Higher Education (Ed.D.)

An Ed.D. in Higher Education provides expertise relevant to teaching at the college level or pursuing leadership roles within a university.

  • Offered Hybrid Online and Face-to-Face in Commerce.
  • 4 to 6 years
  • 60 credit hours
  • Dissertation required
  • No foreign language credits required
Degree Plan

Lead in Higher Education

Our doctoral program focuses on developing leaders in higher education, combining advanced scholarship with leadership expertise. The curriculum explores key aspects of academic leadership and provides a foundation for those interested in teaching at the college or university level.

Spring 2026 Graduate Flex Term.

What you need to know
Back to menu
A female at the library on the computer studying with books in front of her.

What Are My Job Opportunities?

An Ed.D. in Higher Education focuses on academic administration, policy, and faculty roles in colleges and universities.

Careers and Salaries

Post-secondary Education Administrators
$ 102,610
Post-secondary Instructors
$ 84,380

Current Median Salaries from US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023

Portrait of female teacher at school at lesson, smiling middle-aged woman in glasses with digital tablet looking at camera, classroom with teenage students at desk background

Program Details

An Ed.D. in Higher Education at East Texas A&M University is a 60-credit hour, 100% online program focused on developing leadership skills for academia.

What Will I Learn?

You will have the opportunity to gain experience in a number of key areas.

Innovative Pedagogy

Gain expertise in modern teaching methods, including online and hybrid models, to improve student engagement and academic achievement.

Fiscal Management in Higher Education

Develop expertise in budgeting, financial planning and resource allocation to ensure financial sustainability and growth within colleges and universities.

Technology Integration

Gain proficiency in leveraging digital tools and technology to enhance higher education institutions’ teaching, learning, administration and communication.

Student Success and Retention

Learn strategies to enhance student retention, improve graduation rates and support overall academic and personal success.

Students in interdisciplinary studies

Taking Classes

Our 60-semester-hour Doctor of Education in Higher Education program builds on your master's degree toward leadership roles in academia.

100% Online

Courses are offered entirely online across fall, spring and summer semesters, providing flexibility for working professionals. Please refer to the schedule of classes for up-to-date details on course locations and times, as they may change.

Group of students studying at a table.

Curriculum

Designed for professionals with a master's degree, this 60-hour program deepens your expertise through 36 hours of focused coursework, 12 hours of research tools and 9 hours dedicated to your dissertation. Take the next step toward leadership in higher education and make a lasting impact on the field.

Hands-on Training

Put your skills and knowledge into practice in a classroom setting with guidance from a mentor-teacher during your clinical teaching experience.

Degree Plan
Schedule of Classes
A graduate in a cap and gown happily embraces a woman with long blonde hair. They are outside, in front of a modern building with glass windows. The graduate holds a diploma in one hand, and appears joyful and proud. Sunlight shines gently in the background.

Adding Value with Certificates

Our Ed.D. program at East Texas A&M University provides valuable graduate certificate opportunities that strengthen your expertise and credentials, enhancing your career advancement in higher education leadership.

Finding My Community

We believe that education thrives in an environment where collaboration, support and mutual respect flourish. Our community of students and professors embodies these values, creating an enriching and dynamic atmosphere for learning and growth. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the table. Our professors are not only experts in their respective fields but also dedicated mentors who are committed to guiding and nurturing the next generation of scholars.

Mary Jo Dondlinger, Ph.D.

Faculty
After teaching English at the college level for a number of years, I wanted to learn to teach even b…
Profile for Mary

Leslie Ekpe, Ph.D.

Faculty
As a Black woman, my lived experiences inform my research interests. It is important that I engage i…
Profile for Leslie

Michael Ponton, Ed.D.

Faculty
I believe in higher education's role for the success of civilization, so I want to do what I can t…
Profile for Michael

David Tan, Ph.D.

Faculty
If you are interested in a two-way teaching and learning experience between faculty and students, th…
Profile for David
Three students sit at a table with calculators, paper and pencils.

Student Organizations

You can participate in various student organizations that promote professional growth, networking and leadership. These organizations offer valuable opportunities to connect with peers, faculty and professionals in the field, providing resources and events that enrich the academic journey. Engaging in these groups helps you expand your knowledge, collaborate on innovative ideas and stay engaged with current issues in higher education.

I’m Looking For Something Different

Is this program close, but still not right for you? Check out our related degrees!

Two students in graduation cap and gown smile holding their diploma

Financing My Future

Financial Aid

Financial aid includes a variety of programs, like scholarships, federal and state grants, and federal and state work-study programs. Find out how you may be eligible for scholarships, grants, loans and/or a graduate assistantship. Financial Aid and Scholarships

Learn More

Back to menu

On-Campus Employment Opportunities

Enhance your expertise through on-campus employment opportunities.

Graduate Assistant/Research/Teaching

Graduate assistant teaching (GAT), graduate assistant research (GAR), and graduate assistant non-teaching (GANT) assistantships at East Texas A&M offer financial support and professional development for graduate students. Assistantships are available in academic and non-academic departments.

Back to menu

Cost Before Financial Aid

East Texas A&M is one of the most affordable colleges around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Our tuition rates are some of the most competitive in Texas.

$3,669

for Texas residents

/

$7,341

For non-residents

Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents. But don’t worry: there are

Back to menu
TUITION AND FEES
0
Per Semester

Additional Fees May Apply

  • Online Courses ($50 per hour)
  • Remote Locations ($20 per hour)
  • Lab Fees ($5 – $30 per course)

Back to menu

How Do I Get Started?

If you have not already done so, complete the Request Information form. You will be connected with your enrollment specialist, who can answer your questions. When you’re ready, go ahead and follow the steps below to apply.

Admission Process

Note: This program is not currently available to international students.

Deadlines

Application: 60 days prior to first class day of the desired admission semester at the latest.

Application documents: 30 days prior to first class day of the desired admission semester.

Submit Application

  • Create an account or login if you already have one
  • Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
  • Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
  • Choose the semester you wish to begin
Back to menu
  • Select “Higher Education, EDD” as your “Program.”
  • Pay the $50 application fee.

Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.

  • Within two business days of your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Back to menu

Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.

Your Graduate Coordinator

Back to menu

Domestic Transcripts

Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your Graduate Student Services Coordinator. We accept transcripts officially via email (directly from the institution), through Parchment, and any other official transcript providing agency. If your university does not offer an electronic transcript service, you may request them to be sent via regular mail to:

East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School

2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428

If your degree is from East Texas A&M University, you do not have to order a transcript.
We will access your transcript.

If we already have your transcript, we will reuse it for a new application as long as it is still on file.

International transcripts

WES ICAP evaluations will be required for certain countries; those are listed below:

  • Transcripts/Degrees from universities in Nigeria
  • Transcripts/Degrees from universities in China that do not come from CSSD (formerly CHESICC)
  • Any country where the official transcript is not in English

For all other countries, an evaluation is not initially required. Original official transcripts are required for admission consideration.
Please know that upon receipt of your official transcript, the Graduate School reserves the right to require an external evaluation at that time.

Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428

We will need official/original documents.

If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.

Back to menu

To be considered for admission, one of the following is required

  • a bachelor's degree with an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher, or
  • a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 hours, or
  • an awarded master's degree with an overall GPA of 3.4 or higher.

If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:

East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011

We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.

Submit the Statement of Goals Form

An additional page can be added.

You can find the form in the Application Packet.

Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.

Submit a writing sample on any topic of your interest in the field or profession of higher education using APA Style Manual (6th or 7th ed.)

  • Must be a solo-authored (not collaborative) paper
  • Can be a scholarly essay addressing a problem of practice that you want to investigate and can include related work and academic experiences
  • Must contain a reference/bibliographic list at the end with corresponding in-text citations
  • Must be at least four double-spaced pages and should not exceed 30 pages.

Request two signed letters of recommendation, on letterhead, from professionals who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program. Those individuals should:

One or both of the references should hold a doctoral degree.

Review the Application Packet for more information.

Application Packet

Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status

  • Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.

  • Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
  • Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
  • Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.

Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.

  • View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
  • To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.

Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.

Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist

Back to menu

I Still Have Questions

We are here to help! Send us an email. We can answer your questions and assist you in the application process.

Alum Jennifer Faunce Director of Graduate Enrollment Management/Graduate Enrollment Specialist for Doctoral Programs
Alum Dayla Burgin Admissions Supervisor

Contact the Department

  • Young Education North #126
  • P.O. Box 3011
  • Commerce, TX 75429-3011
Navigate This Page