<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="22" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> Earn an Ed.D. Online—Lead Change in Your Industry </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Earn Your Doctor of Education Online from Vanderbilt Peabody College </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>Advance your career today. Apply for the upcoming cohort and you could be a student in the online Ed.D. in leadership and learning in organizations this summer. Master’s required. </p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-22" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-22" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://peabodyonline.vanderbilt.edu/requestinfo/index/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://coins2day.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/VU_University_Secondary_RGB_COLOR.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://peabodyonline.vanderbilt.edu/requestinfo/index/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="21" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> A USC Rossier EdD Program – Delivered online </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Study Leadership and Change at USC — Apply Now </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>Earn an EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership online with USC Rossier. No master's degree required.</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-21" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-21" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="https://rossieronline.usc.edu/requestinfo/ocl/">Visit Website</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://coins2day.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USC_University_Informal_Stacked_RGB_COLOR.png?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="https://rossieronline.usc.edu/requestinfo/ocl/">Visit Website</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

<div class="edu-card" data-widget-id="54" data-cy="edu-card"> <div class="edu-card-banner" data-cy="edu-card-banner"> Advertisement </div> <div class="edu-card-container" data-cy="edu-card-container"> <div class="edu-card-content" data-cy="edu-card-content"> <div class="edu-card-title" data-cy="edu-card-title"> <h1 class="edu-card-title-heading" data-cy="edu-card-title-heading"> Hawai‘i Pacific University M.Ed. in Educational Leadership </h1> <p class="edu-card-title-subheading" data-cy="edu-card-title-subheading"> Complete in as few as 12 months </p> </div> <div class="edu-card-content-description" data-cy="edu-card-content-description"> <div class="edu-card-content-description-content"> <p>The online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Hawai‘i Pacific University equips future-focused educators with enhanced leadership skills and the latest instructional technologies to activate transformative change in their schools, communities, and workplaces.</p> </div> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore"> <input type="checkbox" id="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-54" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input" /> <label for="edu-card-content-description-readmore-input-54" class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label"> <span class="edu-card-content-description-readmore-label-arrow"></span> </label> </span> </div> <a class="edu-card-content-button" target="_blank" href="http://onlinedegrees.hpu.edu/requestinfo/med/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-content-caption"> </span> </div> <div class="edu-card-action" data-cy="edu-card-action"> <picture class="edu-card-picture" data-cy="edu-card-picture"> <img src="https://coins2day.com/img-assets/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/HPU-UMT_logo-university_primary_cmyk_rev.jpg?w=250&amp;h=165" class=""> <span class="edu-card-picture-label"> </span> </picture> <div class="edu-card-action-cta" data-cy="edu-card-action-cta"> <a class="edu-card-action-button" target="_blank" href="http://onlinedegrees.hpu.edu/requestinfo/med/">Learn More</a> <span class="edu-card-action-caption"> </span> </div> </div> </div></div><script> function checkWidgets() { document.querySelectorAll('.edu-card-content-description-content').forEach((content) => { const readMoreBtn = content.nextElementSibling; if (!readMoreBtn) { return; } if (content && content.clientHeight === content.scrollHeight) { readMoreBtn.style.display = 'none'; } else { delete readMoreBtn.style.removeProperty('display'); } }) } window.removeEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); window.addEventListener('resize', checkWidgets); checkWidgets();</script>

ad_Education

cat_Other

Low Intent

ptype_Explainer

Rich Griset

<p>For many professional educators, there comes a time when they weigh the benefits of pursuing a <a href="https://coins2day.com/education/leadership/best-online-doctor-education-programs/">doctorate o</a><a href="https://coins2day.com/education/leadership/doctorate/rankings/best-online-doctor-education-programs/">f education (Ed.D.) degree</a>. Often compared and contrasted with a doctorate of philosophy (Ph.D.), an Ed.D. is a terminal degree for people in the field of education. </p><div class="paywall-selector"></div><div class="paywall">



<p>While the degree has useful applications in corporate America as well, many people pursuing an Ed.D. aspire to become an educational or mission-driven leader, teach college, or move into a role as a school principal or school superintendent—and some of these roles earn six figures.</p>



<p><strong>Learn more:</strong> <a href="https://coins2day.com/education/leadership/most-affordable-online-doctorate-in-education-edd-programs/">The most affordable doctorate in education (Ed.D) degree</a></p>



<p>“Our goal is to prepare educators to be better leaders,” says Kimberly M. Bridges, co-coordinator of the Ed.D. in Leadership program and assistant professor at<a href="https://soe.vcu.edu/"> </a>Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Education. “Our grad students might be teachers in the classroom who want to be principals in their schools, or we might have principals who want to advance to higher levels in district administration.”</p>



<p>Is an Ed.D. degree right for you? Read on to find out.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-practical-focus-of-an-ed-d-may-be-preferable-to-a-ph-d">Why the ‘practical focus’ of an Ed.D. may be preferable to a Ph.D.</h2>



<p><a href="https://coins2day.com/education/business/articles/2022/08/05/why-i-earned-an-ed-d-instead-of-a-ph-d-in-education/">Ed.D. and Ph.D. degrees</a> may seem similar, but they typically help graduates to achieve different career goals. Generally, an Ed.D. program is designed for students who wish to pursue leadership roles in education, while a Ph.D. program is aimed more at the academic study of the subject.</p>



<p>“When we talk about research, we don’t talk about it theoretically,” explains Laila Y. Sanguras, graduate program director of the Ed.D.-Learning and Organizational Change program at Baylor University’s School of Education. “It’s all about using it in practice and applying it in their professional fields in order to create change.”</p>



<p>As a practice-oriented degree, an Ed.D. is different than a traditional Ph.D., Bridges notes. “The Ed.D. is distinguished with that practical focus.”</p>



<p>Meanwhile, Ph.D. degree programs typically attract a different cohort, with students who desire a “deep research and varied background,” Bridges says, adding that some Ph.D. candidates are practitioners or current leaders within K-12 or higher education. “The Ph.D. has been more for folks that are looking to become higher education faculty members, higher education leaders.” </p>



<p>Even though the two types of degrees generally prepare graduates for different <a href="https://coins2day.com/education/business/articles/2022/08/04/how-an-ed-d-in-leadership-boosted-the-careers-of-3-leaders/">career paths</a>, they continue to draw comparisons. </p>



<p>“Especially in the higher education world, there’s this persistent myth of ‘the Ed.D. versus the Ph.D.,’ as if one has more value than the other,” Bridges says. “Really, it’s just two different degrees.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-skills-do-you-gain-with-an-ed-d">What skills do you gain with an Ed.D.?</h2>



<p>Most importantly, an Ed.D. imparts <a href="https://coins2day.com/education/business/articles/2022/08/09/who-should-get-an-ed-d-in-organizational-leadership/">leadership skills</a>, Bridges says. This can include the theory and applications of leadership, considering multiple perspectives, and making decisions that consider equity and sustainable change. By pursuing this degree, students will also learn how to gather data and learn what interventions can improve a school system or organization.</p>



<p>A master’s degree is required to attend most Ed.D. programs. Generally, Bridges says the degree attracts a wide range of degree seekers, but students have often worked in the field of education for some time.</p>



<p>“Our Ed.D. students are often early-ish to mid-career,” Bridges says. They definitely are working full-time. Ours is a part-time<strong> </strong>program, so they are students in every non-working hour that we can squeeze out of them.”</p>



<p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sanguras says that while most students in her program come from <a href="https://coins2day.com/education/business/articles/2022/08/04/what-can-i-do-besides-teach-with-an-ed-d-and-how-much-can-i-make/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">educational backgrounds</a>, 30% are from other fields, including people who are employed by corporations and the military and who work in healthcare and human resources.</span></p>



<p>“Everything that they learn is [applicable] to their daily professional work,” Sanguras says. “The students who come into our program are already leaders in their field. They have very big and incredible dreams and goals, and so we want this degree to help propel them forward so they can reach those.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-career-prospects-and-salary-outcomes-are-gained-with-an-ed-d">What career prospects and salary outcomes are gained with an Ed.D.?</h2>



<p>Earning an Ed.D. can increase a person’s impact, scale, and scope of reach, according to Bridges. And these attributes have a positive impact on employment prospects. “That can mean a wide variety of titles. It might mean that they have greater flexibility in making a career change,” Bridges says.</p>



<p>There are many<a href="https://coins2day.com/education/business/articles/2022/08/04/what-can-i-do-besides-teach-with-an-ed-d-and-how-much-can-i-make/"> job prospects for Ed.D. holders</a>, including roles that average six figures. School superintendents, for example, can earn median salaries anywhere from $106,000 to $300,934 per year, <a href="https://www.aasa.org/docs/default-source/resources/reports/2022-23-superintendent-salary-benefits-study-abridged-version.pdf?sfvrsn=3c42defe_5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to the School Superintendents Association</a>. Someone who is the coordinator of a program might be able to become its director with an Ed.D., or a director could become a dean. Similarly, a principal could move into the central administration of their school system. Additionally, Sanguras says that students who obtain an Ed.D. may start foundations or organizations, benefiting from the credibility gained from the degree.</p>



<p>While earning an Ed.D. can increase someone’s salary prospects, money isn’t the reward for most educators. “They tend to think of this idea of value beyond that narrow focus on salary,” Bridges says. “The value for them is in increasing their impact.</p>



<p>Of students who graduated from VCU with an Ed.D. between May 2019 and Dec. 2021, those who responded to a survey reported an average salary of $86,073; 86% of respondents were employed at the time of the survey.</p>



<p>At VCU, Bridges says the Ed.D. program is growing rapidly, with classes now 50% larger than they were in May 2021. “For us, it’s a really exciting time because we are expanding, and we seem to be reaching more people.”</p>



<div class="wp-block-group pro-tip-box-widget"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading pro-tip-box-heading">Read more</h3>



<li>We ranked the <a href="https://coins2day.com/education/leadership/best-online-doctor-education-programs/">best Ed.D. in organizational leadership programs</a> to help you find the school that best suits your individual needs.</li>
<li>If you’re looking for an online Ed.D. program at a competitive price, check out our list of the <a href="https://coins2day.com/education/leadership/most-affordable-online-doctorate-in-education-edd-programs/">most affordable online doctorate in education Ed.D. programs</a>.</li>
<li>This list helps those looking for <a href="https://coins2day.com/education/business/best-mba-programs/no-gmat-gre-required/">MBA program options that do not require submission of test scores</a> to apply.</li>
<li>Interested in earning your MBA online? Here’s our ranking of the <a href="https://coins2day.com/education/business/best-online-mba-programs/">best online MBA programs</a>.</li>
<li>To help you pick the program that’s the best fit for you, we made this list of the <a href="https://coins2day.com/education/business/best-executive-mba-programs/">best executive MBA programs</a>.</li>
</div></div>
</div>

Many people pursue an Ed.D. degree to become a leader in education—roles that can earn six-figures.

Is an Ed.D. degree worth it?

F-Search

Education

Education Articles

Jasmine Suarez

Business

Fortune earns a commission for purchases made from affiliate partners via some links on our site; other links are not affiliate partner links. <a href='/affiliate-disclosure/'>Click here</a> to read the full Fortune advertiser disclosure and how we earn commissions.

We have independently evaluated the products and services below. We may earn affiliate revenue from links in the content.

Fortune Editors

Fortune Education is designed to be your guide to navigating this new, rich and somewhat overwhelming world of education. Our team of experienced editors is committed to scouring the universe of online offerings in order to rank, rate, provide comparisons and recommend the right solutions for you and your career.

Fortune Education

Uncategorized

homepage

articles

Articles Hub

By Region

By State

By Cost

Career Hub

Health and Wellness

Tech

EDUCATION

EDUCATION ARTICLES

IS AN ED.D. DEGREE WORTH IT?

Is an Ed.D. degree worth it? | Fortune Education

Preston Fore

2024 real estate school review: AceableAgent

https://coins2day.com/education/articles/real-estate-school-review-aceableagent/?itm_source=parsely-api

10 free data analytics courses you can take online

https://coins2day.com/education/articles/free-data-analytics-courses/?itm_source=parsely-api

Brad Haft

Best nutritionist certifications for 2024

https://coins2day.com/education/articles/best-nutritionist-certifications/?itm_source=parsely-api

Brit Morse

A law associate making $300,000 a year at Skadden Arps quit over the firm’s deal with Donald Trump

/article/rachel-cohen-making-300k-year-law-associate-skadden-arps-quit-protest-firms-deal-trump/

Get ready to pay more than $2,000 for a new iPhone: Experts say Trump’s 125% tariff on China is a ‘complete disaster for Apple’ akin to ‘Armageddon’

/2025/04/10/apple-iphone-16-price-complete-disaster-china-trump-tariffs/

It’s about to get a lot harder for job seekers as tariffs are set to make the hiring landscape even more daunting

/2025/04/07/trump-tariffs-labor-market-more-challenging-job-seekers-economists-say/

This company does peer performance reviews—And then lets everyone read each other’s evaluations

/2025/03/24/performance-review-process-company-allows-all-workers-read-garner-health-workplace-culture/

2024 health coach certification review: Catalyst Coaching Institute

/education/articles/health-coach-certification-review-catalyst-coaching-institute/

A guide to a nurse’s salary: Broken down by all 50 states and industry type

/education/careers/nurse-salary/

2024 health coach certification review: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

/education/articles/health-coach-certification-review-institute-for-integrative-nutrition/

10 high-paying public health jobs right now

/education/careers/public-health-jobs/

Whether you’ve just completed your undergraduate degree or you are a professional with years of experience, Fortune is here to guide you on the next step of your educational journey.

Is an Ed.D. degree worth it?

About the Contributors

Top Articles

2024 real estate school review: AceableAgent

10 free data analytics courses you can take online

Best nutritionist certifications for 2024

Hawai‘i Pacific University M.Ed. in Educational Leadership