Educational Studies EdD
- Doctoral Degree
- Hybrid
- Loveland Center
- Online
4 Years
Summer Term (July)
$722/Credit
A Mostly Online Doctorate for Education Studies and Leadership
Do you want to open up a world of possibility for innovating and leading education? Our Educational Studies Doctor of Education (EdD) degree is a great choice for working teachers and administrators who want to learn how to lead and study change in education.
The program features an Innovation and Education Reform emphasis. You’ll learn how to incorporate ever-changing technology and knowledge about how students learn.
What Does Mostly Online Mean?
In this hybrid program you learn online for most of the year, and join us for three days each summer at our scenic UNC Loveland Center. You get the freedom of online learning, but still have a chance to meet and network with other leaders and our renowned faculty. See the Course of Study section below for details.
What You’ll Learn
You will study important topics to help you improve education systems. You’ll learn:
- The connection between research, policy and practice in education.
- How to conduct research and use it to help your school or district.
- How to evaluate and improve curriculums.
- Ways to make a real difference in education.
Your Career in Educational Leadership
K-12 Education
This degree focuses on transformative change. It is perfect if you want to lead in non-licensed K-12 roles, or if you already have your Principal or Administrator Licensure and want a doctoral program focused on innovation.
Higher Education and Beyond
This degree prepares you for top jobs in education. Graduates from our program become leaders across the educational landscape, including:
- University faculty and administration
- Consulting and policy work
- State and federal agencies
- Non-profit and private schools
Course of Study
Delivered Mostly Online + Short Summer Visits
This doctoral program begins near the end of the Summer term (late July). The minimal in-person requirements allow you to attend from anywhere, while still giving you the chance to meet your fellow students.
- Fall and Spring terms: complete your courses online. Occasional courses may include synchronous learning sessions where the professor and students meet online at the same time.
- Summer terms: you will have one course delivered in Loveland, Colorado. You will join us for three days each of the first three summers.
To see specific course offerings, visit an example current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 64-credit doctoral degree program. For information about the specific courses in the Innovation and Education Reform emphasis, please contact the Program Coordinator.
Transfer Credit
If you have taken graduate courses that aligns with program courses, you can request transfer credit. Approved transfer credit can reduce the cost of completing this degree. Program faculty will review your transfer credit to confirm that it matches course content and objectives. See the full graduate transfer credit policy for details.
A student who possesses a specialist degree may count a maximum of 21 credits of specialist work in the doctoral program with the approval of the Graduate School and program advisor. Schools may have requirements that exceed the minimums established by the University.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Anna Taylor
Enrollment Counselor
Heng-Yu Ku
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Doctoral degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
- If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
- Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a master’s degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
International Student Eligibility
No student visa: F-1 and J-1 student visas are not available for this program. However, if you are a non-U.S. citizen who will be in the U.S. under another visa category, you may be able to enroll in this program. Before you apply, please check for enrollment or employment restrictions for your visa category.
If you do apply to this program, you will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Application Deadline
- Priority Application Deadline: April 15
- Standard Application Deadline: after the priority application deadline, spots are filled on a first-come, first served basis for qualified applicants. Please contact the Admissions Coach about available space after the deadline.
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- Educational Studies (Ed.D.)
- Start term: Summer Term (July)
View the full program-specific application details in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Apply to This Program
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status