Enrollment in this doctorate program is surging—here’s why
Over the past few years, and largely thanks to the pandemic, millions of Americans were afforded the time to reconsider their career trajectories and professional futures. Many people quit their jobs—as evidenced by the “Great Resignation”—and many others returned to school to earn a degree. One specific type of degree program that’s seen an influx of applicants is the doctorate in education (Ed.D.).
While a number of programs exist, plenty of which are offered by top-flight colleges and universities that landed on Fortune’s ranking of the best online Ed.D. programs. Recent years have also seen several schools add online Ed.D. programs to their offerings in an effort to meet the growing demand across the country among prospective students.
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For example, Baylor University’s online Ed.D. program saw a 50% increase in enrollment in just one year—and that’s just at one school. Among the eight schools on Fortune’s ranking, enrollment jumped 13% in the 2020-2021 academic year compared with the prior year.
Lehman College, a CUNY school located in the Bronx, recently received the green light to offer the first online Ed.D. program in the CUNY system Rene Parmar, the dean of the School of Education at Lehman College, says the program is aimed not only at educators, but at prospective students across the professional spectrum. “We hope to include people who are leaders of nonprofits, businesses, charitable organizations, and higher education institutions—people who are in leadership positions.”
What’s driving demand for Ed.D. programs?
The doctorate in education degree is becoming more popular because of its broad applicability. Many people are considering enrolling in Ed.D. programs for a couple of key reasons, according to Parmar.
First, professionals in the education sector (K-12 teachers and administrators, as well as those working in higher education) who are looking to advance their careers must earn continuing education credits, and Ed.D. programs offer them the opportunity to do so while earning an additional degree. “Some school leaders choose to earn continuing education credits through private sector agencies, but more and more people are going through advanced graduate education,” she says. “If you’re required to do it, the next logical step is to think about a doctoral degree. For the school-based sector, that makes a lot of sense.”
What’s more, a doctorate in education can help candidates with their career trajectory—and not just in the school setting. People earning doctoral degrees can often get a pay raise, enhance their credibility, and open up new career opportunities, Parmar says. “Outside of the education sector, people are looking for advancement. They’re looking for opportunities to take on directorships of their organizations and engage in international collaborations—holding a doctorate can be advantageous and support their efforts,” she says.
These drivers have helped to spur enrollment in Baylor’s Ed.D. programs, which has far exceeded expectations, according to Laila Sanguras, graduate program director of Ed.D. in learning and organizational change at the School of Education at Baylor University.
“We were expecting 15 students in the first cohort, and had significantly more than that,” Sanguras says of Baylor’s program, which launched in 2018. “It was a surprise, but we were able to pivot quickly. And it wasn’t a fluke, the interest [in the program] only continued and grew from there.”
As for what’s driving demand for the degree? Sanguaras echoes Parmar in that an Ed.D. degree can be applicable in many different fields, and open up new doors. “This degree allows people to move up or change their career trajectory altogether,” Sanguaras says. “Having the doctorate makes them eligible for positions they wouldn’t have been eligible for prior.”
Applicants should expect more competition in Ed.D. programs
Prior to enrolling in an Ed.D. program, Sanguaras stresses that prospective students consider what will be required of them—both financially and in terms of time commitments. Most students looking into these programs are already working professionals, and in fact many programs require students to have at least a couple of years of work experience before enrolling. As a result, signing up for a doctoral program may be more of a commitment than they can realistically handle—and that’s especially true for those students with families and children.
Still, if earning an Ed.D. is a logical next step in your career, the surge in demand means it will likely be competitive to get into top-ranked schools. But the rewards, for most, are worth it, says Sanguras. “All of our students, when you see them walk across the stage at graduation, you realize we’re really doing something special,” she says. “We’re opening doors, and allowing students to go into spaces that they weren’t part of before, professionally and personally.”
And as a kicker, Parmar says it can be nice to add a new title to your repertoire. “It’s a nice thing to have a ‘doctor’ title,” she says. “It’s like an exclamation point on your achievements.”
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About the Contributors
Sam Becker is a personal finance expert and journalist based near New York City. He is a native of the Pacific Northwest, and a graduate of Washington State University. His work has written for CNBC, Fast Company, BBC, TIME, and more.
Jasmine Suarez was a senior editor at Fortune where she leads coverage for careers, education and finance. In the past, she’s worked for Business Insider, Adweek, Red Ventures, McGraw-Hill, Pearson, and more.
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