Online Ed.D. Programs with No GRE Requirement

1 New York University

• Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation

Looking for an executive leadership program from a world-class School of Education? Interested in tackling a Problem of Practice in short frame of time? Apply to NYU. Its cohort-based Online Ed.D. in Leadership & Innovation is a high-level program—it’s designed for professionals with 7-10 years of work experience and a master’s degree in education or a related field (3.0 GPA or higher). No GRE is required.

2 University of Southern California

• Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership – K-12 Leadership in Urban School Settings
• Online Ed.D. in Organizational Change and Leadership

Urban education is the name of the game at the USC Rossier School of Education. Its Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership – K-12 Leadership in Urban School Settings and Online Ed.D. in Organizational Change and Leadership are excellent choices for professionals who are interested in areas like equity, diversity, and ethics—check out the research centers. The GRE is optional for both programs.

3 University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign

• Online Ed.D. in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership: Diversity & Equity in Education
• Online Ed.D. in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership: Global Studies in Education
• Online Ed.D. in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership: Human Resource Development
• Online Ed.D. in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership: Learning Design & Leadership

You can choose your own doctoral adventure at UIUC—the 100% Online Ed.D. in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership for professionals in PK-12 and postsecondary settings is available in a wide range of concentrations. You can choose to focus on global issues (e.g. International Education Administration & Leadership ), diversity, HR development, learning design, and more. No GRE is required.

4 Johns Hopkins University

• Online Ed.D. in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education
• Online Ed.D. in Mind, Brain & Teaching
• Online Ed.D. in Urban Leadership

A cohort-based Online Ed.D. with a global outlook. An applied dissertation that tackles a relevant problem of practice in the workplace. A top-ranked School of Education. There’s a lot to love about JHU’s doctoral program for K-16 educational leaders & administrators. Choose from concentrations in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education; Mind, Brain & Teaching; or Urban Leadership. You’ll be strongly encouraged to submit GRE scores.

5 Arizona State University

• Online Ed.D. in Leadership & Innovation: PK-12
• Online Ed.D. in Leadership & Innovation: Higher Education
• Online Ed.D. in Leadership & Innovation: Systems, Professional, and Reimagined Change (SPARC)

ASU’s 100% Online Ed.D. in Leadership & Innovation ticks a whole lot of boxes. It’s relatively affordable—in-state & out-of-state rates are the same. It’s flexible & efficient—courses are only 7.5 weeks. And it’s reputable. The Ed.D. won the CPED Program of the Year Award in 2018 and the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College often achieves a top 20 national ranking from U.S. News & World Report. No GRE is required.

6 Boston College

• Online Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education
• Online Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education: Catholic Higher Education

Another excellent option for mid-careerists! BC’s cohort-based Online Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education with three summer residencies is aimed at candidates with 5-10 years of professional experience in higher education or a higher education adjacent field. The Lynch School is a CPED member with a reputation for excellence and it works hard to create cohorts of experienced national & international students. No GRE is required.

7 Boise State University

• Online Ed.D. in Educational Technology

BSU’s 100% Online Ed.D. in Educational Technology is convenient, well-reviewed, and affordable—in-state & out-of-state students pay the same tuition rates. It’s a great fit for technology leaders—faculty are involved in fascinating research areas, including STEM, immersive experiences, and instructional design. BSU will consider candidates without GRE scores, but applicants with GRE scores in the 33rd percentile or above are preferred.

8 Columbia University

• Ed.D. in Nursing Education (Online)

Are you an RN with an interest in teaching? Columbia’s Online Ed.D. in Nursing Education is specifically designed to prepare nurses for positions as college faculty or other educator roles. It’s packed with research-based coursework and practicums in didactic and clinical practice areas. Some courses require students to take part in preceptor experiences. GRE scores are optional, but RN licensure is required.

9 University of South Carolina – Columbia

• Doctor of Education in Educational Practice and Innovation

At USC Columbia, you have options! The 100% Online Ed.D. in Educational Practice and Innovation is available in a number of career-focused concentrations for PK-12 and higher education professionals, including a track in Education Systems Improvement. It’s a program with a practical bent. Courses are only 8 weeks long and all Ed.D. students incorporate an action research model into their full-time job. No GRE is required.

10 Iowa State University

• Ed.D. in Education

Iowa State’s cohort-based Hybrid Ed.D. in Education is best-suited to students who can arrange to visit the Ames campus for occasional weekend sessions (e.g. once per month). It comes in two tracks—P-12 systems-level leadership and community college leadership—and it’s full of work-focused elements. Field experiences are incorporated into concentration courses and everyone tackles a Dissertation in Practice. No GRE is required.

1 Southeastern University

• Online Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction
• Online Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership

Cost Per Credit: $500 (Ed.D. Tuition)
Minimum Credits: 54
Minimum Program Cost: $27,000

Southeastern offers two highly affordable Online Ed.D. programs—an educational doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction and another in Organizational Leadership. Keep in mind that if you opt for Southeastern, you’ll be choosing a private Christian university that emphasizes a Christian worldview. No GRE is required, but students are expected to visit the campus for two intensives (one week each).

2 Evangel University

• Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Curriculum & Instruction

Cost Per Credit: $600 (Ed.D. Tuition)
Minimum Credits: 50
Minimum Program Cost: $30,000

Another Christian university to rank highly in affordability is Evangel. Its 100% Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Curriculum & Instruction is open to curriculum specialists, school leaders, and university professionals. Plus it’s a state-approved prep program for Missouri superintendent certification. We especially like the fact that it includes an internship and an emphasis on the use of technology as an instructional tool. No GRE is required.

3 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Online Ed.D. in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership (Multiple Concentrations)

Cost Per Credit: $490 (Ed.D. Tuition)
Minimum Credits: 64
Minimum Program Cost: $31,360

If you’d prefer an alternative to Christian schools, check out the 100% Online Ed.D. in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership from this public research university. It’s available in a wide range of concentrations; it’s affordable for in-state and out-of-state students; and it includes a solid chunk of intriguing elective courses. You can truly customize the doctorate to suit your career goals! No GRE is required.

4 Liberty University

• Online Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction
• Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership
• Online Ed.D. in Christian Leadership
• Online Ed.D. in Pastoral Care and Counseling

Cost Per Credit: $595 (Full-Time Online Tuition)
Minimum Credits: 54-60
Minimum Program Cost: $32,130

Liberty is a private Christian university with a faith-based outlook, so it offers a number of 100% Online Ed.D. programs for K-12 educators (e.g. Educational Leadership) and Christian Leaders (e.g. Pastoral Care & Counseling). Liberty’s doctorates are built for convenience—on-campus intensives are optional and courses are only 8 weeks in length. No GRE is required.

5 University of Findlay

• Online Ed.D.

Cost Per Credit: $540 (Ed.D. Tuition)
Minimum Credits: 60
Minimum Program Cost: $32,400

UF’s affordable Online Ed.D. for teachers & administrators comes from a CAEP-accredited College of Education with CPED membership and a solid track record. Almost all of it is online—you’ll only be required to attend a three-day Summer Institute—and it includes a number of useful electives (e.g. Superintendent Internship, Mentoring & Coaching Teachers, etc.). No GRE is required, but candidates should have a minimum MAT score of 400.