PhD in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration (PhD)

Tuition is Tuition for Active Duty Military personnel, dependents and spouses is discounted..

This is a Doctor of Education program with options in Higher Education, preparing leaders for educational institutions. It focuses on integrating teaching, research, and service to drive change across all areas of education. Coursework is delivered 100% online, with two virtual residencies over three years.

Focus areas include Higher Education: Leadership, Higher Education: Teaching and Learning.

The program is structured as a three-year online degree with two virtual residencies.

Graduates can pursue careers as classroom teachers with upgraded certification, in school leadership or administration, or as college professors or higher education leaders.

Admission requires a 3.25 GPA in a master’s degree, three letters of recommendation, a resume showing at least three years of relevant experience, and a writing sample. Non-U.S. applicants need a TOEFL score of 79 or IELTS of 6.5, and an interview is also required.

Online, with two virtual residencies. The program is typically three years long. For international students, tuition is well below the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 87% of applicants.

Brenau University brings together a Historic Gainesville Campus, Downtown Gainesville Campus, Gainesville East Campus, North Atlanta Campus and online study options. Its Gainesville address places the university in Gainesville, Georgia, while the Norcross location extends its reach toward the Atlanta area. Students can experience a multi-campus structure and choose a learning format that fits their goals and schedules.

More than 145 years of educating students has produced a university organized around four academic colleges: the Jacobs College of Business and Media, Carole Ann Daniel College of Education, College of Fine Arts & Humanities, and Ivester College of Health Sciences. Coursework is career-focused, with small classes and dedicated professors. The university lists a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and its programs include fields such as occupational therapy, dance, education and marketing.

International students should expect a community-oriented study environment where connections with professors are part of the academic experience. Brenau also offers financial aid counseling for undergraduate and graduate students, with guidance on available assistance and college costs. Its flexible campus and online approach may be useful for students comparing in-person study in Georgia with programs that can fit different routines. The university enrolled 2,451 students and conferred 614 degrees during the 2024-2025 academic year.