Choosing between a Doctor of Education (EdD) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD) is one of the most consequential decisions a working educator can make. Both are terminal doctoral degrees—the highest level of academic achievement in the field—yet they prepare graduates for very different careers. When deciding between an EdD and a PhD, first determine whether you want to lead change in educational practice or generate new research that advances the field as a discipline.
Alverno College’s online EdD program is designed specifically for working professionals interested in applying research to real leadership challenges in education. If you have already chosen this path, this comparison can help you understand exactly how the two degrees differ and confirm your direction.
What Is an EdD Degree?
An EdD, or Doctor of Education, is a professional doctoral degree designed for experienced educators and administrators looking to strategically drive change within organizations, systems, and communities. The degree is practice centered. Students enter EdD programs with a specific “problem of practice”—a real-world challenge in their workplace—and spend their time developing the leadership skills and research tools to address it. Coursework emphasizes applied knowledge: how to implement policy, manage organizations, and lead teams through complex change.
Online EdD programs like Alverno’s enable professionals to complete coursework while holding full-time positions in K–12 schools, community colleges, universities, nonprofits, or government agencies. Many programs, including Alverno’s, can be completed in as few as two years. A dissertation or dissertation in practice is typically required, though the final product focuses on resolving a professional challenge rather than contributing to academic theory. Alverno’s EdD program offers concentrations in K–12 educational leadership, higher education leadership, curriculum development, and teaching and learning.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), postsecondary education administrators, one of the most common destinations for EdD graduates, earned a median annual wage of $103,960 as of May 2024. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles at every level of education and, increasingly, in sectors outside of education.
What Is a PhD in Education?
A PhD in Education is a research doctorate that prepares graduates for careers in academia, policy research and scholarly inquiry. The central question for educational leaders is “how do we solve this?” For PhDs, questions center on “why does this happen and how can we understand it more deeply?” PhD students review existing research, identify gaps in the literature, and design original studies to advance theoretical knowledge. The work is scholarly in nature and aims to be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at academic conferences.
PhD programs are typically more demanding in terms of time. A full-time PhD in education program can take four to six years to complete. Some programs require students to forgo outside employment, and many offer graduate assistantships that cover tuition in exchange for teaching or research support.
A traditional dissertation, original empirical research to be brought before a faculty committee, is standard in PhD programs. The goal is not to solve a specific workplace problem but to produce knowledge that other researchers and educators can build on. According to BLS, postsecondary teachers earned a median annual wage of $83,980 as of May 2024, with job growth projected at 7% through 2034. PhD candidates who pursue academic careers are generally expected to demonstrate a research agenda before being considered for tenure-track positions.
What Is the Difference Between an EdD and a PhD?
The core difference between an EdD and a PhD is their purpose. An EdD program prepares leaders to solve problems by applying evidence-based research, while PhD programs teach students how to produce scholarly research that advances the discipline. That distinction shapes everything else about the two programs, including how coursework is structured, what kind of dissertation is required, and time to completion. Here are other areas of distinction to consider when deciding on a program:
- Focus: EdD programs emphasize applied practice and educational leadership, while PhD programs focus on research and theory.
- Time commitment: EdD programs typically take two to four years and are designed to be completed while students continue to work. PhD programs generally require four to six years and are often full-time commitments.
- Dissertation: EdD students typically complete a dissertation in practice, a structured response to a real-world professional problem. PhD students complete a traditional research dissertation based on original empirical inquiry.
- Career outcomes: EdD graduates commonly move into education administration and executive leadership roles. PhD graduates tend to pursue faculty positions or roles that involve academic research or policy work.
- Program format: EdD programs are more widely available online, making them accessible for professionals who cannot relocate or stop working. PhD programs in education commonly require residential or substantial on-campus presence.
Neither degree is easier to earn than the other. They each demand a high level of commitment. The EdD requires deep engagement with organizational problems and leadership challenges. The PhD requires sustained original inquiry and years of scholarly development.
EdD vs. PhD Career Paths and Salaries
EdD programs prepare practitioners for leadership roles within educational systems, while PhD programs are oriented toward producing original research and training future scholars. Career outcomes for EdD and PhD graduates reflect the different orientations of the two degrees, though there is some overlap, particularly in higher education administration.
EdD career paths: EdD graduates frequently move into roles such as school principal, superintendent, dean, provost, chief academic officer, or director of educational programs. BLS reports that elementary, middle and high school principals earned a median annual wage of $104,070 as of May 2024. These roles directly align with the applied leadership skills an EdD program develops.
PhD career paths: Most PhD in education graduates pursue faculty roles at universities or positions in research centers and policy organizations. BLS reports a median annual wage of $83,980 for postsecondary teachers as of May 2024, with a projected 7% job growth rate from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average. Salaries vary considerably by discipline and institution type. University faculty, researchers at institutions and those in health-related fields often earn substantially more than the median.
For many working educators, the EdD salary profile aligns more naturally with career goals. Administrative leadership roles at the K–12 and higher education levels tend to pay competitively and draw directly on the skills an EdD develops.
How to Choose Between an EdD and a PhD
When choosing between an EdD and a PhD program, consider where you want to spend your career and what kind of work energizes you. If you want to lead organizations, implement systemic change, or advance to senior administrative roles, the EdD is the right fit. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles that involve improving schools, running programs, and shaping policy.
The PhD is designed for those who want to spend their careers generating knowledge—not just applying it. Choose a PhD if your goal is to teach at the graduate level, conduct academic research, or contribute to the scholarly literature in your field. If you are energized by theory, original inquiry, and the prospect of academic publication, the PhD path is worth the longer time commitment.
A few clarifying questions can help simplify the decision process: Do you want to stay in an institutional leadership role or leave administration for a faculty position? Do you have a specific problem in your workplace that a doctoral dissertation could directly address? Are you able to complete the program while continuing to work full time? If you answered yes to the last two questions, a flexible online EdD program like the one offered by Alverno offers you the most direct path to achieving your goals.
Explore Alverno’s online EdD program to learn how its three concentrations—K–12 Leadership, Higher Education Leadership, and Teaching and Learning in Higher Education—can advance your career while you continue working.
About Alverno College’s Online EdD in Education Leadership Program
Alverno College’s online Doctor of Education in Education Leadership program is designed for working education professionals at every level. The program integrates theory and practice through three concentrations—K–12 Leadership, Higher Education Leadership, and Teaching and Learning in Higher Education—as well as a doctoral completion option for students who are All But Dissertation (ABD).
The program can be completed in as few as two years through a flexible format that combines fully online coursework with one on-campus residency weekend. Ranked among the top ten online doctorate in educational leadership programs by Forbes Advisor in 2024, the program provides dissertation support from the first day of enrollment.