Ed.D. in Leadership
Earn your doctoral degree in three years or less!
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TOTAL COST
$23,914*
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NEXT START DATE
Apr 07, 2025
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COMPLETION TIME
36 Months†
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AVG. SALARY PREMIUM
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SEMESTER CREDITS
64
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- Overview
- Why ACE?
- Tuition
- Program Details
- Start Dates
- Courses
- Featured Faculty
- Admission Requirements
Ed.D. in Leadership
Are you ready to incite change? As a student in the Ed.D. in Leadership program, you will select an area of emphasis and pursue original research. You will partner with fellow professionals and learn to address real-world problems with evidence-based decision-making. Under the direction of a dissertation committee, you will develop five chapters that contribute to your chosen field. Accelerated pathways are available if you are graduated from an ACE master’s program or have an Ed.S. or are considered “All But Dissertation (ABD)” from another institution. Because the program is entirely online, it requires no residency, travel or lodging.
Why ACE?
Low-Cost, High Quality
You deserve a great return on your educational investment, and we deliver master’s degrees at a total average cost of $9,500. Our graduates enjoy an average pay increase of over $21,000.¹ We also award over $1.1M in scholarships and grants each year.
Quality You Expect
We are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Our faculty work in the industries where you work and are committed to your success, contributing to our 86% graduation rate.¹ Our curriculum equips you with practical strategies you can apply right away, as well as skills to help you advance your career.
Flexibility You Need
Our virtual campus and convenient start dates provide you the flexibility you need to achieve your goals at a time and place that works with your busy schedule. Our student support services are available 24/7 and tutoring is included at no additional cost.
1Source: Student Right to Know
Tuition
We believe in full transparency with our total cost of attendance. No hidden fees. No surprises along the way.
Total Cost Ed.D. in Leadership |
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Total Tuition 64 semester credits x $306 per credit |
$19,584 |
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Fees $100 Application Fee$150 Conferral Fee $1200 Dissertation Fee (6 Courses X $200 per Course) $2880 Technology and Library Fee (64 Semester Credits X $45 per Credit) |
$4,330 |
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Total Program Cost |
$23,914* |
Find a plan that fits your budget.
When We Say Low Cost, We Mean It

Austin Peay State University
Grand Canyon University
University of Phoenix
Walden University
Source: Internal Research Completed June 2024
Program Details
Focus of Study
Business Management
Curriculum and Instruction
Early Childhood Education
Executive Leadership
General Track
Higher Education
Health and Wellness
Instructional Leadership
Instructional Technology
Literacy
Public and Non-Profit Leadership
Special Education
Second Language Instruction
STEM Education
The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership prepares students to contribute to their professional communities as leaders who address real-world problems through evidence-based decision-making. Doctoral students select a focus of study to complement their leadership degree coursework. In addition to high quality, project-based coursework, students will conduct original research in leadership under the direction of a dissertation committee and doctoral faculty.
Program Outcomes
- Collaborate in diverse communities and learn how to build partnerships within and across organizations.
- Contribute to solutions for complex problems of practice with actions based upon professional models, theories, and research.
- Apply, analyze, and promote best practices in leadership.
- Demonstrate evidence-based decision-making, integrating principles of equity, ethics, and social justice of civic concern in local and global communities.
- Develop and utilize personal- and organization-level knowledge and skills.
- Demonstrate mastery of content knowledge through the utilization of critical and creative thinking.
- Demonstrate competence in the application of multiple research methods.
- Contribute to professional knowledge bases through the dissemination of applied research.
Start Dates
With flexible start dates, you can begin your program when it’s best for you.
April 07, 2025 Term
Apr 04, 2025
Payment Due
Apr 04, 2025
Application Due
Apr 07, 2025
Term Start
Apr 11, 2025
Unregister/Cancel Deadline
May 11, 2025
Term End
May 19, 2025 Term
June 09, 2025 Term
July 07, 2025 Term
August 18, 2025 Term
September 08, 2025 Term
September 29, 2025 Term
November 10, 2025 Term
January 12, 2026 Term
February 23, 2026 Term
Courses
Here are just some of the courses you’ll take when working towards this program. Visit the College Catalog to see all courses.
LEAD6001 |
Introduction to Advanced Studies |
1 Semester Credits |
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LEAD6113 |
Ethical Leadership and Social Justice |
3 Semester Credits |
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LEAD6123 |
Management of Financial Resources |
3 Semester Credits |
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LEAD6133 |
Models of Leadership and Coaching |
3 Semester Credits |
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LEAD6143 |
Strategic Operations Planning and Innovation |
3 Semester Credits |
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LEAD6163 |
Management of Human Capital |
3 Semester Credits |
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LEAD6173 |
Global Perspectives |
3 Semester Credits |
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LEAD6323 |
Organizational Behavior and Culture |
3 Semester Credits |
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LEAD6011 |
Leadership as a Reflective Practice |
1 Semester Credits |
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LEAD6021 |
Leadership Seminar |
1 Semester Credits |
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Featured Faculty
Our real-world coursework is taught by experienced faculty.
Admission Requirements
ACE General Admission Requirements
Program Admission Requirements
International Transcript Requirements
English as a Second Language Applicants
*This is an estimated value of the cost for tuition and fees. Amounts may vary depending on number of transfer credits applied to the selected program hours, the pace and satisfactory completion of the selected program, receipt of institutional scholarship and/or grant amounts, or adjustments to tuition or fees as described in the Catalog Right to Modify Tuition section. State sales and use tax will apply where required by law.
State of California Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF)
It is a state of California requirement that a student who pays his or her tuition is required to pay a state-imposed assessment of zero dollars and zero cents ($0.00) per one thousand dollars ($1,000) of institutional charges, rounded to the nearest thousand dollars, for the California Student Tuition Recovery Fund. For more information and to see if you must pay the state-imposed assessment for Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) click here.
A Note About Licensure:
While this program provides a comprehensive understanding of the intended program outcomes, it does not lead to licensure, certification, or endorsement. ACE offers several programs that do provide a pathway to licensure, certification, or endorsement and they can be found here.
†This is an estimated time to completion. Actual completion time may vary depending on the number of transfer credits applied, availability of courses, a satisfactory pace, successful course completion, and meeting program milestones as required.