Online EdD in Community College Leadership
Elevate your community college leadership potential with our online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership degree program. The Community College Leadership Initiative track will prepare you to lead in a community college setting.
Why choose Rowan Online's educational leadership in community college program?
Elevate your community college leadership potential with Rowan University’s online Doctor of Education (EdD) in educational leadership degree program.
Built for working professionals ready to expand their impact in a community college setting, this track supports educators with experience in higher ed as well as rising leaders looking to gain advanced knowledge in the field. The cohort benefits from faculty whose focus is on community college research; New Jersey community college presidents who teach in the program and serve on dissertation committees; access to senior educational and policy leaders within the State; and a growing network of successful and innovative community college leaders who are graduates of the program. As a member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED), Rowan created this program to bridge theory and practice, empowering scholar-practitioners to address today’s most urgent challenges in higher education.
2025-2026 Academic Year
Credits, Cost & Completion Time
Credits
Per Credit
Months to Complete
Application Deadlines
Fall Module A Entry Deadline (Early Decision)
Fall Module A Entry Deadline
Summer Module B Entry Deadline
Start Dates
Fall Module A Start Date
Summer Module B Start Date
Studying educational leadership in community colleges online at Rowan
What You'll Learn
When earning your educational leadership degree online from Rowan University, you can expect a clear, flexible structure that supports your needs from enrollment to graduation. Here’s how:
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- 60 total credits, including 48 credits of coursework and 12 credits of dissertation
- Part-time format designed for full-time professionals
- One course at a time, each completed over an 8-week term
- Flexible, open cohort model that allows for peer support and re-entry if needed
- Four dissertation options: Traditional, Public Scholarship, Program Evaluation or Improvement Science
- Courses taught primarily by full-time EdD faculty
- Early integration of dissertation work, supported through bootcamps and pro-seminars
- One-day in-person orientation paired with an online residency to build early faculty and peer connections
Online educational leadership key courses
- Inquiry I: Theory to Practice
- Inquiry II: Program Evaluation
- Inquiry III: Public Policy, Ethics and Contemporary Issues
- Inquiry IV: Inquiry for Improvement
- Introduction to Writing a Research Literature Review
- Leader Scholar Community I
- Leader Scholar Community II
- Leader Scholar Community III
- Leadership for Social Justice
- Public Policy, Ethics and Contemporary Issues
- Reforming Organizations
- Sustainable Institutional Change
Courses in the community college leadership initiative track
In the Community College Leadership Initiative track, you’ll explore topics like history and context of American community colleges, governance, legal and administrative issues in community colleges and leadership and advocacy for community college student success. Coursework is grounded in applied research and equity-driven practice, helping you grow as a scholar-practitioner while preparing for senior leadership roles across academic and student affairs.
- History and Context of American Community Colleges
- Community College Governance and Leadership
- Legal and Administrative Issues in Community Colleges
- Leadership and Advocacy for Community College Student Success
Note: The course information above is not official and is subject to change. For an official list of available courses, please review the Rowan University Academic Catalog.
The Rowan Online Experience
You don’t have to step away from your career to earn a doctoral degree. Rowan Online offers asynchronous courses, active faculty engagement, part-time coursework and a platform that helps you stay connected to your peers and instructors when the time is right for you. You can continue making an impact while building the knowledge and leadership skills to grow into a higher education leader.
Admission Requirements
To begin the admission process for Rowan’s online EdD in educational leadership degree program, you must submit the following application materials. Once you apply, a representative from the Rowan University Office of Admissions will reach out to confirm your application or notify you of any missing information. There may be additional actions or materials required for admission to the program.
- Completed online application
- $65 (U.S.) nonrefundable application fee
- Master's degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution of higher learning
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended (regardless of number of credits earned)
- Current professional résumé
- Three letters of recommendation
- If you have completed a master’s degree within the past five years, you should include an instructor from the program as one of your recommenders.
- Recommended GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale)
- While certification is not required for the program, the Faculty Admissions Committee asks you to please submit a copy of any educational certifications you hold.
- Three typewritten essays as follows:
- In 500 words or fewer, describe your reasons for wanting to enroll in the educational leadership doctoral program.
- In 500 words or fewer, describe the characteristics of an effective leader. In what ways do you demonstrate those characteristics? In what ways can you improve?
- In 1,000 words or fewer, describe a pressing issue facing education today. If it were your responsibility to address the issue on a national level, how would you approach the problem? With whom would you collaborate to develop your plan?
- Interview with the Faculty Admissions Committee
- The Admissions Committee will directly contact those selected to move forward regarding the interview. The interview can be in person or via telephone.
Tuition and Aid
Tuition for Rowan’s online EdD in educational leadership is $1,032 per credit. This competitive graduate rate reflects the high-quality instruction, faculty support and accessibility Rowan offers its students.
Higher Education Careers and Outcomes
The online EdD in Educational Leadership: Community College Leadership Initiative program prepares professionals to take on high-impact roles in community college—from areas like academic affairs and student services to institutional planning and policy. Graduates often step into leadership positions such as dean, director, provost, chief academic officer or college president, where they work to improve student outcomes and organizational success.
Upcoming virtual information sessions and events
Have questions about earning an EdD in educational leadership online? Rowan Online offers virtual info sessions that provide a closer look at the EdD program and Rowan as a whole. Hear from faculty, connect with admissions representatives and learn how the program supports scholar-practitioners through applied research and flexible coursework.
Can a Doctorate in Educational Leadership Help You Lead a Community College?
If you’re a higher education professional looking to grow your impact, you might be wondering: Can a doctorate in educational leadership help you become a dean of a college or lead a community college institution? Rowan University says yes.
Our fully online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership: Community College Leadership track is built specifically for professionals working in or aspiring to lead within two-year institutions. Whether you’re already managing teams or beginning to explore your next step, this flexible, career-focused program will help you lead with confidence—on your schedule.
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