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Doctor of Education in Leadership
Next start:
November 2026
Format:
Online
Total Courses:
23 (91 credit hours)
Tuition:
$810 per creditWhy Get Your Doctor of Education in Leadership?
City University of Seattle’s Doctor of Education in Leadership (EdD) is designed for professionals who want to expand their influence, strengthen their leadership practice, and drive meaningful change within their organizations and communities.
As a practice-focused doctorate, the EdD equips leaders to address complex organizational challenges through strategic thinking, systems improvement, evidence-based decision-making, and organizational development. Rather than focusing on theory alone, you’ll apply what you learn to real-world leadership issues throughout the program.
Built for working professionals, the fully online format allows you to advance your education without interrupting your career. You’ll learn alongside experienced leaders from diverse industries while being mentored by practitioner faculty who bring extensive executive and organizational leadership experience into the classroom.
Students may choose from concentrations in Organizational Leadership, Higher Education Leadership, or a specialized self-designed track aligned with their professional goals. Qualified students can transfer up to 12 graduate credits and may demonstrate mastery to challenge an additional 12 credits.
Your leadership has already created results. The EdD helps you multiply their impact.
Skills You’ll Gain
The EdD develops advanced leadership and research capabilities that can be applied immediately within your organization.
- Systems Change: Design and lead interventions that reshape how organizations function at every level.
- Data-Informed Decision Making: Harness data to make confident, evidence-based decisions without losing sight of the human element.
- Leadership Development: Grow your own leadership capacity while building the next generation of leaders around you.
- Strategic Thinking: Anticipate challenges, align stakeholders, and position your organization for long-term success.
- Organizational Culture: Foster environments where people are empowered to do their best work and drive meaningful change.
- Applied Research and Evaluation: Conduct rigorous research that directly informs policy, practice, and organizational improvement.
Program Highlights
100% Online Format
Complete coursework asynchronously while balancing professional and personal commitments.
Applied Dissertation
Investigate a real organizational challenge and produce research that informs practice.
Three Concentration Options
Choose organizational leadership, higher education leadership, or a specialized self-designed track.
Transfer and Challenge Credits
Apply up to 24 prior graduate credits to reduce time to completion.
Practitioner Faculty
Learn from experienced professors who bring practical perspectives and real-world insights to every course.
Course Requirements
Total Credits (91) | 10-week sessions
The program moves through core leadership courses, specialized concentration work, a research sequence, and a dissertation. You’ll build leadership capacity while conducting research that addresses real challenges in your field. Highlighted courses below, for full course requirements please refer to the current catalogue.
Pre-Entry Requirement
1 credit
LDRD 600 Introduction to Doctoral Program
Leadership Core
24 credits
- Leadership Theories and Analysis
- Culturally Responsive Leadership in a Diverse Society
- Leading Organizational Change
- Socially and Environmentally Responsible Leadership
- Ethical Organizational Leadership
- Strategic Thinking
- Developing Leaders of the Future
Research Core
18 credits
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Research Design
- Advanced Research Topics
- Advanced Qualitative or Quantitative Research
- Residencies
Concentration Area
24 credits
Choose one concentration based on your career goals:
Higher Education Leadership: Built for leaders in colleges and universities. You’ll explore governance, student affairs, academic program development, and the challenges of leading in higher ed.
Organizational Leadership: Focused on leading change in nonprofits, corporate settings, and mission-driven organizations. You’ll study innovation, collaborative coaching, global leadership, and managing organizational complexity.
Specialized Study: Design your own track. Work with faculty to build a concentration aligned with your career goals in areas like adult education, nonprofit leadership, or strategic innovation.
Comprehensive Exam
6 credits
The comprehensive exam gives students a chance to use what they have learned in the program to address a case study and document their own leadership development.
Dissertation
18 credits
Your dissertation identifies a real leadership challenge, investigates it through research, and produces findings that inform practice. Faculty guide you through the process from proposal to defense.
Not Ready to Commit to a Dissertation? Consider the Ed.S.
The dissertation is what makes the Ed.D. a doctorate: an opportunity to investigate a real leadership challenge and contribute research that informs practice. Not every student begins the program knowing they want to take on that commitment, and that’s okay. Because CityU’s Educational Specialist in Leadership (Ed.S.) is built within the same academic pathway, students complete the same leadership and research coursework and take the same comprehensive exam before deciding whether to continue to the dissertation phase. Those who choose not to pursue the Ed.D. can earn the Ed.S. credential, with all completed coursework applying seamlessly either way.
An Educational Specialist degree, or Ed.S., is an advanced graduate credential that sits between a master’s degree and a doctorate. Designed for professionals seeking deeper expertise in leadership and research, it offers doctoral-level study without the requirement to complete a dissertation. At City University of Seattle, the Ed.S. provides the same rigorous academic foundation and practitioner-focused learning experience as the Ed.D. while offering a more streamlined path to an advanced credential. The key difference is the final requirement: Ed.D. students complete an applied dissertation, while Ed.S. students conclude the program with the comprehensive exam.
The Ed.S. is 60 credit hours.
Career Opportunities
The EdD in Leadership prepares you for senior positions in education, nonprofits, corporate settings, and government. Graduates typically move into executive roles that require both research skills and leadership experience. Here are common career paths:
Job Growth
12%
per year
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the continued growth of 12 percent in the field.
Alumni Employment
74%
employed
74% of CityU alumni are employed in a field related to their degree.
Salary Growth
86%
of alumni
86% of CityU alumni saw a salary increase within two years of graduation. The average salary increase was 58%!
Career Support & Networking
Join a global network of 63,000+ CityU alumni, with graduates at leading companies worldwide. Through CityU Connect, you’ll have access to mentorship, career services, and a community dedicated to helping you advance.
Our graduates put their skills to work at leading employers across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Where this degree can take you:
Superintendent
Superintendents manage K–12 districts by balancing curriculum needs against complex budgets. This role requires setting a specific direction for every school in the system. These leaders work with school boards to pass policies and oversee the senior staff who execute district-wide changes.
Median Salary
$160,000+
Projected Job Openings
14,000+ annually
Chief Academic Officer
Chief academic officers oversee the core academic programs and institutional goals for colleges. They guide strategic planning while supporting faculty development. Their work keeps teaching and research efforts focused on the specific mission of the university.
Median Salary
$200,000+
Projected Job Openings
10,000+ annually
Nonprofit Executive Director
Nonprofit executive directors manage the daily work of strategic planning and fundraising. They handle program development while keeping the organization’s mission on track. These leaders oversee staff and budgets, serving as the primary voice for the nonprofit when meeting with funders and community partners.
Median Salary
$125,000+
Projected Job Openings
10,000+ annually
Director of Organizational Development
Directors of organizational development handle change management and leadership strategies for large companies. They start by assessing what the organization actually needs to build programs that foster a culture of learning. These directors also lead transformation work that may span multiple departments.
Median Salary
$198,000+
Projected Job Openings
2,000+ annually
Salary and job openings data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Figures reflect national median annual wages at that date and projected annual job openings from 2024-2034, averaged by year.
Apply Today. Graduate Sooner.
10-week quarters for most programs allow you to complete your degree faster. Apply today for FREE.
Next start date:
November 2026Personalized Support From Enrollment to Graduation
Earning a doctorate while working full-time is challenging. From enrollment through graduation, you’ll have advisors who help you navigate the program while balancing your career. Course load planning fits around your work schedule as an adult learner.
During the dissertation phase, your committee provides structured feedback. Writing support and library resources are available throughout the program.
Tuition & Financial Aid
The EdD program is designed to be accessible for working professionals. Tuition is $795 per credit for core and research classes, with the dissertation and comprehensive exam having flat rates per course. Overall cost for the EDD in Leadership is between $48,600 – $51,120 before any reductions. Financial aid and credit options are available to lower your overall cost.
You can reduce costs through transfer and challenge credits. Transfer up to 12 graduate credits from previous programs for approximately $9,540 in savings. After demonstrating success in the program, challenge up to 12 additional credits by showing mastery in your concentration. Combined, these options can reduce total costs by nearly $20,000.
Many doctoral students fund their degrees through employer tuition assistance and federal aid. Some candidates use personal funds to supplement these sources. Educational institutions and nonprofits may provide professional development funding for employees pursuing advanced degrees. Check with your HR department about available support.
A doctorate is an investment that can lead to leadership roles with higher earning potential and long-term career mobility. CityU’s financial aid team works with doctoral students to identify scholarships and payment plans that fit individual situations.
Tuiton Estimator
Our tuition calculator can help estimate your tuition for this program, including scholarships and financial aid.
Ways to Save on Tuition
You may reduce the cost of your program with these options.
Financial Aid
Complete the FAFSA to find out if you qualify for federal student aid, including loans and grants. Many students use these financial aid opportunities to cover a significant portion of their program costs.
School code: 013022
Military Tuition Benefits
CityU supports veterans and active-duty service members pursuing degrees. We accept military tuition benefits, VA benefits, and military partnership programs to help reduce costs for those who have served.
Transfer Credit Options
You can transfer up to 12 graduate credits from accredited programs toward your requirements. This reduces both the time to complete your degree and your overall tuition expenses.
Scholarship Opportunities
CityU offers a variety of scholarships to help make education more accessible.
Life at CityU: Student Perspectives
As a CityU doctoral student, you join a community of professionals who understand the demands of balancing graduate work with full-time careers. Your classmates include principals, nonprofit directors, and corporate trainers who bring diverse perspectives to discussions.
The online format is asynchronous, so you study on your schedule. Assignments address real challenges, such as strategic planning and institutional problem-solving in applied projects. Small cohorts make it easy to collaborate and build professional relationships that will last beyond graduation. This community is central to EdD student life.
Your Next Steps
Getting started with your application is straightforward. We understand that you’re busy balancing work and other commitments, so we’ve streamlined the process to make it as simple as possible:
Connect with an Advisor
Talk to a CityU advisor to make sure you’re good to go. They’ll help you figure out which concentration makes sense and whether any of your past coursework can count toward the degree.
Submit Your Application
You’ll need official transcripts showing your master’s degree, and a statement outlining your professional experience and goals.
Plan Your Start Date
Once admitted, you’ll work with an advisor to map out your course plan and choose your start date.
Begin Your EdD Journey
Show up ready to think differently about leadership, challenge your assumptions, and build the research skills to back up your vision.
Interested in other leadership pathways?
- Check out CityU’s Educational Specialist Degree in Leadership
- Explore more programs through CityU’s School of Education and Leadership.
