I meet with a number of master’s students and prospective doctoral students considering getting their doctorate in higher education. There are many programs out there that offer various types of Ed.D. and Ph.D. degrees. I’ve previously discussed the difference between an Ed.D. and Ph.D. In today’s post, I want to share some things to consider in how to choose the right doc program in higher ed.

Higher education doctoral programs are different from other disciplines because many students have never formally studied higher education. As a result, I believe students struggle in comparing programs and deciding what kinds of programs might be the best fit.

In addition, like many professional fields, students have to consider whether their level of professional experience has prepared them for doctoral studies. Prospective students also have to consider their job prospects in the short and long term to help think through whether to pursue a Ph.D. or Ed.D.

Below are six aspects to consider to help you identify a doctoral program that will best fit your academic, professional, and personal needs.

1.  Where are you in life?

Before deciding to pursue a doctorate, think about your life stage both personally and professionally. A doctoral program will take a great deal of time and commitment, are you in a place to devote the necessary resources? Do you have young children? What does your spouse or partner think about the idea? Will your job allow you some flexibility? How is your support system? You may decide that you want to get a doctorate one day, but determine if now is the right time or if you should wait. Starting a doctoral program at the wrong time in your life won’t provide a firm foundation for success.

2.  What’s your goal?

Why do you want to get a doctorate? What’s your goal and motivation? I find students are usually interested in the gown or the merit badge (or both). For those interested in the gown, they want to learn more about higher education, research, and have a genuine curiosity about colleges and universities. Students that seek the merit badge want or need the credential. Higher education institutions are credential driven places. Many people find their career advancement opportunities limited without a doctorate. Obviously, your reasons for getting the degree will have an impact on what is important for you when evaluating a doc program.

3.  What are the financial implications?

Getting a doctorate can be very expensive. Some programs offer fellowships (funding with no work obligation) or assistantships (funding that comes with a part-time position). Many programs have limited financial support available for students. In this case, students will be paying almost all of the tuition and fees for the program. You should consider your ability to do this and whether paying for a program makes sense professionally and financially. One of the best deals that is often available is employee tuition benefits. A number of institutions that have higher education programs offer employee discounts or even free tuition. The major drawback from employee benefit programs is that they usually require a bit longer time to degree as they will only pay for a part-time course load. However, the financial benefits may outweigh the costs of going through a doc program more slowly.

4.  How does this impact your time?

In many ways more important than the financial implications, are you willing and able to spend the time necessary to successfully complete the degree? You will be spending many, many nights and weekends working on coursework and your dissertation. In addition, doctoral programs differ on when they offer classes such as during the day or evening that can have time implications for you.

5.  How rigorous is the program?

You should carefully consider who are the faculty in the program. Look beyond who is listed as a faculty member, but who teaches classes. Some programs tout highly regarded faculty but they rarely teach or work directly with students. I would not attend that kind of program. Moreover, carefully consider the rigor of the doc programs you are considering. Ask for sample syllabi and what the academic expectations are for classes. If you are going to invest the time and resources necessary in a doctoral program, you should be challenged.

6.  Do you have the motivation/grit needed to finish?

If you can get admitted into a program, you have the academic ability to finish. The question is if you have the motivation, grit, and determination to finish. You should carefully consider this. Some of my best and brightest students never graduated because their motivation wavered while students with less academic ability easily finished because they had the determination. More so than almost any other academic program, a doctoral program requires motivation and grit to finish. At various points, you will have to convince yourself to sit down and do the work. No amount of family or faculty support can make you sit down and write. Look inside yourself and be honest: is this something you will do?

I could probably write a dozen posts going over all of the aspects that you should consider. However, I believe these six are a great start and will help you know how to choose the right doc program in higher ed.