Ph.D. in Education Leadership

At Teachers College at Columbia University, tuition fees are 34,971 USD per year, while applications for the Sep 2026 intake are open until Dec 1, 2026.

The Ph.D. program in Education Leadership is a research-intensive doctoral program designed to develop professors and researchers for PK-12 education leadership roles. It focuses on equity and social justice within school leadership and administration, adult development, data science, and organizational management. Students engage with current issues, theories, research, and methods, culminating in independent dissertation research.

Focus areas include school and district leadership and administration, equity and social justice, adult development, data science.

This is a 75-credit program structured around core coursework, research methods, electives, a certification examination, and a dissertation. Students select courses from qualitative or quantitative areas and electives, in addition to required seminars and dissertation advisement.

Graduates are prepared to become professors and researchers in PK-12 education leadership, grow aspiring and practicing school leaders, and advance scholarship in the field.

Admission requires a Master's degree in education leadership, curriculum and teaching, or a related field, GRE General Test scores, three letters of recommendation, an academic writing sample, and an online application including a statement of purpose and resume. An English proficiency exam is required if applicable, along with a $75 application fee. Finalists may be interviewed.

The programme totals about 75 credit hours. Full-Time Campus-Based. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes.

Teachers College has helped shape the field of special education and carries forward John Dewey’s global educational legacy. Graduate study focuses on pressing problems in education and related fields, with work spanning literacy, dual enrollment, educational technology, sustainability, youth mental health, and the public good. Students engage with research, special lectures, colloquia, and workshops alongside their academic programs.

The College connects professional preparation with practical innovation. Student innovators can validate education technology tools, connect with alumni, and develop projects intended to create educational impact. Its community also includes educators, researchers, faculty, staff, and alumni working across education and related areas. Alumni recognition includes graduates who have pursued careers and advanced study in fields connected to education, research, and public service.

Teachers College occupies a campus on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, on West 120th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. The campus includes five residence halls and eight interconnected buildings, with Gothic architecture dating back to the early 19th century. Its multicultural, urban setting shapes educational and social opportunities and supports ties with the local community. The No. 1 subway train serves the nearby 116th Street station, while New York City offers access to special events, community projects, and the wider Columbia University area.