PhD in Education | Organizational Leadership

Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Lead Your School to Success with a PhD in Education and Organizational Leadership

To create a positive learning environment that prepares students to achieve their goals, academic institutions need more than knowledgeable faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. They need outstanding leadership among those who work in administration.

Conferring Liberty University’s online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education – Organizational Leadership program can help prepare you for a career as an academic administrator at the county, state, or national level. School administrators are involved in every level of education, from preschool to university. So, if you are seeking a degree that strengthens your leadership skills and opens you up to a variety of career options, our PhD in Education is a great option.

With Liberty’s PhD in Education – Organizational Leadership, you can gain the communication, research, and leadership skills needed to lead your students and educational institution to success. Partner with us and earn a versatile degree that can prepare you to work in many levels of education, from K-12 schools to universities.

Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026

Private Nonprofit University
600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Our Online Education – Organizational Leadership Doctoral Program?

If you want to make a difference in the modern education system, Liberty’s online PhD in Education – Organizational Leadership can help you get started on the path to success. This is a focused program that covers the theoretical underpinnings of education and leadership as well as practical skills that can be applied to the professional world.

Experienced Faculty | Our courses are taught by seasoned professors who have years of experience working in the education sector. With their guidance, you can gain knowledge and skills that can serve you well in a career as an academic administrator. Our faculty are passionate about what they do, knowledgeable in their field, and excited to help you grow academically, professionally, and spiritually.
Flexibility | Our goal is to help you earn your degree in a way that fits your schedule, which is why our PhD in Education is offered completely online. With the flexible format of this graduate program, you can log into your courses on your own time and access study materials from the comfort of home. Most importantly, you can stay invested in your priorities — like your family, job, and community — while completing a degree that can take your career to the next level.
Christian Principles | At Liberty, you’ll examine relevant topics and current events in light of a Christian worldview. Your professors won’t just teach you industry best practices — they’ll challenge you to apply biblical principles to real-world issues in the education system. We can help you become a Champion for Christ and help equip you to follow God’s calling on your life, wherever He is leading you.

What Will You Study in Liberty’s PhD in Education Online Program?

Enhance your knowledge of both theoretical and practical approaches to leadership in the education system. Our online education courses dive into topics such as learning theory, issues and trends in modern learning technologies, and historical and philosophical bases for education. You’ll also complete several research courses that can help prepare you for a career in academia.

Because leadership skills are just as important as education theory when it comes to managing academic institutions, this program will focus on key aspects of leadership studies, with an emphasis on organizational leadership. This cognate can strengthen your ability to lead effective teams and guide organizations through change. Learn how to use scholarly research and creative analysis to solve common leadership problems that occur within modern organizations.

Later in the doctoral program, you will propose, write, and defend a dissertation based on your own original research. The dissertation process is designed to be integrated with the rest of your coursework, allowing you to simultaneously conduct dissertation research and complete regular assignments. Completing a dissertation can help you contribute to modern discussions about leadership in academia, and your research could help shape the future of our education system for the better.

Potential Career Opportunities

By earning a doctorate in education and organizational leadership, you can pursue a variety of careers in the education system. After completing this degree, some of the roles you may qualify for include:

Assistant principal
Dean/provost
Department head
K-12 school administrator
School headmaster
School principal
Superintendent of schools
Survey researcher
University administrator

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Doctoral Full Time	$610/Credit
Doctoral Part Time	$675/Credit

Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $375/credit hour (learn more).

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Admission Information for Liberty University’s PhD in Education Program

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.

Transcript Policies

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees

Military Tuition Discount

We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want – at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $375/credit hour. Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work toward your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession – for less.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

View Military Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a school administrator?

Academic administrators are responsible for overseeing school operations and maintaining a high-quality learning environment for both students and faculty. An administrator typically handles the following duties:

Assist with public relations and marketing activities
Hire and manage staff
Manage budgets
Monitor student achievement data
Oversee student services
Recruit new students
Set and enforce school policies
Work on committees and task groups

What are the benefits of pursuing a program like this online?

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App Fee Waived This Week*

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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Education PhD in Organizational Leadership Online Key Decisions Drive Real Results

Lead Your School to Success with a PhD in Education and Organizational Leadership

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Our Online Education – Organizational Leadership Doctoral Program?

What Will You Study in Liberty’s PhD in Education Online Program?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

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Admission Information for Liberty University’s PhD in Education Program

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Are you ready to change your future?

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