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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student/teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.

Do you want to acquire an online doctorate degree in child development education, but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best online doctorate in child development education programs.

What institution did we forget? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

1. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM

New Mexico State University’s doctor of philosophy in classes and instruction is offered as a blended degree program that incorporates on-campus two-week sessions each summer for three years of study. Learners can finish this 66-credit-hour degree program in three years. While intended to give learners a background in coursework and instruction theory, this degree program also encourages learners to investigate various approaches when solving educational problems. Learners develop leadership in professional settings via research, publication, grant writing, and more. NMSU’s online PhD is sanctioned by the Higher Learning Commission. Also, NMSU offers a credit discount for learners who are actively serving in the US military.

The institution has five campuses—along with an Albuquerque satellite learning center—and 33 cooperative extension offices, and 12 other research and science centers. NMSU has an array of bachelor’s, master’s, certificate, and licensure programs, and via NMSU Online, the institution has over 500 online classes. College Choice rated NMSU in the top 20 most reasonably priced online colleges for 2017–18, and NMSU has been recognized as a Military Friendly School since 2010.

2. Oakland University, Rochester, MI

Oakland University’s education specialist degree in leadership is delivered online. The 34-credit degree program follows a cohort structure, and learners normally finish their EdS within 22 months. The convenient class schedule is intended to allow busy professionals to work and obtain further training simultaneously. Veteran administrators and specialists teach all the classes, and learners can customize their research, mentorship, and internship so that the degree program truly supports their professional objectives and areas of interest. The degree program is recognized by the National Policy Board of Education Administration and the Education Leadership Constituent Council.

Oakland University was established in 1957. Today, the institution is a doctoral research institution with an enrollment of more than 20,500 graduate and undergraduate learners. The institution has state-of-the-art facilities, research labs, internships and externships, and even research opportunities with corporate partners, including Fortune 500 companies, hospitals, and more.

3. Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Ball State University’s doctorate of education with an emphasis in special education degree program contains classwork offered via a blend of online and residential platforms. Learners can select one or more emphasis areas such as applied behavior and autism, teaching and learning—low incidence, teaching and learning—high incidence, and special education. During the degree program, learners will form a doctoral committee who will consult with the learner and guide them as they develop their dissertation. This degree program consists of 90 post-graduate degree credits, and learners may apply a maximum of 30 master’s degree credits toward the 90-credit total.

Established in 1918, Ball State University is classified as an institution of high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

4. Portland State University, Portland, OR

Portland State University’s educational leadership doctoral program is intended for learners who wish to comprehend education from Pre-K to higher education career. PSU graduates are qualified for a broad range of careers, including superintendents, coursework directors, teacher educators, and other leadership positions. PSU’s online EdS is delivered via a blended platform, where learners meet on campus on Friday night, and Saturday for six out of 10 weeks each quarter-term. During the non-face-to-face weeks, learners finish work online. This degree program design enables learners to fit learning into their busy schedules and professional lives.

Portland State University has more than 200 distinct degree programs and an 18:1 learner-to-faculty ratio. Portland State’s College of Education was established in 1946 and today has 53 graduate programs. The College of Education is fully sanctioned by the Council for the Accrediting Body of Educator Preparation. It is the first educator preparation degree program in Ohio, the first such degree program on the West Coast, and one of the first 10 such programs in the nation to receive that accreditation.

5. Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

Old Dominion University is home to eight colleges and 842 full-time professors. Old Dominion was established in 1930 and is sanctioned by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Of the institution’s enrollment of 24,375 learners, about a quarter are military associated. The institution has 22 doctoral programs, and learners may participate in over 300 learner organizations. More than 100 programs are offered as online programs via ODUOnline.

Old Dominion University’s educational leadership education specialist degree is intended for learners who hold a master’s degree in an education field, but who do not have a license in administration supervision. This degree program leads to Licensure in Educational Administration and Supervision, Pre-K-12. It consists of 33 credits, which necessitate 120 internship hours, during which learners get conceptual and hypothetical knowledge along with field experience. Learners partake in live, scheduled online class meetings. Graduates will be ready to secure positions such as assistant principal, principal, coursework leader, lead teacher, and more. The degree program is not available in the state of Washington.

6. Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA

Regent University’s Doctor of Education with a concentration in special education is intended for special education teachers who want to hold leadership positions in research, practice, or policy. This online degree program will help learners know how to interpret data, develop research-based interventions, investigate the history of special education, get a comprehension of current issues and best practices surrounding special education, and more. Program graduates will be ready to obtain employment within educational research, policy, advocacy, and consulting, along with central office executive leadership.

7. Concordia University at Chicago, Chicago, IL

The doctoral program in leadership with a concentration in early childhood education is offered in online and on-campus formats at Concordia University Chicago. The degree program is built upon each learner’s previous work in the field, and learners finish between 61 and 67 credits. Upon graduation, learners will be ready to hold careers in higher education, leadership and administration, or in policy, advocacy, and politics. Program graduates have gone on to obtain early childhood leadership positions in institutions, educational planning, and management. Prospective learners should apply with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and submit two letters of recommendation.

Situated in River Forest, Illinois, Concordia University Chicago was established in 1864 as a college for teachers. Today, the liberal arts institution is comprised of five distinct schools. Concordia University Chicago is associated with the Lutheran Church and incorporates Christian values into its coursework. This institution features an impressive 11:1 graduate-learner-to-faculty ratio, ensuring that learners obtain plenty of support. Concordia University Chicago has many online programs with an international reach, serving learners from 37 states and 26 foreign countries.

8. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

The University of Alabama’s EdS in elementary education is a 30-credit-hour degree program that is delivered entirely online. Classes are delivered by the same professors situated on-campus for private sessions. Learners finish an action research thesis in which they have the chance to teach a piece of coursework from their classroom in a new way and to compare the results with previous teaching experiences. Program candidates must hold a master’s level teaching certificate and a minimum 3.0 GPA in their master’s level classwork.

The University of Alabama was established in 1831. The institution consists of 13 distinct schools and has bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in almost 200 different programs. Additionally, the University of Alabama has an array of online programs, all of which are sanctioned by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Online learners obtain the same diploma that on-campus learners receive. This institution is home to 53 Goldwater Scholars, 15 Rhodes Scholars, 16 Truman Scholars, and 33 Hollings Scholars. Many learners who graduate from the University of Alabama go on to win Fulbright awards, which enable them to teach abroad.

9. Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

The doctor of philosophy in classes and instruction degree at Liberty University is offered completely online, though learners may attend optional intensives on Liberty’s central Virginia campus. The intensives offer adaptable scheduling and are intended to deliver learners with a real-life learning experience. This is a three-year degree program that delivers a terminal educational credential. During the degree program, learners will learn how to develop their educational management skills and will get the skills necessary to foster leadership in teachers and learners. Thanks to the degree program’s integrated dissertation process, learners will work toward their final projects while completing their classwork.

Established in 1971; today, Liberty University is an evangelical liberal arts institution that consists of 16 colleges and schools offering over 550 programs of study. Liberty is sanctioned by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and has not raised tuition for undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs in three straight years. Liberty’s online degrees are rated in the top five out of over 2,100 online colleges when it comes to their academic quality, affordability, and accessibility. The online programs are intended to work around a learner’s busy schedule and are offered in eight-week segments.

10. Endicott College, Endicott, NY

Endicott has a 14:1 learner-to-faculty ratio, and 72 percent of the school’s full-time instructional faculty possess a doctorate or terminal degree. Established in 1939; today, Endicott has an array of associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Endicott College’s educational leadership in preK-12-degree program features a combination of online classes combined with limited weekend instruction and on-campus residency. The 51-credit degree program is structured to design an ongoing mentorship among learners and educational leaders. Learners partake in a two-semester apprenticeship, during which mentors deliver observations and input.

Prospective candidates must submit three letters of recommendation for consideration. Also, candidates will need to finish an admission interview scheduled after a review of the application materials.