Updated September 2026
Online EdD Programs With No GRE Required: 10 Top Picks for 2026
You can apply to these 10 online EdD (Doctor of Education) programs without GRE scores. We checked each test policy, length and price on the school’s own website.
Most online EdD programs no longer require the GRE, including the top schools in our ranking: Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Florida and UNC-Chapel Hill. USC Rossier does not accept GRE scores at all, while Johns Hopkins and Vanderbilt make them optional. Instead, schools look at your GPA, work experience, essays and letters, and some add an interview or writing sample.
Key facts
- UNC-Chapel Hill requires neither the GRE nor a master’s degree. You can apply with a bachelor’s degree and three years of leadership experience.
- UNC also has the lowest estimated tuition on our list for in-state students: $32,292 for North Carolina residents. Indiana is next at $34,870.80 for Indiana residents.
- Illinois says its online EdD students never need to come to campus. Johns Hopkins and Bradley also describe their programs as 100% online.
The 10 Best Online EdD Programs With No GRE Required
Every program below says on the school’s own website that the GRE is not required for any applicant. Each one is mostly online. We ordered the programs by our overall school ranking. See how we chose these programs for the full rules.
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD |
| 2 | Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN |
| 3 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC |
| 5 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL |
| 7 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg, VA |
| 8 | Indiana University-Bloomington | Bloomington, IN |
| 9 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | Saint Louis, MO |
| 10 | Bradley University | Peoria, IL |
Program Profiles
1. Johns Hopkins University: Online Doctor of Education (EdD)
Johns Hopkins, in Baltimore, lets you earn its EdD 100% online. The GRE is optional, but the school says scores are “strongly encouraged.” So if you have good scores, it may be worth sending them. Applicants also write a Problem of Practice essay. The program takes four years and ends with a Doctoral Dossier.
- Format: 100% online
- Length: 4 years
- Credits: 54
- Final project: Doctoral Dossier
- Admission: GRE optional, but scores are “strongly encouraged” by the school. You need a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, at least three years of relevant work experience and a minimum 3.25 GPA. You also send a Problem of Practice essay, a résumé and letters. Selected applicants complete a virtual interview.
- Tuition: $2,315 per credit (Summer 2026 to Spring 2027), or about $125,010 for 54 credits
2. Vanderbilt University: Online EdD in Leadership and Learning in Organizations
Vanderbilt’s Peabody College, in Nashville, offers this EdD for people who lead learning in organizations. The GRE and GMAT are both optional. Classes are online, but you visit campus three times for two-day convenings. Most students finish in about 36 months. The program ends with a capstone project.
- Format: online, with three two-day convenings on campus during the program
- Length: three to four years; most students finish in about 36 months
- Credits: 54
- Final project: capstone project
- Admission: GRE or GMAT optional. You need an undergraduate GPA normally above 3.0 and at least 30 graduate credits that apply to the degree. You also need three or more years of leadership experience, a statement of purpose and three letters.
- Tuition: $2,492 per credit (2026–27), or about $134,568 for 54 credits
3. University of Florida: Online EdD in Educational Leadership
Florida’s online EdD in Educational Leadership dropped the GRE starting with the Fall 2024 cohort. It is a part-time program that takes four years. You meet online on two Saturdays each semester, and no campus visits are listed. Instead of test scores, Florida asks for a writing sample and may invite you to an interview.
- Format: online, with two live virtual Saturday meetings each semester
- Length: four years of part-time study
- Credits: 90, and up to 15 may transfer from your master’s degree
- Final project: dissertation
- Admission: GRE not required. You need a master’s degree, a 3.0 GPA in upper-level college courses and a writing sample of up to 10 pages. You may be invited to interview.
- Tuition: $517.88 per credit for Florida residents and $995.70 for non-residents admitted in Summer 2026 or later (2026–27, fees included). For 90 credits, that is about $46,609.20 or $89,613. Transfer credits lower the total.
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Online EdD in Organizational Learning and Leadership
UNC-Chapel Hill accepts EdD students without a master’s degree. You need a bachelor’s degree and three years of leadership experience, and no GRE. You take 17 courses in a set order. The in-person immersion is optional. The standard time to finish is 36 months.
- Format: online; the in-person immersion is optional
- Length: 36 months (standard time to finish)
- Credits: 54 (17 courses)
- Final project: Dissertation in Practice over three semesters
- Admission: GRE and GMAT not required. You need a bachelor’s degree, a 3.0 GPA (or an explanation if lower) and three years of leadership experience. You also send a résumé, a statement and three letters.
- Tuition: $598 per credit for North Carolina residents and $1,634.50 for non-residents, plus a $29.42 distance fee (Fall 2026 to Spring 2027). That is about $32,292 or $88,263 in tuition. UNC says these rates are not final until state approval.
5. University of Southern California: Online EdD in Educational Leadership
USC Rossier, in Los Angeles, takes the firmest stance on the test. It says GRE scores are “neither required nor accepted,” so do not send them. Online students choose class times on one or two evenings a week. With a master’s degree, you take 43 units. Without one, you take 60 units.
- Format: online classes one or two evenings a week
- Length: 3 years full-time, or 4 or 5 years part-time (43-unit track)
- Credits: 43 units with a master’s degree; 60 units with a bachelor’s degree
- Final project: dissertation in practice
- Admission: GRE not accepted. You need a master’s or bachelor’s degree and at least three years of full-time work experience. You should show growing leadership duties. You also write essays and a timed writing assignment.
- Tuition: $2,539 per unit (2026–27), or about $109,177 for 43 units ($152,340 for 60 units)
6. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Online EdD in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership
Illinois offers this EdD completely online. The school says students do not need to come to campus for any reason. You join one live video session each week. The degree includes written and oral exams and a full dissertation. The school’s pages do not state how long the program takes.
- Format: entirely online, with a weekly live video session
- Length: not stated on the school’s pages
- Credits: 64
- Final project: two written qualifying exams, oral exams and a dissertation
- Admission: GRE not required. You need a master’s degree and a 3.0 GPA. You also send academic and personal statements, a résumé and three references.
- Tuition: $555 per credit in tuition and fees, or about $35,520 for 64 credits. The registrar lists $551 tuition plus a $4 online fee (Fall 2026 to Summer 2027).
7. Virginia Tech: EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (Online Cohort)
Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, runs an online-only cohort of this EdD, with all courses taught virtually. It is aimed at K-12 school leaders. You need school leadership experience and a Virginia school administration endorsement or an equal license. The GRE is not required, but a faculty interview is. You may finish in three years.
- Format: all courses online for the online-only cohort, which starts in summer (November 1 deadline)
- Length: may be completed in three years
- Credits: 69 at Virginia Tech, plus 30 transfer credits (99 total)
- Final project: dissertation, in a five-chapter or journal-article format
- Admission: GRE not required. You need a master’s degree and a 3.3 GPA in your last two years of university work. You also need three letters, one from a superintendent, and an interview.
- Tuition: $1,027 per credit for Virginia residents, $1,996.75 for non-residents and $770.25 for Virginia K-12 employees (2026–27). For 69 credits, that is about $70,863, $137,775.75 or $53,147.25.
8. Indiana University Bloomington: Online EdD in Educational Leadership
Indiana’s online EdD is one of the lower-cost options on our list, especially for Indiana residents. All courses are online, and you visit campus only for workshops in your final summer. The program could take three years. The next cohort starts in Summer 2027, and applications open December 1, 2026.
- Format: 100% online courses, with in-person workshops during the final summer
- Length: could be completed in three years
- Credits: 60
- Final project: Problem of Practice dissertation
- Admission: GRE not required. You need a bachelor’s degree with a 2.75 GPA and a master’s degree. You also send a personal statement, a résumé and two letters. The deadline is January 31.
- Tuition: $581.18 per credit for Indiana residents and $688.68 for non-residents (2026–27, including a $40 distance fee). For 60 credits, that is $34,870.80 or $41,320.80.
9. Maryville University: Online EdD in Higher Education Leadership
Maryville, in Saint Louis, offers a part-time EdD for people who want to lead colleges and universities. No GRE or GMAT is required. Coursework is 100% online, and you can attend the summer residency virtually. You write your dissertation while you take classes. At 32 months, it has the shortest stated length on our list.
- Format: coursework 100% online; option to attend the summer residency virtually
- Length: 32 months, part-time
- Credits: 48
- Final project: dissertation, written during your courses
- Admission: GRE and GMAT not required. You need a master’s degree with a 3.0 GPA and at least three years of leadership experience in higher education or a related field.
- Tuition: $975 per credit (2026–27), or about $46,800 for 48 credits, plus a $775 technology fee each semester
10. Bradley University: Online EdD in Educational Leadership
Bradley, in Peoria, Illinois, offers this EdD 100% online, with no GRE and no doctoral residency. You can focus on higher education administration or digital and online education. Classes do not meet at set times. The higher education track includes a two-semester internship at a college. Instead of a traditional dissertation, you complete a scholarly research project.
- Format: 100% online, with no set class times; internship for the higher education track
- Length: Bradley does not state a length on its program pages
- Credits: 48
- Final project: scholarly research project (action research) in place of a traditional dissertation
- Admission: GRE not required. You need a master’s degree with a 3.00 GPA. You also send a résumé, four essay responses and two letters.
- Tuition: $1,135 per credit (2025–26), or about $54,480 for 48 credits, plus a $250 technology fee each semester. Bradley’s 2026–27 graduate rate for all programs is $1,158 per credit.
Compare the 10 Programs at a Glance
Length is the time each school lists. Estimated tuition is the price per credit multiplied by the credits, for students who already have a master’s degree. Fees, books and travel are usually extra. Most schools list 2026–27 rates. Bradley’s program page still lists its 2025–26 rate.
| School | GRE policy | Length | Credits | Estimated tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins | Optional | 4 years | 54 | $125,010 |
| Vanderbilt | Optional | About 36 months | 54 | $134,568 |
| Florida | Not required | 4 years, part-time | 90 | $46,609.20 (Florida); $89,613 (other states) |
| UNC-Chapel Hill | Not required | 36 months | 54 | $32,292 (North Carolina); $88,263 (other states) |
| USC | Not accepted | 3 years, full-time | 43 units | $109,177 |
| Illinois | Not required | Not stated | 64 | $35,520 |
| Virginia Tech | Not required | 3 years | 69, plus 30 transfer | $70,863 (Virginia); $137,775.75 (other states) |
| Indiana | Not required | 3 years | 60 | $34,870.80 (Indiana); $41,320.80 (other states) |
| Maryville | Not required | 32 months | 48 | $46,800 |
| Bradley | Not required | Not stated | 48 | $54,480 (2025–26 rate) |
No GRE, Optional, or Not Accepted: What Each Means
The GRE is a standard test that many graduate schools once required. Today, schools describe their GRE rules in different ways. The words matter, so read them closely.
- Not required: The school does not ask for scores. Florida, UNC-Chapel Hill, Illinois, Virginia Tech, Indiana, Maryville and Bradley use this wording.
- Optional: You may send scores, but you do not have to. Johns Hopkins and Vanderbilt are optional. Johns Hopkins adds that scores are “strongly encouraged.”
- Not accepted: The school will not look at scores, even if you send them. USC Rossier says GRE scores are “neither required nor accepted.”
- Required: Some online EdDs still require the test. Texas A&M says its EdD applicants “must submit GRE scores.”
College lists often get these rules wrong. One list says USC accepts GRE scores, but USC’s own page says it does not. Another says Vanderbilt requires the GRE if your GPA is below 3.0. Vanderbilt’s page says the test is optional, with no GPA condition.
Test rules can change from year to year. Before you apply, read the admissions page for your start term. If it is unclear, email the admissions office.
What Schools Ask for Instead
Dropping the GRE does not make admission easy. Schools still want proof that you can handle doctoral work. Here is what the programs on our list ask for:
- A good GPA: Most ask for at least a 3.0. Johns Hopkins asks for a 3.25, and Virginia Tech asks for a 3.3. UNC accepts a lower GPA if you explain it.
- Work experience: Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, UNC, USC and Maryville each ask for at least three years. Virginia Tech wants K-12 school leadership experience.
- Essays and writing samples: Johns Hopkins asks for a Problem of Practice essay. Florida wants a writing sample of up to 10 pages. USC adds a timed writing assignment, and Bradley asks for four essay responses.
- Letters of recommendation: Vanderbilt, UNC, Illinois and Virginia Tech want three. Indiana and Bradley want two.
- An interview: Virginia Tech requires one. Johns Hopkins invites selected applicants to a virtual interview, and Florida may invite you to interview.
- A master’s degree: Most programs require one. UNC and USC also accept students with a bachelor’s degree, and USC adds more units for them.
Your essay often carries the most weight. Write about a real problem at your job and how a doctorate would help you solve it.
How We Chose These Programs
We started with every school named in the top Google results for online EdD programs with no GRE. We kept only programs that meet three rules:
- The school’s own current page says the GRE is not required for all applicants. “Optional” and “not accepted” also count.
- The program is mostly online, with no more than four short campus visits a year.
- The program is admitting new students.
Then we ordered the programs by our overall school ranking. That ranking uses U.S. Department of Education data on graduation rates, retention rates, graduate earnings and cost. We checked every program detail on each school’s website in September 2026.
Some well-known schools did not make the list. Texas A&M requires the GRE. San Jose State’s EdD page does not state a GRE policy. Gonzaga holds its summer courses face-to-face in Spokane. College of Saint Mary’s current page no longer mentions the GRE. Drexel and NYU meet our rules but rank just below our top 10.
Paying for a No-GRE EdD in 2026
Estimated tuition on our list ranges from $32,292 at UNC-Chapel Hill for North Carolina residents to $137,775.75 at Virginia Tech for out-of-state students. Public universities cost much less if you live in their state. Florida, UNC-Chapel Hill, Virginia Tech and Indiana all charge residents less.
Federal student loan rules changed on July 1, 2026. New graduate students can no longer borrow Grad PLUS loans. You can still borrow up to $20,500 a year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Total federal borrowing for graduate school is limited to $100,000, and the lifetime limit is $257,500.
This matters at the most expensive schools. Estimated tuition at Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt and USC is more than $100,000. Federal loans alone will not cover the full cost there. If you were already borrowing before July 1, 2026, the old limits may still apply for a short time. Ask your financial aid office, and see the U.S. Department of Education’s loan limit charts.
Ask your employer or school district about tuition help. Virginia Tech, for example, offers a lower rate of $770.25 per credit for Virginia K-12 employees. You may also qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness if you work for a public school, college, government agency or nonprofit. For lower prices, see our guide to the cheapest online EdD programs.
Terms to Know
- GRE (Graduate Record Examinations): A standard test of verbal, math and writing skills that some graduate schools use for admission.
- GMAT: A similar admission test, mostly used by business schools.
- Test-optional: You may send test scores, but the school does not require them.
- Problem of Practice: A real problem in your school or workplace that you study during the program.
- Dissertation in Practice: A doctoral research project that studies a real problem at work and proposes a solution.
- Capstone: A final project that applies what you learned. Some programs use it instead of a dissertation.
- Cohort: A group of students who start the program together and take courses as a group.
- Residency or convening: A short, required visit, usually to campus, that lasts a few days.
- Grad PLUS loan: A federal loan for graduate students that closed to new borrowers on July 1, 2026.
Explore More EdD Guides
- Best online EdD programs ranked by school quality
- Accelerated online EdD programs you can finish faster
- Cheapest online EdD programs for a smaller budget
- One-year doctorate options and what they require
- Best on-campus EdD programs if you prefer to study in person
- Online EdD programs without a dissertation that end with a capstone or dossier
- EdD salaries and careers
Online EdD No GRE FAQ
Are there online doctoral programs that don’t require the GRE?
Yes. Most online EdD programs no longer require the GRE. All 10 programs on our list admit students without scores, including Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt and Florida. Drexel and NYU also do not require it.
Do any online EdD programs still require the GRE?
Yes, a few do. Texas A&M says its EdD applicants must submit GRE scores. Some lists also call a school “no GRE” when it only waives the test for some students. Always read the school’s own admissions page.
Should I send GRE scores if they are optional?
Send them only if they are strong. Good scores can support a weaker GPA. Johns Hopkins says scores are “strongly encouraged,” so a good score may help there. At USC Rossier, do not send scores, because the school does not accept them.
Can you get an EdD without a dissertation?
Yes, at some schools. Bradley replaces the traditional dissertation with a scholarly research project. Vanderbilt ends with a capstone project, and Johns Hopkins ends with a Doctoral Dossier. These are still serious research projects, so expect a lot of writing. See our guide to online EdD programs without a dissertation.
What is the shortest EdD program?
On this list, Maryville has the shortest stated length at 32 months. UNC-Chapel Hill lists 36 months, and Virginia Tech and Indiana say three years. For faster options, see our guide to accelerated online EdD programs.
Can I get an EdD without a master’s degree?
Yes, at a few schools. UNC-Chapel Hill accepts a bachelor’s degree plus three years of leadership experience. USC Rossier also accepts a bachelor’s degree, but you take 60 units instead of 43.
Are no-GRE EdD programs lower quality?
No. Many highly ranked universities do not require the GRE for their online EdDs. The four highest-ranked schools on our list, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Florida and UNC-Chapel Hill, do not require it. Quality depends on the school and the program, not the test.
Sources: GRE policies and program details were checked on each university’s official website in September 2026. Tuition is the rate each school posted in September 2026, and we name the academic year when the school does. Estimated totals are our math unless the school posts its own total. Loan limits are from the U.S. Department of Education. School order uses our overall ranking, which is based on U.S. Department of Education data.