10 Most Affordable Doctorate in Educational Administration Online

Publicly traded for $4.2 million revenue in 2017, Aspen University is a private, for-profit DEAC-accredited institution celebrating its 57th anniversary since opening as the International Academy. Authorized by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, the Aspen Group Inc. uses Brightspace D2L to instruct 3,600 students worldwide from the "Mile High City." Given 4.6 stars on Facebook, Aspen University is currently ranked 30th by OnlineDegreeReviews.org. Aspen was also named America's 137th most focused teacher preparation school by College Factual and Colorado's third cheapest university on Best Value Schools.

Post-master's candidates with 3.0 GPAs or better could pay just $375 monthly to begin Aspen's Doctor of Education in Leadership and Learning K12 Educational Leadership track. Directed by Dr. Kevin Thrasher, the School of Education focuses the EdD education administration online for ethical, transformational leadership in public or private districts. The 60-credit, 20-course curriculum actively discusses topics like faculty development and educational psychology online in eight-week modules. Attention is given to technology integration strategies key for 21st-century program success. After two years full-time, graduates research, write, and orally defend dissertations.

Acquired by Strategic Education Inc. for $1.9 billion in October 2017, Capella University is a for-profit, virtual learning institute established in 1993 as the Graduate School of America. Based in the Twin Cities' South Sixth skyscraper, Capella offers more than 2,100 online courses with 1:1 engagement for more than 37,000 adult learners. Awarded the 2010 CHEA Award for Outstanding Student Learning Outcomes, the regionally accredited online giant is ranked 87th for location diversity by College Factual. Capella University was applauded for America's 39th best distance education on OnlineDegreeReviews.org too.

Following Capella's GuidedPath learning format each 10-week quarter, Capella offers both PhD in Education and Doctor of Education (EdD) leadership programs in its School of Education, led by Dean Dr. Amy Smith. The 11-course, 63-credit, online educational administration EdD program prepares teachers to coordinate schooling in inclusive, collaborative communities. Professionally-aligned courses like organizational dynamics end with a scholarly capstone. The 92-credit Online PhD in Educational Administration includes a dissertation instead.

Established as Mossy Creek Missionary Baptist Seminary in 1851, Carson-Newman University is a private, conservative Christian liberal arts school devoted to "Truth, Beauty, and Goodness." Enrolling 2,500 Eagles, the CCCU member holds a $49 million endowment to teach online and atop its 200-acre on Overlook Avenue in Jefferson City. The U.S. News World Report labeled CNU the South's 66th top college and 26th best value. Carson-Newman University, a "College of Distinction," was also declared the 365th best graduate education school by Niche.

Online courses begin every eight weeks for Carson-Newman's Doctor of Education w/ Administrative Leadership Concentration in the CAEP-accredited Teacher Education Program. Mandating 3+ years of teaching in Tennessee PreK-12 schools, the cheap online educational administration EdD is chaired by Dr. Kim Hawkins. Monthly payment plans cost as little as $156 while studying financial planning, spiritual leadership, and quantitative analysis. The 57-credit, faith-focused program builds state-required licensure portfolios and dissertation papers. Another three-year CNU doctorate online is the Doctor of Education w/ Curriculum and Instruction Concentration.

Planned by Dr. Victor Behnken in 1955, Concordia University-Irvine is a private, nonprofit Christ-centered institution owned by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, America's second-largest faith system. Endowed for $230 million, CUI extends beyond its 70-acre campus in Forbes' 87th best metropolitan for careers to serve 4,046 Eagles online. Labeled "fast-growing" by The Chronicle of Higher Education, Concordia University-Irvine is ranked America's 164th best religious college on Niche. CUI was crowned the 41st top Western school with the 23rd most vet-friendly education by The U.S. News World Report.

Admitting cohorts of 7-9 teachers with valid California credentials, Concordia's CAEP-accredited School of Education is directed by Dr. Deborah Mercier to deliver six graduate degrees, including the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership. Taking a constructivist approach, the 46-credit, post-master's program has a focused 36-month pathway to completion. Courses blend real-time online learning with residencies in Irvine one Saturday per semester. Senior faculty then mentor CUI candidates individually to complete practice-oriented dissertations. Annual trips to Washington, DC or the People's Republic of China can even be supplemented.

Awarded over $50 million for research yearly, including in the Center for Community College Leadership, East Tennessee State University is a public, RU/H doctoral institute opened for K-12 teacher training in 1911. Thirty minutes from the Appalachian Trail, ETSU's 340-acre campus in Johnson City serves 14,334 Buccaneers face-to-face and online primarily on D2L. Included on the Princeton Review's "Best Southeastern" list, ETSU is ranked 252nd among U.S. public colleges by Forbes magazine. Washington Monthly also crowned East Tennessee State University the South's 145th best buck.

Headquartered in Warf-Pickel Hall, the CAEP-accredited Claudius G. Clemmer College of Education lets teachers with master's or specialist degrees complete the Educational Leadership Doctor of Education online. Coordinated by Dr. Bethany Flora, the EdD education administration online has three concentrations: School Leadership, Classroom Leadership, or Postsecondary and Private Sector Leadership for administrative endorsements. The 42-66 credit eLearning curriculum schedules asynchronous meetings on Adobe Connect for courses like creating school cultures. ETSU cohorts need 10 approved residency activities, 150+ internship hours, qualifying exam scores, and dissertation research to graduate.

Linked to 51,063 LinkedIn alumni, including Drs. Lou Anna K. Simon and Robert Jerry, Indiana State University is a public, service-oriented teacher's college founded in 1865. Beyond its 435-acre campus surrounding Fairbanks Hall in Terre Haute, the Missouri Valley Conference member offers its 2,243 post-grad Sycamores digital courses on Blackboard Learn. The U.S. News World Report ranked ISU among America's top 300 universities with the 113rd top online graduate education. Washington Monthly also named Indiana State University the 71st best institution for research and faculty resources.

Known for its Indiana Principal Leadership Institute, the CAEP-accredited Bayh College of Education conferred 234 post-grad degrees, including the Educational Administration PhD, in 2016. Chaired by Dr. Mary Howard-Hamilton, the affordable online doctorate trains diverse teachers for leadership functions in two tracks: School Administration or Higher Education Administration. Enrolling each Fall, the 63-credit curriculum immerses master's transfers in problem-based learning online with just three Friday/Saturday seminars in Terre Haute. Courses like modern educational thought integrate two semester-long internships before the dissertation.

Granted Carnegie's Level II doctoral research classification, Texas M University-Commerce is a Wall Street Journal "Best Buy" founded by William Leonidas Mayo for teachers in 1889. Endowed for $20 million, the publicly funded Lone Star Conference member attracted 12,385 Lions to its 1,926 acres in Hunt County and online classroom. Chosen for the 2016 THECB Star Award, Texas M-Commerce is ranked fifth for community service by Washington Monthly. TAMUC also stands as America's 253rd top university on Forbes and 361st most selective college on Niche.

Chaired by Dr. Arthur J. Borgemenke, TAMUC's Doctor of Education in Educational Administration competitively admits two online cohorts after the November 1st and July 1st deadlines. Reaffirmed by the CAEP in 2017, the College of Education Human Services has a K-12 public school leadership emphasis for its online EdD in education administration. The 60-credit, post-master's doctorate requires GPAs above 3.3 within 24/7 online courses from teacher observation to district finance and facility management. Before the dissertation, candidates could add the Texas Superintendent Certification, attend the Meadows Principal Improvement Series, and join Phi Delta Kappa.

Accredited by the WASC and Better Business Bureau since 1998, Trident University International is a "Military Friendly" incorporated, for-profit research institution with a 17:1 student-professor ratio. Headquartered in California's Orange County by Summit Partners, Trident belongs to the Touro University system to help 6,197 students "Aspire, Believe, and Achieve." Holding a 73 percent recommendation rate on GradReports.com, Trident is ranked eighth by College Values Online. Trident University International was also positioned 153rd for location diversity on College Factual and 10th for nontraditional adult teaching by Forbes.

Trident's 100 percent Online College of Education created the non-licensure Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership to develop innovative scholar-practitioners for maintaining positive learning cultures. Headed by Dr. Heidi Gilligan, the 60-credit program takes 36 months on average for post-master's professional competency. After core courses like strategic planning, candidates choose from two concentrations: PK-12 or Higher Education. The Doctoral Positioning System (DPS) lets post-grads check off tasks, compile ePortfolios, and finish the 800 Dissertation Course. Trident Learning Community members could also pursue the PhD in Educational Leadership online.

First chartered as Lowell Normal School in 1894, the University of Massachusetts-Lowell has 85 percent retention as the Merrimack Valley's largest public, state-funded research centers. Endowed for $82.4 million, UML occupies a 150-acre campus in Middlesex County to inspire 18,058 River Hawks face-to-face and online via Blackboard Learn. Called Business Insider's "Most Underrated College" in 2013, UMass-Lowell is declared the 156th best university by the U.S. News World Report. The University of Massachusetts-Lowell was also recognized for America's 66th best 20-year ROI of $568,000 on PayScale.

Belonging to The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED), the College of Education headed by Dr. Eleanor Abrams confers its Doctor of Education in Leadership in Schooling online. Open for admission until August 15th or March 31st annually, the education administration EdD online includes just one week-long residency in Lowell. Offering an optional STEM Education emphasis, the three-year, CAEP-accredited curriculum trains online cohorts to administer successful K-12 districts. Master's grads become effective scholar-practitioners by completing 11 online courses like strategic community partnering and a nine-credit dissertation.

Graduating successful alumni like Bert T. Combs and Dr. Betty Siegel since 1913, the University of the Cumberlands is a private, nonprofit liberal arts school of the Kentucky Baptist Convention that's making "Life More Abundant." Serving 6,031 Patriots, 48 percent of whom are first-generation, the Cumberlands is endowed for $73.3 million atop a 150-acre campus north of Knoxville. Granted SACS Level V accreditation, UC is congratulated for the 92nd best online graduate education by the U.S. News World Report. The University of the Cumberlands also landed 115th among America's most conservative institutions on Niche.

Within the UC School of Education, the CACREP-accredited Counselor Education and Supervision Department makes the Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership available online. Chaired by Dr. Laura Bonzo-Sims, the 60-credit education administration online EdD includes evening synchronous sessions. Offering optional Kentucky Rank 1 certification, the curriculum ranges from grant writing to program evaluation and change processes. Eight-week online courses are melded with 70 days of clinical practice and hands-on dissertation work. The PhD in Leadership at the University of Cumberlands has the Education Specialization too.