Explore PhD Programs in Higher Education Online: Best Options

Earning a PhD in higher education can be a strong career investment for experienced education professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals with doctoral degrees are generally more likely to be employed than those with a bachelor’s degree or less.

Within education, a PhD can also help establish you as an expert in the field, potentially leading to higher-paying leadership roles, research opportunities, or consulting and business ventures.

More professionals are also pursuing doctoral education than in previous years. According to the Education Data Initiative, the number of doctorate and professional degrees awarded increased by 1.39% from 2019 to 2020.

At the same time, earning a PhD is both demanding and time-intensive. That’s one reason many students choose to pursue a PhD in higher education online, which can offer greater flexibility while maintaining academic rigor.

This guide takes a closer look at some of the top online PhD in higher education programs, including sample coursework, program expectations, and key features to consider before applying.

School Spotlights: Top Higher Education PhDs Online

When pursuing a PhD in higher education online, you have a wide array of universities to choose from. This is because attending school online enables you to choose from online institutions all over the country.

Rather than being limited to schools near your home, you are free to base your decision on factors such as cost, curriculum, specialties, student support resources, and more.

Colorado State University

Colorado State University offers a 60-credit hybrid PhD in Higher Education designed to prepare graduates to ethically lead colleges, universities, and other educational institutions. The program typically takes at least five years to complete.

Many students are drawn to the program’s 95% retention rate, strong faculty engagement, and cohort model, which allows students to move through the program together as a group.

At $945 per credit hour, the program is considered relatively cost-effective compared to many doctoral programs. Students complete at least 30 credits in higher education administration and 30 credits in research coursework.

The program also requires written and oral comprehensive exams, a juried publication or presentation, and a dissertation. First-year coursework includes Higher Education Administration, Foundations of Educational Research, and Leadership Development.

Purdue University

Purdue University offers a 42-credit online PhD in Higher Education designed to prepare educators for leadership and service roles in colleges and universities. Graduates develop a strong understanding of the administrative, political, financial, legal, and socio-cultural aspects of higher education.

The program follows a synchronous format, with live classes held from 6–9 p.m. EST two nights per week. Students must also travel to campus at least once per semester as part of the program’s hybrid structure.

This model gives students opportunities to network with peers and collaborate with internationally recognized faculty on research and publications.

PhD students typically enroll in seven credits per semester, including two three-credit courses and one credit of research writing. Courses include Organization & Administration of Higher Education, Qualitative Research Methods, and Economics and Finance of Higher Education.

Tennessee Tech

Tennessee Technological University offers an online PhD in Higher Education for students interested in using data and research to solve challenges in higher education. The 67-credit program typically takes at least four years to complete and includes a mix of synchronous and asynchronous online classes.

Courses include Seminar in Higher Education, Trends & Issues in Higher Education, and Ethical Aspects of Higher Education. The curriculum emphasizes data-driven leadership and practical strategies for improving colleges, universities, foundations, state agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

Expert Insight

You should pay attention to a program’s cohort structure and faculty accessibility. Strong peer connections and consistent faculty support can make doctoral study more manageable and improve long-term success in the program.

Timon Kaple

EdD vs. PhD: Which Degree Is Right for You?

While an online PhD in higher education can offer strong career benefits, it is not the right fit for every education professional. Some students may benefit more from an EdD, which focuses more heavily on applied leadership and professional practice.

According to University of Arizona Global Campus, EdD programs are designed for professionals interested in hands-on leadership roles, while PhD programs are better suited for students focused on research and academic scholarship.

Here are a few key differences between the two degrees:

• Time to Complete:
  EdD programs typically take 3–4 years, while PhD programs often take 5–7 years.
• Program Focus:
  EdD programs emphasize practical application, while PhD programs focus on original research and theory.
• Career Paths:
  EdD graduates often pursue leadership and administrative roles. PhD graduates commonly work in research, consulting, government agencies, or college teaching.

Common Courses of Higher Education PhD Programs 

Although every university offers its own unique version of the PhD in higher education online program, some courses are almost universally required.

These are pivotal classes that commonly speak to the challenges facing those in pursuit of high-level higher education careers.

Below, you’ll find some of the most common courses of online PhD in higher education programs, as well as the expectations for learning outcomes for each course.

Advanced Statistical Analysis for Education Research

Completion of some variety of advanced statistics and research methods course is almost a universal requirement for earning an online PhD in higher education.

Students use statistical data-analytic tools while broadening and elaborating on methodological issues in research in health sciences.

Most classes focus on themes including qualitative research, measurement quality, research planning, and critical reading.

Capstone Seminar

A capstone seminar is designed to teach students how to demonstrate expertise in their chosen field of study effectively and is often mandatory for graduation.

These courses normally last at least a semester and often include volunteering or completing an internship. In the case of a PhD in higher education online, students may be expected to volunteer or intern at local schools or other educational institutions.

Course curricula often require students to submit a portfolio, presentation, investigation, final paper, and more.

Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education

A course in diversity and inclusion helps students build a deeper understanding of topics such as race, class, gender, identity, and intersectionality. Students examine how systems of privilege and power can contribute to marginalization and inequality within educational institutions and society more broadly.

The course also explores strategies for promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice across educational settings.

Higher Education Finance and Budgeting

Finance and budgeting courses teach students about the financial aspect of higher education. This course is designed to help students systematically manage the budget process in colleges and universities.

Students are also taught about the effect budgeting activities have on all areas of planning and operations within an institution.

Overall, the goal of the course is to provide students with a logical and practical overview of all aspects of budgeting and finance in the higher education sector.

Higher Education Law and Policy

In this course, students examine common legal and policy issues affecting higher education institutions. Topics may include free speech, academic freedom, labor law, anti-discrimination policies, due process, and institutional governance.

The course helps students understand how these issues shape colleges and universities while building the skills needed to make informed, ethical leadership decisions in academic settings.

Student Development Theory

A class in student development theory teaches about the role development plays in educational settings and the methods of applying these theories to services, programs, and behavioral interventions.

This course allows students to explore development while also focusing on practical applications in the realm of higher education.

You’ll learn about four primary theoretical areas in student development: psychosocial and identity development theories, environmental theories, cognitive-structural theories, and typological theories.

Components of an Online PhD in Higher Education

Earning a PhD in higher education online is a comprehensive process that often includes many components.

Much like other advanced degrees, pursuing a PhD in higher education online requires a mixture of the proper prerequisites, course completion, hands-on experience, testing, research projects, and more.

If you’re interested in earning an online PhD in higher education, here is a list of common requirements.

Capstone Project or Dissertation

A dissertation is a major research project required in many PhD and doctoral programs. It includes an original thesis and extensive research on a topic chosen by the student, and it is often the largest academic project completed during a degree program.

To begin, students select a topic connected to their academic interests or career goals. They then conduct research, organize findings, and write and revise the dissertation before submission.

Many programs also require a dissertation defense. During this process, students present their research to a faculty committee and answer detailed questions about their methods, analysis, and conclusions.

Comprehensive Examinations

Comprehensive examinations, often called comps, are broad exams used to evaluate a doctoral student’s knowledge before graduation. These exams assess whether students have developed the skills and subject-matter expertise needed to succeed in the field.

Comps may include multiple-choice questions, short-answer responses, essays, or a combination of formats. Some doctoral programs also require students to complete multiple comprehensive exams.

To prepare, students must complete all required coursework and spend time reviewing material throughout the program, especially in the months leading up to the exams.

Coursework

Comprehensive examinations, or comps, are broad exams that assess whether doctoral students have mastered the knowledge and skills needed to graduate and succeed in the field.

These exams may include multiple-choice questions, short answers, essays, or a combination of formats. Some programs also require students to complete multiple exams before graduation.

To prepare, students must complete all required coursework and regularly review material throughout the program.

Internships & Fieldwork

Internships both provide students with hands-on learning experiences in professional or educational settings.

Internships may be paid or unpaid and allow students to gain practical experience while sometimes earning college credit. Fieldwork typically focuses more on observation, research, and data collection in real-world environments.

Prerequisites

A prerequisite is a requirement students must complete before taking certain courses or advancing in a doctoral program. These may include foundational classes, entrance exams like the GRE, or minimum fieldwork and lab experience requirements.

For many online PhD in higher education programs, the most common prerequisites are a master’s degree and relevant experience in higher education or a related field.

Before applying, students should carefully review program requirements to confirm they have completed — or are close to completing — all prerequisites.

Expert Insight

Fieldwork aligned with long-term career goals can help you build practical skills and valuable professional connections. There is, however, much preparation required for this mode of research. Look into faculty support in this area.

Timon Kaple

Salary Outlook with a PhD in Higher Education

A PhD in higher education is the research terminal degree for scholars who want to study colleges and universities as institutions — examining questions of access, equity, governance, student development, and institutional effectiveness. Graduates serve as higher education faculty, institutional researchers, policy analysts, and senior administrators who bring evidence-based perspectives to how colleges are led and reformed. The degree is required for tenure-track faculty positions in higher education programs.

Higher education faculty at research institutions earn competitive salaries that reflect both scholarly productivity and the demand for expertise in a sector undergoing significant transformation. The degree also opens pathways to senior administrative roles where doctoral credentials command premium compensation.

Browse the salary table to explore what postsecondary teachers earn across the country, and benchmark higher education faculty compensation in your state.