’re a higher education administrator in New York with 7+ years of experience at colleges and universities. You’re on the hunt for an executive-style Ed.D. that will lead to high-flying opportunities (e.g. university president).

1. Use the curriculum & admissions links in our listings to identify programs with a higher education focus. Bear in mind that some of these educational leadership doctorates may be too basic for your career needs.
2. Pay close attention to NYU and the University of Rochester. They have developed innovative online doctorates and thoughtful on-campus Ed.D. programs in higher education fields. NYU has even rethought the dissertation requirement.
3. Expand your search to online executive Ed.D. programs in other states—schools like Boston College are some of the best in the nation. You should be able to fit any overseas trips and campus intensives into your current schedule.

Online Doctor of Education Programs in New York

Online Ed.D. Providers in New York

• Fordham University
• Long Island University-Post
• Manhattanville College
• Molloy College
• New York University
• University at Buffalo
• University of Rochester

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

New York has been slower than some big states to commit to online learning for the Ed.D. But we have seen a gradual increase in offerings since the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily from private colleges & universities. Look for the “Offered Online” marker in our listings to create your shortlist.

• Cost: New York is not a cheap state for doctoral study. NYU’s executive-style online doctorate is above $2,000 per credit and many other private programs are well above $1,000 per credit. The most affordable options will come from public providers (e.g. University at Buffalo). If money is very tight, explore programs in our Cheapest Online Ed.D. rankings.
• Quality: There’s a reason for the pricey nature of distance learning— New York also has some of the best online Ed.D. programs in the country. NYU is frequently #1 in our Best Online Ed.D. rankings and Fordham is often not that far behind. If you qualify for one of these offerings, talk to your employer and the Ed.D. program coordinator about your situation. They may know of ways to offset costs.

Online Ed.D. Programs at Private Research Universities in New York

Anyone working in New York K-12 schools & districts and looking to move up the career ladder should investigate the following two online doctorates. Neither of them are inexpensive, but they’re backed by Schools of Education with instant name recognition and innovative research partnerships with local schools.

• Fordham’s Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy is a 3-year program from a Jesuit research university. It’s a particularly strong pick if you’re interested in serving students in marginalized, urban, or underserved communities. Because of Fordham’s involvement in the CPED initiative, the program emphasizes improvement science and core practice areas. Learning is reinforced with two on-campus immersions.
• University of Rochester’s Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, offered by the Warner School of Education, is built on flexibility. It can be finished in 3 years with an accelerated format or drawn out longer. It’s offered in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. And it allows you to tack on advanced certificates in a range of relevant topics (e.g. Urban Teaching & Leadership).

In contrast, NYU Steinhardt’s cohort-based Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation is an executive-style doctorate for mid-level professionals. It only takes 2 years to complete and candidates must have 7-10 years of experience to apply. As we mentioned, this is one of the best online doctorates in the country. So you can expect a great deal of high-level networking. Better yet, it can be applied to almost any setting—K-12, higher education, organizational leadership, and more.

Or you could consider LIU Post’s Online Ed.D. in Transformational Leadership, which can be adapted to suit almost any leadership goal. Applicants are expected to have a minimum of 3 years of successful teaching, leadership or equivalent experience in educational practice.

Online Ed.D. Programs at Public Research Universities in New York

Interested in exploring ideas around equity, curriculum development, and transformative leadership? University at Buffalo’s rigorous—and relatively affordable—Online Ed.D. in Learning and Teaching in Social Contexts comes to you from the Department of Learning and Instruction. UB is a CPED member, so you can expect an emphasis on action research, practicums, and problems of practice. It’s open to almost any candidate from PreK-20 and educational spheres.

Hybrid & Online Ed.D. Programs at Private Colleges in New York

Aspiring educational leaders in PreK-20 settings also have the option to explore online doctorates from smaller private colleges. Because of their size, these offerings may have more of an intimate feel.

• Molloy College’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Diverse Learning Communities is available in a hybrid format with Saturday meetings or an online version with synchronous & asynchronous learning experiences—both formats include 5 hours of fieldwork/internship. Molloy is an Experienced CPED member and a Catholic school, so the curriculum features courses on equity & ethics and a Dissertation in Practice (DiP).
• You can customize Manhattanville College’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership by choosing a 100% online pathway in Higher Education or Dissertation Completion; the Higher Education option will include synchronous/real-time online coursework. Or you can opt for the hybrid Signature pathway with in-person meetings in Yorktown Heights, NY.

No Dissertation Ed.D. Programs in New York

Doctoral Research Projects & Capstones

NYU is leading the way in ditching the dissertation. For the on-campus Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration, you’ll be required to complete a culminating prospectus and project. This research-based work is designed to improve your professional practice through an intervention in the workplace. You’ll emerge with a Project Report and a Portfolio that includes project dissemination papers (e.g. journal article, book chapter, policy brief, curriculum design, etc.).

The Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation takes a similar approach. Instead of tackling a large written project, you’ll address a Problem of Practice (POP) that you’re facing at work (e.g. re-imagining a district special education program; reinventing a career training program for college students; improving racially disproportionate access to programs; etc.). You’ll complete three capstone seminars and four signature assignments to prepare for your culminating project. After original research and some real-world application, you’ll emerge with a praxis-based POP and a portfolio of work.

Doctoral Education Funding in New York

Columbia University in the City of New York

Begin with the section on Aid at Teachers College. Since institutional aid is primarily limited to master’s and Ph.D. students, we also recommend you talk to your department about financial support. For example, the Department of Curriculum and Teaching, which runs many of the Ed.D. programs, also issues competitive stipends for conference attendance and presentations.

CUNY Hunter College

The School of Education (SOE) has a section on SOE Scholarships and Opportunities, though we didn’t see any that were specifically for doctoral students.

D’Youville University

D’Youville offers a number of donor-funded awards. Military veterans and their dependents are eligible for veterans assistance scholarships.

Fordham University

In Fordham’s Graduate School of Education (GSE) section on GSE Tuition and Financial Aid you’ll find info on GSE Scholarships for students in on-campus programs. Fordham also offers a Monthly Payment Plan. Unfortunately, students in the Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership are not eligible for GSE-based aid scholarships.

Hofstra University

Begin with the section on Graduate Tuition & Aid, which has details on loans, federal aid, graduate assistantships, and graduate scholarships. There are some funds for Ed.D. students. For example, the Ray Horton Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a doctoral student in the Literacy Studies Program.

Long Island University-Post

In LIU Post’s section on Types of Financial Aid, you’ll find info on scholarships, federal aid, and loans. Graduate students are automatically considered for university merit-based scholarships and fellowships as part of the admission process.

Molloy College

In the FAQ section, Molloy states that scholarships & fellowships may be available. Contact the Ed.D. program coordinator to learn more.

New York University

NYU Steinhardt’s section on Graduate Financial Aid includes details on graduate scholarships, loans, veterans benefits, federal aid, and more. For instance, with the Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program, partial tuition scholarships are available to full-time New York City employees. You can also browse through the Doctoral Studies Funding section. There are various doctoral awards & grants for research and travel.

SUNY at Binghamton

Binghamton’s Graduate School has a useful section on Cost and Funding, with sub-sections on financial aid and payment plans. On the Fellowships & Scholarships page, you’ll find more detailed information about general awards, including the Clifford D. Clark Diversity Fellowship for historically underrepresented groups in higher education.

Syracuse University

The Financial Aid & Scholarships section in Syracuse’s School of Education can get you started. Be sure to visit the SOE’s section on Endowed Scholarships for info on awards for doctoral students in the Department of Teaching and Leadership, including the James R. Manwaring Scholarship and S.U.S.A.A. Scholarship. In addition, Syracuse notes that applicants who are currently working in educational leadership positions can often get district reimbursement for the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.

University at Buffalo

If you’re considering the Ed.D. in Educational Administration, check out the sections on Financial Aid and Funding from the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy. If you’re eyeing the Ed.D. in Learning and Teaching in Social Contexts, visit the sections on Financial Aid and Funding from the Department of Learning and Instruction.

University of Rochester

The Warner School of Education offers scholarships & fellowships, but many of them are limited to master’s degree or certificate students. However, it has developed agreements for matching tuition waivers with a select number of local employers, a residential fellowship for higher education Ed.D. students, and SDL & SBL discounts! Warner SBL/SDL certification holders, as well as Ed.D. students who have earned their SBL/SDL at SUNY Oswego or SUNY Brockport, are eligible for a 35% scholarship.

Yeshiva University

All students admitted to the Executive Ed.D. are eligible for generous support through the Azrieli Graduate School. Scholarship decisions are based on need and aid can equal as much as 50% of tuition. More info is available on the program website. Yeshiva also offers a monthly payment plan.

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 Leader Certification Requirements in New York

School Administrator Certifications

Types of Administrator Certifications

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is responsible for issuing school administrator certifications at the PreK-12 level. There are two major administrative options:

• School Building Leader (SBL): Aimed at Principals. There are three types of SBL Certificate: Internship, Initial, and Professional.
• School District Leader (SDL): Aimed at Superintendents. There are three types of SDL Certificate: Internship, Professional, and Transitional D.

However, if you’re interested in financing & budgeting roles, you should take a look at the School District Business Leader (SDBL). All of these certificates are offered in a variety of types. Professional certification is the standard qualification.

Ed.D. Programs & School Administrator Certification

To earn any of these certificates, you will need to complete a state-approved preparation program that focuses on certification coursework. This is often a master’s program, certificate of advanced study, or the like.

• NYSED maintains an Inventory of Registered Programs. Search for programs leading to Teacher Certification; then select the category (e.g. SCH DISTRICT LDR).
• A number of New York universities in our listings will allow you apply credits from their SBL or SDL certificate program to their Ed.D. program. Ask the Ed.D. program coordinator if you can kill two birds with one stone!

Note: Coming from another state? NYSED’s Search Certification Requirements tool lists alternative pathways if you want to endorse an existing leadership certificate or you’ve completed an educational leadership program outside of New York.

School Building Leader (SBL)

Initial SBL Certificate

The Initial SBL Certificate is valid for five years. This leads to the Professional SBL Certificate. To apply for an Initial Certificate, you must:

• Hold a master’s degree from an institution of higher education approved by the Commissioner of Education or a regional accrediting agency
• Complete a state-approved NYS Registered Program that contains studies required for School Building Leader certification; your institution will also need to recommend you as a candidate for certification
• Have three years of full-time, valid experience in the classroom teaching service or pupil personnel service (e.g. school counselor)
• Earn passing scores on the School Building Leader Assessment Test and the Educating All Students (EAS) Test

Professional SBL Certificate

In contrast, the Professional SBL Certificate requires candidates to:

• Complete three years of full-time experience in an educational leadership position
• Participate in mentoring from a certified administrator during the first year of work experience
• Complete 100 hours of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) every five years

View SBL Initial & Professional Experience Requirements.

School District Leader (SDL)

Professional SDL Certificate

To apply for the Professional SDL Certificate, you must:

• Have three years of full-time, classroom teaching, pupil personnel service, or educational leadership experience. View a list of sample SDL Professional Experience Requirements
• Hold a master’s degree from an institution of higher education approved by the Commissioner of Education or a regional accrediting agency; you must have completed at least 60 hours of graduate coursework
• Complete a state-approved NYS Registered Program that contains studies required for School District Leader certification; your institution will also need to recommend you as a candidate for certification
• Earn passing scores on the School District Leader Assessment Test and the Educating All Students (EAS) Test

Transitional D Certificate

An alternative to the SDL is the Transitional D Certificate, which is aimed at educators who have a district-level administrator job offer in an NYS public school and can enroll in a Transitional D educational program (e.g. Mercy U’s M.S. in Alternative Route: School District Leader (Transitional D)). Individuals who hold the Transitional D Certificate eventually transition to the Professional SDL Certificate. View Transitional D Certification Requirements.

Educational Leadership Jobs in New York

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

Like Texas, New York is a high-flying state for education employment. If you look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)’s profiles of K-12 education administrators and postsecondary education administrators, you’ll see how well educational leaders are doing.

• In fact, the New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area has the highest employment level of K-12 administrators in the country. We’re assuming that the density of New York City schools will have contributed to this ranking.
• New York can’t compete with Illinois, Texas, or Florida in the employment of higher education administrators. But it’s still one of the top ten states for jobs in this category.

If you want to dig deep, you can examine the Labor Data section on New York State’s Department of Labor website. This includes current occupational employment data and long-term industry projections. For example, educational services are predicted to see a modest rise over ten years to 2030.

Educational Leadership Salaries

Educational Leadership Salaries in New York

Start with Payscale’s cumulative data for all holders of the Doctor of Education (EdD) Degree. This will allow you to compare salary data by job title (e.g. Elementary School Principal vs. Academic Dean) and give you some ballpark estimates for negotiations. Keep in mind that these are national averages.

New York’s Department of Labor conducts a Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) that can be filtered by industry and average wages by county. It’s intriguing to note that schools & universities in Monroe County—home to the University of Rochester and RIT—and Albany County offer some of the highest wages in the state outside of New York City.

PreK-12 Administrator Salaries in New York

Overall, New York salaries for K-12 education administrators are consistently strong. In 2022, New York had the highest annual mean wage in the country and the New York-Newark-Jersey City triangle paid the third-highest wages among metropolitan areas. Naturally, some of these wages come with a higher cost of living.

You can cross-check these numbers against the AASA’s Superintendents Salary and Benefits Survey and NYSED’s New York State School Administrator Salary Disclosure Data. NYSED’s annual report includes a list of school districts, titles (e.g. superintendent, director, principal, etc.), salaries, and benefits.

Higher Education Salaries in New York

For postsecondary education administrators, the news is equally good. In 2022, New York was the top paying state for higher education leaders based on mean wages. Binghamton was the second highest paying metropolitan area in the country; Syracuse was in the top five; and the NYC area, Buffalo, Albany, and Rochester were in the top 10.

Sites like Indeed and Payscale will provide you with estimates for administrative jobs at specific universities, but we always recommend you reach out to your network to verify the data.

Educational Leadership Job Boards

Well-known career sites are one place to start (e.g. Indeed, HigherEdJobs, SchoolSpring, LinkedIn, etc.). However, we also want to point you toward some NY-specific job boards that may prove helpful, including:

• SAANYS Career Center for school administrators.
• NYSSBA District Vacancies, which lists openings for principals, superintendents, educational leadership positions, and more.
• NYC Department of Education’s Careers section, with jobs for principals, supervisors, CSA directors, and Education Administrators (EAs).
• NYAIS Job Openings for administrators in NY independent schools.
• The NYC Charter Schools Job Board.

Educational Leadership Organizations in New York

Educational Leadership Associations

• Association of Assistant Principals (AAP): AAP represents New York City public school assistant principals who work in schools from Pre-K through to eighth grade.
• Empire State Supervisors and Administrators Association (ESSAA): ESSAA is a professional organization representing public school administrators and supervisors throughout New York State. It provides members with services such as legal representation, government advocacy, and professional development.
• Middle School Principals’ Association NYC (MSPA NYC): MSPA NYC is a member organization representing middle school principals from all NYC Boroughs.
• New York City Elementary School Principals Association (NYCESPA): NYCESPA is an independent member organization that provides advocacy services and professional development programs to NYC elementary school principals.
• New York State Association for Women in Administration (NYSAWA): NYSAWA acts as an advocate for women’s employment rights efforts at the local and state levels of governance. It also provides networking & training opportunities (e.g. NYSAWA Summer Institute).
• New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA): NYSSBA serves more than 675 local school boards and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES), which represent more than 5,200 members—nearly half the elected officials in the state.
• School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS): SAANYS provides legislative and regulatory services, local representation, advocacy, and supporting benefits to over 7,200 public school principals, assistant principals, directors, and coordinators in many of New York’s public schools and BOCES.

Educational Leadership Professional Groups & Unions

• Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES): BOCES provide shared educational programs and services to school districts within the state. There are 37 BOCES in NY and a district superintendent is the CEO of an individual BOCES.
• Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS): CGCS is an organization of the nation’s largest urban school systems, including New York City.
• Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA): CSA is the main union for 6,100 principals, assistant principals, supervisors, and education administrators who work in the New York City public schools and 200 directors and assistant directors who work in city-subsidized Centers for Early Childhood Education (ECE).
• New York State Council of School Superintendents (The Council): The Council is a professional and advocacy organization that serves school superintendents and assistant superintendents throughout New York State.
• New York State Educational Conference Board (ECB): ECB is comprised of 7 member organizations: The Conference of Big 5 School Districts, The Council, New York State PTA, NYSSBA, NYSUT, SAANYS, and ASBO – New York.
• New York State Federation of School Administrators (NYSFSA): NYSFSA is the union for school administrators, professionals, and supervisors in New York State.
• New York State United Teachers (NYSUT): NYSUT is a federation of more 600,000 New York educators and 1,200 local unions. It’s affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA).
• The Conference of Big 5 School Districts: The Conference is a membership organization that represents the city school districts of Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, Yonkers, Mount Vernon, and Utica. It focuses on the challenges of urban education.

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 York

Educational Leadership Conferences

• MSPA NYC Annual Conference: This one-day event for NYC middle school principals takes place in March.
• NYCESPA Annual Convention: The convention is the go-to event for NYC elementary school principals.
• NYSSBA Annual Convention & Expo: This is a large statewide event that attracts 2,000+ education leaders. Attendees discuss the needs, interests, and issues of concern to school board members across New York State.
• SAANYS Annual Conference: This two-day conference and trade show for NY school administrators takes place in the fall.
• The Council Fall Leadership Summit: This three-day event offers keynote addresses by national experts in the fields of leadership, education, and related areas, as well as opportunities for members to share best practices with colleagues. The Council also hosts a Winter Institute and Lobby Day.

Educational Leadership Training

• Educational Leadership Institute (ELI@NYSAWA): ELI provides professional development programs, workshops, and conferences to the PreK-12 academic community (e.g. “Train Up to Move Up” workshops).
• LEAF, Inc. Programs: LEAF is the professional development arm of the New York State Council of School Superintendents (The Council). It offers research-based programs, institutes, and customized professional development services to superintendents and school district leadership team members.
• SAANYS PD Your Way: SAANYS helps organize professional development programs (e.g. administrative team meeting, after-school or full-day workshop, administrative retreat, superintendent’s conference day) for school leaders and/or teachers.