What Is an Ed.S. Degree?
All you need to know and more.
Ed.S. Degrees Explained
An Ed.S., or education specialist, degree is a postgraduate degree in education that elevates your expertise in preparation for advanced practitioner and specialized leadership roles. These programs allow you to engage in meaningful research without completing a dissertation – a great professional development pathway beyond a master’s degree that still equips you with evidence-based knowledge.
Earn an Ed.S. Degree Online
American College of Education (ACE) is an accredited institution offering affordable, high-quality online Ed.S. degree programs that cost under $13,0001 and can be completed in 18 months.2 This means you can build your career within your schedule and budget.
At ACE, you can further your education after completing your Ed.S. and transfer applicable credit hours toward a doctoral degree.
Choose the Right Path for Your Career Goals
Sometimes Ed.S. degrees are confused with Ed.D. degrees because they are both educational programs offered at the postgraduate level. We’ve compiled a comparison table to highlight key differences. You can also view our Ed.S. vs. Ed.D. guide for more detailed information.
| Ed.S. Programs at ACE | Ed.D. Programs at ACE | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $12,6601 | $24,8101 |
| Completion Time | 18 months2 | 36 months2 |
| Degree Level | Specialist | Doctoral |
| Career Goals | Specialized advanced practitioner roles (i.e. curriculum specialist, instructional designer, education consultant) | Advanced educational leadership roles (i.e. school superintendent, higher education administration, chief learning officer) |
FAQs About Ed.S. Degrees
What can you do with an Ed.S. degree?
Earning an Ed.S. degree prepares you to apply focused skills and proficiency in areas like curriculum development, instructional design and more. At ACE, you can also transfer credits earned toward a doctoral degree if you’d like to continue your education.
Can you earn an Ed.S. degree online?
Yes. ACE offers Ed.S. programs with fully online courses.
How long does it take to complete an Ed.S. degree program?
Standard Ed.S. programs are typically completable in 18 to 24 months. At ACE, you can complete an Ed.S. in 18 months.2
What is the difference between an Ed.S. and a doctorate degree?
The biggest difference is that an Ed.S. is not a doctoral or terminal degree like an Ed.D. is. Ed.S. degrees take less time to complete and usually cost less than a doctorate.
What are the typical Ed.S. degree requirements for admission?
At ACE, you must have a master’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. However, we may offer provisional admission for a GPA of 2.0. Our Ed.S. in Nursing Education has an additional requirement of an active, unencumbered RN license. Otherwise, we do not require the GRE, an interview or an essay.
Is an Ed.S. degree higher than a master’s degree?
Yes. While master’s degrees are often described as a way to help you specialize in a field or industry, they are academically a level below an Ed.S. degree. Ed.S. degrees are designed for people who already have a master’s degree and want to pursue further study.
1This 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.
2All values shown are an estimated value of the cost of tuition and fees. Actual amounts may vary depending on the number of transfer credits applied to the selected program hours, the pace and satisfactory completion of the selected program, the receipt of scholarship 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.
A Note About Licensure:
Graduates of online degree programs which are approved to lead to licensure, endorsement or certification may be subject to additional requirements for the receipt of initial licensure, endorsement or certification in the state in which they intend to teach or administrate.
Students are strongly encouraged to check licensure requirements in the state in which they intend to teach or administrate to determine whether they are eligible for licensure, endorsement or certification.
It is vitally important that students know and be continually aware of the requirements for licensure in their state. State licensing requirements and licensing agency information may be found here.
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