While, as you may expect, most students come in and are seeking career upgrades in K-12 and higher education—the degree is versatile. In fact, alumni can be found everywhere from healthcare systems and nonprofits to the military and museums.

After a rise in popularity during and after the pandemic, Ed.D. enrollment is remaining steady, says Pedro Noguera, dean of the USC Rossier School of Education. 

He explains that while Ed.D. programs have traditionally been focused on the education space (hence over 80 California superintendents being graduates of USC’s programs), students nowadays come from a variety of backgrounds.

With more than a handful of options, it’s important to consider your career goals when evaluating various Ed.D. programs. Here’s what you need to know about some of the popular concentrations. 

1. Organizational change and leadership

An Ed.D. in organizational change and leadership (OCL) has broad applicability, often beyond the field of education. That’s one reason this concentration was the focus of Fortune’s ranking of online Ed.D. programs. Schools like Vanderbilt University, the University of Southern California, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Baylor University offer this specialized program.

Noguera says OCL students often come into the program with a significant amount of professional experience—but they want more.

“They’re already leaders in their sectors, but they want more in terms of training so that they can become better leaders,” he tells Fortune.

At Baylor University, 45% of students come from K-12 backgrounds, 25% from higher education, and 30% from outside of education, according to Nick Werse, senior director of operations for the leadership and organizational change program at Baylor’s School of Education.

“We want to empower our students to not just lead effective organization change, not just make data-driven decisions, but then to communicate about what they’re doing to other audiences,” Werse explains.

Werse adds four things that distinguish the program from others: cross-industry focus, faculty, student-support team, and a sense of community and belonging within an online environment.

The degree is also rewarding. About 83% of Baylor graduates reported immediate professional benefits; over 96% had immediate personal benefits, and close to 93% anticipated career benefits, Werse shares.

Best for: Those looking for a more generalized Ed.D. leadership experience and who are eager to be part of a diverse cohort looking to create change in their industry—whether it’s education, healthcare, or beyond.

2. Entrepreneurial leadership

Entrepreneurial leadership programs focus on finding innovative solutions that can be applied to not-for-profits, schools, and startups. Courses in this concentration examine challenges in educational environments across industries and settings—with a focus on data-driven decision-making. These students also learn to create a plan of action and use financial models to run a profitable business. 

Unfortunately, there are a limited number of entrepreneurial leadership programs. Schools like Johns Hopkins University offer the specialization in entrepreneurship.  Certainly, many more Ed.D. programs offer electives focused on entrepreneurial topics.

Best for: Students who are executive-level professionals from a range of industries interested in education and learning, as well as startups and business. 

3. Curriculum and instruction

An Ed.D. focused on curriculum and instruction seeks to teach students how to effectively design a curriculum to address specific challenges or improve programs of study. Students may address educational challenges, such as teaching underserved educational populations. More broadly, doctorate students also learn how to improve areas of study, such as math and science or language.

Programs today may further develop one’s skills with AI—technology that can significantly change workflows of curriculum development.

Students are most typically those in education, either serving as a principal, instructional coach, department head, or other area. Coursework focuses on ways to design a curriculum to 

Institutions like the University of Virginia, George Washington University, and the University of Florida offer this concentration.

Best for: Graduates of Ed.D. programs in curriculum and instruction typically work in K-12 settings, higher education, educational policy roles, or research institutions.

4. Educational leadership

Students who enroll in educational leadership typically arrive with prior work experience in early care and education, public schools, higher education, or community education. This type of Ed.D. program is created for university and high school teachers and leaders who want to prepare themselves to lead at the school district or university system level.

Aside from the core curriculum, students choose classes that will help them prepare for educational group or administrative roles.

This concentration can take many names, including education policy, administration, and innovation. Schools like American University, New York University, and Arizona State University offer this type of degree.

Best for: Students who want to be in an environment with other educators. In these programs, students usually also earn a superintendent certification or principal certification along with an Ed.D. degree. Graduates may go on to become a K–12 school administrator, the head of a community college, or a leader in a government agency. 

5. Educational technology

In educational technology programs, students focus on learning how to create and implement technology-driven solutions for a variety of settings, which include grades from K-12, as well as higher education, corporations, and not-for-profit organizations. In addition to solving challenges by using technology, students in educational technology learn how to improve online and e-learning methodologies, which have become increasingly common as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools like the University of Florida, Texas Tech University, and Pepperdine University offer degrees related to education and/or instructional technology.

Best for: Students who want to lead, manage, and attain decision-making roles in K-12 school settings, higher education, as well as corporations and not-for-profit organizations, and leverage technology to improve education. 

6. Special education

An EdD in special education seeks to train students to become leaders in assisting families and students with special needs. Graduates may work in education, healthcare or nonprofit settings.

Schools like the University Of Maryland, George Washington University, University of Florida, Illinois State, University of Alabama, and University of Pittsburgh offer Ed.D. in special education programs.

Best for: Individuals who are passionate about creating change in lives and being part of a larger support team for students and families.

7. Global executive program

A global executive Ed.D. program is designed for those with many years of professional world experience seeking to create change on a large scale in education. Students may be deans, faculty members, or senior business leaders from across the world.

At USC, the two-year program is “very intense” and attracts students from throughout the world, Noguera explains. Last year, he accompanied the group on a trip to Finland.

Best for:  This type of program is designed for senior education leaders, policymakers, and administrators seeking to apply global perspectives to education.

8. Mental health leadership 

With mental health being a topic that exploded in education conversations during and after the pandemic, USC created an Ed.D. focused on mental health leadership.

The program is designed to elevate leadership skills in the delivery of mental health services. Graduates leave the program with the ability to effectively integrate leadership strategies, strategically evaluate program activities, and champion social justice principles, according to the program’s website.

Noguera explains it was spun out of the school’s strong marriage and family counseling therapy program and has overall driven a lot of interest.

The USC MHL program is fully online over the span of 3 years—costing a little over $100,000.

Best for: This concentration is designed for those mental health professionals who are seeking to take the next step in a leadership role.

How to choose the right Ed.D. program for you

The variety of Ed.D. programs allows you to tackle education from different perspectives and surround yourself with a cohort of students with whom you will create a learning environment geared for the type of professional outcome you are seeking. However, it is also important to recall that an Ed.D. is not perfect for everyone. It is one of many degrees—alongside an MBA—that help build leadership qualities in an individual. If you are unclear about what path to take, talk to a mentor or admissions counselor to discuss which program is best for you, and take note of which one seems more interesting and exciting for you.

Moreover, figuring out your own career goals as well as what skills you need to build upon to get there is important in finding your best education path, Werse says.

“There are a lot of Ed.D.s in this nation. There are a lot of great Ed.D.s, okay? Find one that’s going to align with your career trajectory, and then find one that’s going to give you the skill set you need to succeed, the technical skills, the hard skills, and the soft skills,” he concludes.

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Frequently asked questions

What type of degree is Ed.D.?

An Ed.D. is a doctorate of education—designed for professionals seeking to elevate their career in leadership. Individuals may seek careers in the world of education or other areas like healthcare, business, or nonprofits.

Is an Ed.D. as good as a PhD?

Yes, but an Ed.D. is typically for older individuals with professional experience seeking to increase their leadership skills. A Ph.D. in education is typically for those seeking to become researchers or education educators.

Can you get an Ed.D. without a master’s?

Yes, you can get an Ed.D. without currently holding a master’s degree, but some programs do require candidates to have a master’s. At USC, students with a master’s degree are able to take a faster 43-unit track. Those without the degree—but have substantial work experience—take a 60-unit track.

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Check out all of Fortune’s rankings of degree programs, and learn more about specific career paths.

Isabel Peña Alfaro contributed to this piece.