About the Higher Education & Student Affairs Ed.D.

Unleash robust career possibilities by earning your doctorate at St. Cloud State University. Our affordable, 100% online program prepares you to lead two-year, four-year, public, and private colleges and universities.

You'll interact with world-class faculty to learn a wide-range of roles within higher education including student affairs, administration, athletics, enrollment management, alumni and development, academics, and so much more. 

The curriculum incorporates standards championed by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) as its benchmark for professional competencies assessment. 

Admission Requirements and Details

The Higher Education & Student Affairs Ed.D. program begins a new cohort each Fall semester.

When applying for a doctoral program, the School of Graduate Studies serves as a liaison between the applicant and the doctoral program. Application materials are completed online and processed by the School of Graduate Studies.

Once all application materials are received, Graduate Studies will forward materials to the doctoral program for review and an interview will be scheduled. Thereafter, an admission recommendation will be forwarded to Graduate Studies for a final decision and notification to the applicant.

Application Materials

  • Apply for admission to graduate study
  • Application and application fee
  • Statement of Intent
  • Resume/curriculum vitae
  • Writing sample, such as thesis, research paper or professionally written document
  • Submit 3 recommenders who rate applicant's skills using a likert scale
    • There is no need for a traditional letter of recommendation
    • Add the recommender's name and contact within the online application
    • The recommender clicks on e-mailed link and rates the candidate in about 2 minutes
    • Let your recommender know to watch their email for this
    • Remind your recommenders to complete prior to application deadline
  • Unofficial transcripts

International students must also include the following: WES or NACES course-by-course transcript evaluation, documentation of English proficiency, and Financial information forms.

Program Admission Requirements

For admission consideration, Ed.D. applicants must meet minimum Graduate Studies admission requirements, plus the program requirements below: 

  • Completion of a bachelor's and master's degree.
    • Your degrees do not need to be in the Higher Education Administration field. 
  • Submission of a professional writing sample, such as master’s research or a master's thesis, published article, paper prepared for a professional conference, research paper or written analysis of a professional article.

Applicants participate in an interview with doctoral program faculty after all other application materials are received. A holistic review of the application and required documentation will be completed.  Application criteria and review procedures give significant advantage to applicants who have work experience in higher education organizations or other professional work experience.

Competition for limited places in the HIED program may require a wait list. Wait-list decisions are complete no later than August 15 but notifications are sent out earlier as an opening occurs.

Priority Deadlines

The priority deadline for applications is Jan. 15 with an additional deadline of March 15. Applications received after March 15 will be accepted and considered on a space-available basis.

Applications will be reviewed and admission interviews conducted following each deadline date. Students applying for graduate assistantships and international students are strongly encouraged to apply by the Jan. 15 and March 15 deadline.  Apply early to prevent being on a wait list.

Prior Courses

Prior credits may be applied toward your doctor of education elective credits. The program will determine your credits shortly after program admission.

No more than a total of 27 credits may be accepted as Advanced Standing via a combination of credits from your Master's (12 credits max), Post-Master's, Specialist, or Doctoral degree.

This is a 72-credit program with at least 45 credits of a student's doctoral program needing to be completed at St. Cloud State University.

Program Details

Tuition and Financial Assistance

Without any sacrifice to academic quality, you benefit from amazing value when you choose our program. Our students all pay the same price no matter if you live in-state or out-of-state.

  • Everyone enjoys In-State tuition rates.
  • Students who live out of state and are taking only online courses may be eligible for a waiver of all student fees except for the MSUSA and Technology fees. Apply for a waiver.

SEE CURRENT TUITION RATES

The University and program offer online or on-campus graduate assistantships to attain academically relevant experiences. Students receive a stipend for their work and tuition remission. Students may apply for assistantships through the Career Center.

St. Cloud State offers scholarships gifted by friends and alumni of the University

The Academic and Cultural Sharing Scholarship (ACSS) offers resident tuition rates to international students who meet and maintain eligibility requirements.

We provide you with an overview of financial aid programs and give you guidance in the application process.  Submitting the FAFSA application is free. Contact the Financial Aid Office to talk with a staff member about how to pay for school and keep you debt load down.

The Veterans Resource Center will assist active duty service-members and those separated from service with obtaining education benefits. 

Check with your Human Resource Office to determine if you are eligible for any type of tuition waiver through your employer. Your contract may cover a tuition waiver or cover your tuition credits under your professional development benefits.

Minnesota State Employee tuition waiver: employees are entitled to enroll in a limited number of courses on an annual basis at some Minnesota State institutions without payment of tuition. See your union contract for specific benefit information or speak with an individual in the Human Resources Department at your institution. 

Graduate students, under the direction of a faculty member, have access to  research funding in the Office of Sponsored Programs.

The  Vera Russell Graduate Student Travel Fund was developed to support the College of Education and Learning Design graduate students presenting at a regional, national, or international professional conference. Funds of up to $2,500 per graduate student are awarded in multiple rounds throughout the academic year. Funding is in the form of reimbursement.

St. Cloud State provides a list to community resources, campus resources, academic support and student services to assist students with resources such as child care, clothing, counseling, employment, food, housing, healthcare, legal assistance, transportation, accessibility and so much more.

The Minnesota College Personnel Association LGBTQIA+ Commission provides a Resource Library with scholarships and grants to local and national non-profit organizations.