Ed.D. Programs in Virginia

Online Ed.D. Programs in Virginia

Most online Ed.D. programs at Virginia public universities are distance learning versions of the school’s on-campus doctorate, so they’ve been tried and tested. Online doctorate of education options at private Christian universities in Virginia tend to be made for working professionals. They may not have the same name recognition as a prestigious public university, but they are extremely flexible. The following universities offer online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) programs in Virginia:

1. College of William & Mary (CAEP-accredited)
2. Liberty University (CAEP-accredited)
3. Radford University (CAEP-accredited)
4. Regent University (CAEP-accredited)
5. University of Virginia (CAEP-accredited)
6. Virginia Commonwealth University (CAEP-accredited)
7. Virginia Tech (CAEP-accredited)

Public Virginia Universities

Education Leadership

VCU’s 48-credit Online Ed.D. in Leadership is offered by its highly regarded College of Education (COE) and informed by the CPED initiative. It’s a cohort-based doctorate with a close learning community, a group-based capstone that focuses on problems of practice, and a mandatory two-day, on-site residency at the beginning of the program. It only takes three years to complete and credits aren’t too cumbersome. Plus in-state residents get a great tuition deal.

Looking for flexibility? Radford University’s 63-credit, cohort-based Online Doctor of Education is a part-time, 100% online program made up of seven-week courses. It can be completed in three years. Students who are interested in “on-the-ground” study can elect to enroll in up to 9 credit hours of internships and attend an optional in-person retreat each year on the campus. Radford is part of the CPED initiative and tuition rates are very reasonable.

Another option for PK-12 leaders is Virginia Tech’s cohort-based Online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. This is available in an online format with synchronous & asynchronous courses or a hybrid model with some classes at Virginia Tech extension sites. ~30% of division superintendents in Virginia are graduates of Virginia Tech’s Educational Leadership programs.

The College of William and Mary’s Executive Ed.D. in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership is available in four career-focused concentrations. The concentrations in Gifted, K-12, and Higher Education Administration feature four campus weekends per fall & spring semester and two-week summer residencies. However, the concentration in International School Leadership is 100% online!

Curriculum & Instruction

UVA’s cohort-based, 72-credit Online Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction is full of quality markers, including field studies, a practical portfolio, mentor supervision, and the chance to choose an area of emphasis. What’s more, you can study part-time or full-time. The 72-credit number is a little misleading—up to 24 credits from a current master’s degree may be applied toward the Ed.D. The affordable per credit tuition rate is the same for in-state and out-of-state students.

Private Virginia Universities

Liberty offers a raft of online Ed.D. programs, including a standard Online Doctor of Education in multiple educational leadership or curriculum & instruction specialties, an Online Ed.D. in Christian Leadership – Ministry Leadership, an Online Ed.D. in Community Care and Counseling in three specializations, and even an Online JD/Doctor of Education dual degree program. All of Liberty’s programs are 100% online, with eight-week courses and optional on-campus intensives. All of them accept credit transfers. And all of them tend to be informed by a Christian worldview. Per credit tuition rates are reasonable and Liberty offers some outstanding discounts.

Regent University has so many Online Ed.D. Programs that we don’t have room to list them all. Like Liberty, Regent offers convenience, with eight-week course sessions. Ed.S. graduates can be admitted with advanced standing. And the K-12 School Leadership doctorate will prepare graduates for Administration and Supervision Pre-K-12 endorsement. Regent’s offerings are more expensive than Liberty University. However, Regent allows you to take the Ed.S. first at the lower tuition rate and then apply those credits to the Ed.D. In addition, military and veterans receive a hefty discount.

Note: Our overview of online Doctor of Education programs contains a complete list of online Ed.D. degrees offered in every state and our list of the best online Ed.D. programs.

No Dissertation Ed.D. Programs in Virginia

Members of the CPED initiative prioritize collaborative work and practical application, so you won’t be surprised to hear that VCU’s Ed.D. in Leadership (on-campus or online) features a client-based capstone project. You’ll interpret data, develop findings & recommendations, write a client document, and present your findings.

UVA’s Online Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction, Ed.D. in Higher Education, and Ed.D. in Administration & Supervision contain a research-based capstone, which looks very much like a dissertation in practice. In other words, you’ll be able to tackle a problem of importance to practitioners. In order to graduate, UVA will also expect you to develop solutions, make recommendations, and communicate your findings to the appropriate audiences.

Students who enroll in Liberty University’s Online Doctor of Education are also expected to complete a final capstone that addresses a problem of practice. This is an applied research project that’s conducted at an appropriate education site. Many Ed.D. students end up using their own school or district as a site.

Doctoral Education Funding in Virginia

A number of Virginia universities & colleges have stepped up to the plate to offer internal fellowships, scholarships, tuition breaks, and institutional aid to doctoral students. Large schools such as UVA often have more funding than small schools, but be sure to check out the discounts available at Liberty and Regent. You’ll probably need to supplement these sources with external aid (e.g. federal & private loans). The Office of Financial Aid can provide advice on this matter.

College of William and Mary

William & Mary offers an Executive Ed.D., so it’s questionable whether the School of Education’s Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership Awards will apply. However, there a number of doctoral awards available, including the Martha L. Muguira Fellowship for Hispanic or Latino women. Ask the program coordinator about your options. The School also has a general section on Financial Aid, Scholarships, Assistantships.

Liberty University

Liberty University Online (LUO) has a section on Scholarship Opportunities (internal & external), with detailed info about LUO scholarships & discounts. There have been lots of awards in recent years—check to make sure all offers are still current. When it comes to discounts:

• Military receive a 50% discount or more on graduate tuition.
• First Responders receive a 25% tuition discount.
• Canadians taking Liberty University Online courses receive a 15% discount.
• Students who are affiliated with eligible companies or organizations receive a 15% tuition discount.
• Word of Life employees receive a 50% discount on tuition for undergraduate and graduate programs.

LUO also offers a payment plan.

Regent University

Regent’s section on Institutional Aid provides information on:

• School of Education Financial Aid and the Selig Fellowship for Ed.S. and doctoral students who are willing to reside in Virginia Beach.
• Regent University Donor Funded Scholarships—Christian leaders in the regions of eastern and southeast Asia should apply for the Clarence L. Hulford Scholarship.
• Church Matching Grant Program
• Corporate Partner Tuition Discounts for employees of certain companies and organizations (e.g. City of Virginia Beach).

Military & veterans can have a look at the section on Military Admissions & Aid. Active duty, reservists, veterans, and others receive a 25% discount on doctoral programs; spouses & dependents receive a 15% discount.

Shenandoah University

Shenandoah has created a section on Financial Aid for Incoming Graduate and Doctoral Students, with details on loans, the Cost of Attendance, Graduate Scholarships & Tuition Discounts, and Graduate Assistantships.

University of Virginia

Visit the UVA School of Education and Human Development’s section on Financial Aid for Doctoral Students for details on funding avenues. And be sure to apply for any relevant Fellowships, Scholarships & Awards—there are plenty of opportunities for doctoral students. The School also offers UVA Employee Funding. However, students enrolled in doctoral programs are not eligible for the PreK-12 educator tuition rate.

Virginia Commonwealth University

The School of Education (SOE) has a comprehensive section devoted to Financial Aid, which includes details on graduate assistantships for doctoral students and student employment for graduate students. Check with the program coordinator to see if Ed.D students are eligible for SOE graduate & doctoral scholarships. VCU employees can also examine the terms of the VCU Employee Tuition Benefit.

Virginia State University

VSU has some general advice on Financial Assistance for Graduates and the College of Graduate Studies has details on Graduate Assistantships, but we didn’t find a lot beyond those pages. When in doubt, talk to the program coordinator about award possibilities.

Virginia Tech

Start with the School of Education’s helpful section on Scholarships , which lists graduate program-specific scholarships in education. You can also use this section to find info on:

• College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Graduate Scholarships
• Graduate School Fellowships and Scholarships
• Types of Aid for Graduate Students
• In-State Tuition Waivers

In particular, elementary education professionals should take a look at the Carol A. Brown Memorial Scholarship for current students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. You can also check with the Bursar’s Office or program coordinator to see if Ed.D. students are eligible for the Reduced Tuition for K-12 Teachers in VA benefit.

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 Virginia

Educational Leadership Career Outlook

The government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks employment & salary data for elementary & secondary school education administrators and postsecondary education administrators in every state. If you’d like a glimpse into your employment future, the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) issues Long and Short-Term Virginia Occupational Projections in the same categories as the BLS (e.g. Education Administrators, Postsecondary).

• Generally speaking, Virginia employs a substantial number of elementary & secondary school education administrators. Thanks to its strategic location, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan area has some of highest employment levels of this category in the country. We also want to mention that the VDOE issues statistics & reports on public schools in Virginia, including School Quality Profiles and the Superintendent’s Annual Report. This will give you a microscopic view of your potential workplace.
• Employment levels for Virginia postsecondary education administrators are also solid. Intriguingly, the Harrisonburg VA metropolitan area often has a dense concentration of jobs, possibly thanks to James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite University, and Bridgewater College. You can view the entire higher education landscape by visiting the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and its section on Research & Statistics.

Educational Leadership Salaries

You’ll find annual mean wages for education administrators listed in BLS’s section on State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Virginia.

• Compared to the rest of the nation, salaries for Virginia elementary & secondary school education administrators are healthy. You can find exact numbers in the VDOE’s section on Education Workforce Data & Reports, which provides links to Teacher Salary Reports. These annual reports include principal and assistant principal salaries, which are listed by public school.
• It’s a similar wage story for Virginia postsecondary education administrators: good, if not outstanding. The real hotspot for postsecondary wages in Virginia is the Richmond VA metropolitan area, home to Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia State University.

Educational Leadership Job Boards

Regular job sites will advertise openings for educational leadership positions in Virginia (e.g. LinkedIn, HigherEdJobs, SchoolSpring, Indeed, etc.). Here are a few more state-specific job sites that may prove more helpful:

• TeachVirginia lists Employment Opportunities for Virginia administrators, including principals, directors, deans, superintendents, and more.
• VAESP posts Job Opportunities for Virginia principals.
• VASSP posts Job Openings for middle & high school principals, superintendents, directors, and more.
• VASBO’s Career Center contains opportunities for Virginia school business officials.
• The Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) maintains a Career Center with job listings.
• In its Careers section, the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) lists job openings in community colleges.

Educational Leadership Organizations in Virginia

Educational Leadership Associations

• Virginia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (VACRAO): VACRAO supports registrars, admission officers, and records administrators in Virginia colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education.
• Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals (VAESP): VAESP is a professional organization serving elementary & middle school principals and other education leaders.
• Virginia Association of School Business Officials (VASBO): VASBO is a statewide membership organization in Virginia for school business officials.
• Virginia Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (VASCD): VASCD is a membership organization dedicated to advancing excellence in Virginia’s schools. It’s a state affiliate of the ASCD. Members include teachers, superintendents, university professors, building leaders, teacher education students, and central office leaders.
• Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrations (VASFAA): VASFAA is an organization composed of financial aid professionals from all sectors of postsecondary education in Virginia.
• Virginia Association of School Personnel Administrators (VASPA): VASPA serves as the statewide hub for Virginia’s K-12 Human Resources professionals.
• Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS): VASS is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to the mission of providing leadership and advocacy for public education in Virginia.
• Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP): VASSP is the seventh largest school administrators’ organization in the NASSP state affiliation network.
• Virginia Education Association (VEA): VEA is the largest organization of professional educators in Virginia. It has 50,000+ members who are involved in public schools. It’s a state affiliate of the NEA.
• Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA): VSBA is a voluntary, non-partisan organization of Virginia school boards. It often works closely with superintendents.
• Virginia School Counselor Association (VSCA): VSCA promotes excellence in the profession of school counseling. It provides member support through professional development, advocacy, leadership, accountability, and collaboration.

Educational Leadership Professional Groups

• Virginia Foundation for Educational Leadership (VFEL): VFEL is a non-profit organization that was created to link all education levels—preschool, elementary, middle, high school, and higher education—through a seamless system of leadership learning.
• Women Education Leaders in Virginia (WELV): WELV is a non-profit organization that supports women members in all areas of education in Virginia.

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 Virginia

Educational Leadership Conferences

• VAESP Annual Conference: Held in June, this three-day event for elementary & middle school educational leaders includes breakout session, keynotes, awards, and more.
• VASBO Conferences: VASBO hosts three networking & professional development events: a Fall Conference in November, a Winter Conference in January, and a Spring Conference in May.
• VASCD Annual Conference: This event in December attracts educators and educational leaders who are interested in issues surrounding learning, curriculum development, and school improvement.
• VASPA Conferences: VASPA hosts two professional development conferences for HR professionals and K-12 educational leaders each year: a Fall Conference in November and a Spring Conference in late April/early May. Its Educator Career Fairs are held concurrently.
• VASS Annual Fall Conference: VASS’s annual event for superintendents and district leaders typically occurs in late October.
• VASS-VASBO Annual Winter Conference: VASS also co-hosts a three-day event with Virginia school business officials in January.
• VASSP-VDOE-VFEL Annual Summer Conference: This four-day event for middle & high school principals and district leaders occurs in late June.
• VSBA Annual Convention: VSBA’s flagship event in November brings together 1000+ school board members, superintendents, and school division staff from across Virginia.
• WELV Annual Conference: WELV’s flagship event for women education leaders usually takes place over two days in March.

Educational Leadership Training

• VASS Professional Development: In addition to conferences, VASS organizes a range of workshops for superintendents and district leaders. Superintendents can also take advantage of the VASS Executive Coaching Service, the VASS/VA Tech Aspiring Superintendents Program, the VASS Educational Services Review Program, and more.
• VASSP-VFEL Professional Program Series: Working with VDOE and VFEL, VASSP provides customized training programs for individual schools and school divisions.
• VFEL Professional Development Services: VFEL’s programs are intended to help school leaders strengthen their knowledge and abilities. Services include Mentoring & Coaching, the NISL Executive Development Program, Diagnostic Reviews & Consultations, short Law Updates Sessions, and more.