Ed.D. Programs in North Carolina

Earning a Doctor of Education Degree in North Carolina

What Kind of North Carolina Ed.D. Programs Are Available?

Public universities in North Carolina offer the most number of Ed.D. programs in the USA. Our directory is packed with Ed.D. programs from schools within the UNC System, including highly regarded academic institutions like UNC Chapel Hill. A number of these universities are also members of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED).

Interested in a faith-based approach? You also have the option to consider programs from private universities like Gardner-Webb and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. We’ve include admissions & tuition links to help you sort through all of your choices.

How Do I Choose a North Carolina Ed.D. Program?

Case Study #1: Aspiring North Carolina Superintendent on a Tight Budget

Let’s say you’re a gifted educational administrator who is looking to move up the ranks into a superintendent position. You’ve started investigating Ed.S. & Ed.D. programs, but you’d like to know more before you invest in another degree.

• Reach out to folks in the North Carolina School Superintendents Association (NCSSA) or attend NCASA’s annual Conference on Educational Leadership before you make any decisions about your future. Current district leaders will have insider advice on which Educational Leadership programs are worth the money (and which ones you should avoid).
• Explore our rankings of the most affordable Ed.D. programs in North Carolina and our directory. Many education doctorates in North Carolina offer superintendent licensure preparation. Some will award you an Ed.S. after you’ve completed core coursework & electives.
• Talk to your employers about funding opportunities. Even if they can’t help with a degree, they may be willing to support your participation in programs like the NCSSA & NCASLD’s Aspiring Superintendents Program or the AASA’s Aspiring Superintendents Academies.

Case Study #2: North Carolina Educator Looking for a Challenge

Ed.D. programs aren’t limited to aspiring superintendents. As a North Carolina teacher or principal, you may be considering studying for a doctorate in order to deepen your practice or explore new ideas.

• Ask yourself why you need a doctorate. Is it to qualify for a significant pay raise? Is it to prepare yourself for consulting & higher education teaching opportunities later in your career? Is it for the bragging rights? These are valid reasons, but remember that you always have the option to earn an Ed.S. for career purposes and then tackle an All But Dissertation (ABD) Completion program later down the line.
• Be very careful about putting yourself in debt. Get in touch with recent Ed.D. alumni and talk to your family before you make a decision. A doctorate is a significant investment of time & money. If you’re willing to study online, check out our rankings of the Best and Cheapest online education doctorates in the country.
• Think about how much you wish to specialize. Our North Carolina program directory contains a number of doctorates in curriculum & instruction, as well as Ed.D. programs in educational leadership with unique focus areas. But we also have an entire section on this website devoted to specialty subjects (e.g. Educational Technology) with directories that contain links to online programs. You will have a lot of choice.

Case Study #3: Higher Education Administrator Ready for Promotion

Let’s say you’re a university administrator who’s planning to apply for high-level leadership positions within and outside of the state. You’ve realized that you need a doctorate to qualify for top jobs and you want an Ed.D. that will impress hiring committees.

• Take the time to investigate the College of Education and its strengths & weaknesses. For example, anyone interested in rural issues and community colleges might wish to consider NC State or ECU. Folks who are grappling with urban challenges might put UNC Charlotte on their shortlist.
• Use our section on Careers & Salaries to learn more about employment landscape for higher education administrators in North Carolina and farther afield. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does a great job of tracking job demand & salary data across metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.
• If you’re an experienced administrator with 7+ years of experience, you may prefer the networking & high-level thinking involved in an executive-style doctorate—we have an entire guide & directory devoted to Executive Ed.D. Programs. A number of these programs are offered online or in a low-residency format.

Top 3 Most Affordable Ed.D. Programs in North Carolina 2026

We researched each Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in our program directory to find you the cheapest doctorates of education in North Carolina. When we ran the numbers, we discovered that UNC System universities offer the best value. Here are a few more insights from this year’s list:

• North Carolina is a Low-Cost State for Ed.D. Students: In-state residents can take advantage of some of the cheapest prices in the country for an education doctorate. Most public universities in North Carolina offer Ed.D. programs that are under $40,000.
• Hybrid is a Big Trend: Many North Carolina universities have yet to fully commit to 100% online learning. Instead, you’re going to find a lot of affordable Ed.D. programs that include campus visits. These visits are often scheduled on the weekends or in the evenings. That means you’ll need to budget for commuting costs.
• Minimum Program Costs Are Estimates: If a program didn’t have a per credit rate, we calculated the total cost based on the program’s recommended plan of study and then took the average for the “per semester” price. However, it’s always best to ask the Ed.D. program coordinator for a sample budget that includes all expenses, including one-off fees. Remember, too, that tuition rates at public schools almost always increase every year. The longer you take to finish, the more expensive it could be.
• Admission Requirements Will Vary: In some cases, North Carolina universities may expect you to have 3-5 years of professional work experience. In other cases, schools may want to see evidence of licensure. For instance, anyone applying to a superintendency Ed.D. program will usually need to have a North Carolina Principal’s License (or be eligible to receive one).

Note: Minimum program costs in our rankings are based on tuition charts for North Carolina residents; out-of-state tuition rates at public universities could be much higher.

Online Doctor of Education Programs in North Carolina

Online Ed.D. Providers in North Carolina

1. Appalachian State University (CAEP-accredited)
2. UNC Chapel Hill (CAEP-accredited)
3. UNC Greensboro (CAEP-accredited)
4. Wingate University

What to Know About North Carolina Online Ed.D. Programs

Most North Carolina universities do not offer 100% online Ed.D. programs. But this could change. During our research, we found that NC schools are increasingly moving toward a hybrid model, with campus classes in the evenings and/or weekends.

So watch this space. As North Carolina schools learn to adapt their formats to suit working professionals, you may see more opportunities to study from a distance.

Note: Our overview of online doctoral programs in education has scores of listings for online Ed.D. programs in other states.

Online Ed.D. Programs from UNC Schools

Appalachian State University has developed a 60-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, a distance learning version of its traditional Ed.D. It’s a cohort-based program that can be taken in an online or hybrid form, and it comes in multiple concentrations (e.g. higher education, educational administration, IT leadership, etc.).

It’s also deeply affordable for North Carolina residents. Better yet, up to 30 hours of the program may be waived for Ed.S. graduates. Just keep in mind that the online version includes synchronous classes two nights per week. Attending the on-campus orientation is also recommended.

Similarly, UNC Chapel Hill’s 54-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership – Organizational Learning and Leadership can be applied to wide range of leadership goals. It’s a 3-year, 100% online doctorate with weekly Zoom classes and an optional in-person immersion experience each spring semester. Applicants must have a minimum of 3 years of management or leadership experience in a professional work setting.

UNC Chapel Hill is more expensive than App State, but you may feel that its reputation with education employers compensates for the cost. The program has been shaped by UNC Chapel Hill’s CPED membership and culminates in a capstone project focused on solving a problem of practice.

Online Ed.D. Programs from North Carolina Private Universities

Alternatively, you could consider a private liberal arts university. Wingate has developed a 63-credit Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for those who aspire to superintendent/central office roles and a 63-credit Online Ed.D. in Higher Education Executive Leadership for college & university administrators. Although both programs contain synchronous online discussions & sessions, there are no campus requirements.

Wingate is more expensive than App State, but it’s still very affordable for North Carolina residents. And it comes with a solid track record of success. Check out the bios of Ed.D. Alumni and reach out to them to learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of the program.

Online Ed.D. Programs in Specialist Topics

UNC Greensboro’s 48-credit Online Ed.D. in Kinesiology is targeted at practicing professionals who have a minimum of three years of professional experience in kinesiology or related fields. The four-year program is cohort-based and includes three on-campus visits. Graduates proceed to jobs as associate deans & assistant professors, program directors, and chairs for athletic training.

Doctoral Education Funding in North Carolina

North Carolina schools offer several ways to finance an Ed.D. degree. Even though Doctor of Education programs are seldom fully funded, students can take advantage of scholarships, assistantships, grants, and financial aid packages.

Appalachian State University

A limited number of doctoral research assistantships are available; they provide employment, but they do not carry a tuition waiver. In the category of Scholarship & Grant Opportunities, App State also offers:

• Reich College of Education graduate scholarships for doctoral students
• Graduate School Research & Travel Award funding
• A Doctoral Student Enrichment Grant for research or travel expenses

East Carolina University

The College of Education (COE) offers a number of general COE scholarships that apply to both master’s and doctoral students (e.g. Dr. James W. Batten Research Fellow Scholarship), as well as specific awards for Ed.D. students in Educational Leadership. In ECU’s Internal Scholarships database, check out the:

• Dianne and Chip Linville Doctoral Fellowship Endowment Fund
• Mack and Margaret Coble Doctoral Fellowship
• Ralph Brimley Enrichment Fund
• Carol Smith Gardner Education Leadership Fellowship

You can also ask the Graduate School about assistantship possibilities and tuition remissions for doctoral students.

Gardner-Webb University

Gardner-Webb’s School of Education has a general section on Financial Aid Resources. Assistantship awards may be available for graduate students on a limited basis.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

For the Ed.D. programs in Community College Leadership and Educational Leadership, start with the College of Education’s excellent section on Financing Graduate Education. Doctoral students are eligible to apply for:

• Provost’s Fellowships
• Graduate Research Assistantships
• Graduate Teaching Assistantships
• Wilcox-Hodnett Doctoral Fellowship
• ELPHD Scholarships & Grants

Plus general graduate scholarships & fellowships and GSA travel/conference awards.

If you’re interested in the Ed.D. in Agricultural and Extension Education, have a look at the Graduate School’s section on Financial Support and the list of graduate scholarships & fellowships.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The School of Education has a great section on Graduate Admissions & Aid. When it comes to internal funding, graduate students are eligible for:

• School of Education Fellowships, Scholarships & Awards
• School of Education Graduate Assistantships
• University Fellowships & Assistantships
• Work-Study Assistantships
• Departmental Assistantships

There are a number of awards open to doctoral students in Educational Leadership and Policy, Leadership, and School Improvement and at least one for folks who are interested in Curriculum & Instruction (i.e. Barbara Holland Chapman and John Franklin Chapman Graduate Fellowship).

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

UNC Charlotte has devoted a section to Funding for Graduate Education. In addition to traditional financial aid sources (e.g. loans), doctoral students are eligible for the:

• Graduate Assistant Support Program (GASP)
• Graduate Fellowships
• Assistantships & Employment

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Thinking about the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership? The School of Education (SOE) has a few SOE scholarships that are open to graduate students, but we suggest you check with the program coordinator to see if doctoral students qualify. Traditional financial aid is open to students who register for at least half-time (4.5 or more credits) per semester. Ed.D. students typically take at least 6 credits per semester.

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Internal funding options for Ed.D. students in the Watson College of Education include the Ed Leadership Student Research Travel Award, as well as general graduate scholarships such as:

• Dr. Ralph W. Brauer Fellowship
• Alumni Association Scholarships
• Jane Logan Lackey Fellowship
• Sylvia and B.D. Schwartz Graduate Fellowship
• Lacy C. and Doris L. Sidbury Fellowship

Department of Educational Leadership staff can also direct you to ideas for external funding (e.g. ACPA General Grant).

Western Carolina University

The Graduate School’s section on Tuition & Funding has details about tuition rates, graduate assistantships, scholarships, and fellowships. In particular, potential Ed.D. students should check out the:

• Invest in Teachers Award, which provides support to educators seeking to advance professionally and positively impact students and their field.
• Morrill Family Fund for Research in Education, which supports research in the improvement of teaching at any educational level.

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 North Carolina

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

Careers for North Carolina educational leaders look healthy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) keeps close tabs on employment & wage data for both kindergarten through secondary education administrators and postsecondary education administrators. When you examine the employment maps, you’ll notice that:

• Compared to the rest of the country, North Carolina has high employment levels of elementary & secondary school education administrators. Not enough to beat massive states like California and Texas, but still very strong.
• Greenville is usually a concentrated hotspot for postsecondary education administrators (think East Carolina University). Outside of the big cities, the Mountain North Carolina non-metropolitan area often has some of the highest employment levels for—and concentration levels of—administrators in the country. This may be due to Appalachian State University, Western Carolina University, and a number of smaller private colleges that live in those counties.

You can break the PreK-12 data down even further by consulting the NC DPI’s section on Reports & Statistics for North Carolina public schools. This contains school report cards, stats on budgets & expenditures, details on the number of administrative personnel employed in each county, and much more.

If you’re preparing for positions in higher education, you may wish to consult the U.S. government’s College Scorecard, which will give you a quick overview of North Carolina colleges & universities in your chosen zip code. According to the NCES, North Carolina State University at Raleigh has the largest number of students in the state.

Educational Leadership Salaries

North Carolina doesn’t do as well on the salary front for educators (but what you give up in money, you may recoup in quality of life). Mean wages for kindergarten through secondary education administrators can be some of the lowest in the country; wages for postsecondary education administrators are more respectable.

You can learn more about NC public school salaries by browsing through the NC DPI’s Salary Guides, which include salary schedules that are determined by the State of North Carolina. (In addition to the state salary, a local supplement may be provided by the school system.) The DPI also posts information on public school educator benefits.

Two other useful resources to consult for ballpark salary figures include:

• The AASA’s Superintendents Salary and Benefits Survey, which is published with a summary of major findings in the AASA’s Research Papers section.
• Payscale’s cumulative data for all holders of the Doctor of Education (EdD) Degree, which allows you to compare salary data by job title (e.g. Elementary School Principal vs. School Director).

Educational Leadership Job Boards

National sites are guaranteed to have postings for North Carolina education jobs (e.g. Indeed, HigherEdJobs, SchoolSpring, LinkedIn, etc.). But we also wanted to highlight a few NC-specific job boards for educational leaders & administrators.

• NCASA hosts a Job Search for aspiring superintendents, principals, directors, etc.
• NCSBA posts North Carolina Superintendent Vacancies and provides links to other State Association Vacancies.
• NCAPCS has a Job Board that lists openings in public charter schools.
• NC Community Colleges posts administrative Job Openings in North Carolina public community colleges (sort by job type).

Educational Leadership Organizations in North Carolina

Educational Leadership Associations

• North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE): NCAE serves as a professional development and advocacy organization for its members. It represents the concerns of members and students and works to advance public education.
• North Carolina Association of Principals and Assistant Principals (NCPAPA): NCPAPA is the state affiliate of the NAESP and NASSP. It’s a core affiliate of NCASA that represents principals and assistant principals.
• North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA): This is the one to bookmark. NCASA represents the interests of central office administrators, principals, assistant principals, and higher education professionals. It provides benefits, hosts conferences and PD events, reports on legislative activity, and more.
• North Carolina Association of School Business Officials (NCASBO): NCASBO represents 800+ North Carolina members who are employed in various areas of school business.
• North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA): NCSBA is a member-driven association that represents local boards of education in North Carolina.
• North Carolina School Superintendents Association (NCSSA): NCSSA is a core affiliate of NCASA; one rate includes membership privileges in both organizations.

Educational Leadership Professional Groups

• American Federation of Professional Educators in North Carolina (AFPENC): AFPENC is a national union affiliate that provides a voice for educators in policy-making, a forum for developing professional relationships, and advocacy for improved learning environments.
• North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD): NCASLD provides school administrator programs that are aligned to research-based NC performance evaluation standards and competencies for highly effective school leadership. It often partners with NCPAPA and NCSSA (see our Training section below).

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 North Carolina

Educational Leadership Conferences

• NCASA Conference on Educational Leadership: This popular three-day conference for school administrators is held in March. NCASA also organizes a School Law & Policy Symposium featuring education attorneys and policy experts.
• NCASBO Annual Conference: This four-day event for school business officials usually occurs in February.
• NCPAPA Annual Conference: NCPAPA’s annual meeting in March often takes place in conjunction with the NCASA Conference on Educational Leadership.
• NCSBA Conferences: NCSBA organizes multiple events throughout the year, including its Annual Conference, district meetings, a Law Conference, a Public Policy Conference, and Summer Leadership Seminars.

Educational Leadership Training

• NCAE Professional Development Catalog: NCAE organizes a variety of workshops and training sessions for administrators. Short sessions are between 2-5 hours. Longer sessions can last two days.
• NCASBO School Business Management Academy: NCASBO’s academy develops future school business leaders through a comprehensive training program in the area of school finance. Certifications are available.
• NCPAPA Professional Development Programs: NCPAPA runs several programs for principals, including Distinguished Leadership in Practice (DLP), a year-long cohort program; an Assistant Principal Accelerator (APA); an Early Career Principals Academy (ECPA); and Future-Ready Leadership (FRL), a year-long cohort program designed for assistant principals.
• NCSSA Professional Development: NCSSA offers a Summer Leadership Retreat and Winter Leadership Conference, as well as a number of programs in partnership with NCASLD, including an Aspiring Superintendents Program, a Digital Leadership Institute for NC Superintendents, and a Next Generation Superintendent Development Program.
• AFT Professional Development Program: This program focuses on more than 50 courses, primarily centered on instructional improvement and student achievement.