Delta State University

Delta State University appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable Doctorate in Higher Education Online.

Delta State University is a public university located in Cleveland, Mississippi. Currently, there are more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students in attendance. These students come from all 50 states and more than 50 international locations. There are more than 40 majors available at Delta State, and both on-campus and online programs available.

The school was founded by the state of Mississippi in 1924 as a Delta State Teachers College. It consisted of three buildings: a men's dormitory, a women's dormitory, and a hybrid administrative and classroom building. The first president of the college was James Wesley Broom, who served until his death in 1926.

During World War II, the college switched from educating teachers to training civilians to be pilots. More than 200 students from Delta State joined the service during that time, and when the war was over, the enrollment at the school experienced a boom thanks for the GI Bill.

The school changed names to Delta State College in 19555, and in 1963, it was giving full accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The college added graduate programs in 1965, and in 1974, it changed names one more time to Delta State University.

Up until 1967, Delta State University had a racial-based admittance policy. This meant that only Caucasians were able to attend classes. Though Brown v. Board of Education was settled in 1954, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, the university did not end its policy of segregation until 1967. The first African-American student was Shirley Antoinette Washington. Today, Delta State University has a student population that is much more diverse, with about 33% of students listed as African-American.

Today, Delta State University is well known for its nursing, aviation, and music programs, as well as for its education programs, which is what the entire university is based on. This includes the online Doctor of Education in Professional Studies program.

Delta State University Accreditation Details

The Delta State University holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This allows the school to award a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctorate degrees.

The university is also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education for the online Doctor of Education in Professional Studies program.

Delta State University Tuition and Financial Aid

For the 2018-2019 school year, Delta State University tuition is $3,538.00 per semester for full time graduate programs. Students who attend programs part time must pay $393 per credit hour. In addition to this, there are additional fees such as the Campus Improvement Fee, and Student Activity Fee. There are also fees depending on if a student chooses an on-campus meal plan, on-campus housing, or parking.

Financial aid is available for students who qualify. The university offers grants and loans for any student who has a financial need. To determine this, students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Some examples of financial aid grants and loans include Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants. Grants do not have to be repaid by the student.

There are also a number of loans available for students attending Delta State University. These include the following:

• Federal Direct Loans
• Federal Perkins Loans
• Direct Student Loans
• Alternative Loans

Students who get loans, whether those through Delta State University or through alternative means must ensure that they repay the loans over time.

Delta State University students who receive financial aid must meet certain academic standards. These standards are set by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. For any student in one of the graduate programs at Delta State University, including the online Doctor of Education in Professional Studies program, they must maintain a 3.0/4.0 GPA to keep their financial aid package.

The doctorate program at Delta State University is known as one of the most affordable in the country according to educationcorner.com.

Online Degrees Available

The online Doctor of Education in Professional Studies program at Delta State University offers three different specialization options for students. They are Higher Education, Educational Leadership, and Curriculum & Instruction.

Candidates who are interested in applying for this program must meet certain requirements or submit certain documents. These include the following:

• Master's degree or Educational Specialist degree from an accredited school
• At least two years of teaching experience
• Transcripts from graduate programs
• GRE Verbal and Quantitative scores
•  GRE Writing scores
• Portfolio

The dates for application deadlines vary by semester. Students can apply to enter into the program in the fall or spring. The portfolio is due by September 1 for admission in the spring and by February 1 for admission in the fall. Applicants must submit all of their portfolio materials electronically. All of the work must be typed and all sections should have a heading and description.

Each specialization has a different curriculum path, though some classes will overlap, which are referred to as Doctoral Core Courses. Some examples of these courses include:

• Educational Research Design
• Practicum in Higher Education
• Leadership Theory & Application

These core courses add up to 39 credit hours in the doctorate program. However, the track courses include other credits for a total of 102 credit hours to complete the program.

For the Higher Education track, students will take a total of 63 credit hours. Some of the courses that students take on this track include Methods of Educational Research/Statistics, Introduction to Adult Education, and Teaching in Higher Education.

For the Educational Leadership track, students will also take a total of 63 credit hours in that specialization. Some of these courses include Methods of Educational Research/Statistics and Research for Educational Practitioners.

The Curriculum & Instruction track also requires students to complete 63 credit hours for the specialization. Some examples of the courses include Effective Instruction in the Elementary School, Instructional Strategies in Elementary Education, and Methods of Educational Research/Statistics.

Finally, in addition to taking all of the courses, all doctorate candidates must write and present a dissertation to earn their degree. Additionally, students must apply for graduation from Delta State University through the department.