What is the difference between an Ed.D. and a Ph.D.?
Discover how an Ed.D. and a Ph.D. differ. Explore career paths, program outcomes and which degree best supports your aspirations.
September 30, 2025
If you’re considering pursuing a doctoral degree, you’ve likely encountered two common options: the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. Both are well-respected, terminal degrees that represent the highest level of academic achievement and showcase leadership, research skills and scholarly advancement.
At first glance, the two degrees might seem interchangeable, but they’re both designed for unique purposes and lead to different career outcomes. Choosing the right path means understanding how each degree aligns with your goals. Many professionals looking to make bigger impacts, advance their careers or conduct original research eventually face the same question: “Should I earn an Ed.D. or Ph.D.?”
Let’s examine the main differences between the Ed.D. and Ph.D. degrees:
- Ed.D. degree and career options
- Ph.D. degree and career options
- How to choose between the degree programs
- University of Idaho’s College of Education, Health and Human Sciences’ doctoral degrees
What is an Ed.D. degree?
A Doctor of Education degree is a professional doctoral program designed for leaders who want to advance their careers and take on administrative roles that drive meaningful change. Ed.D. degree programs emphasize applied research, leadership development and strategic problem-solving in a variety of settings.
Unlike theoretical research-focused doctoral degrees, an Ed.D. program is practice-oriented and applied research-focused. Students use what they’re learning to improve outcomes in their organizations, often while continuing to work full time. The Ed.D. often includes a problem of practice dissertation that gives students experience addressing real challenges.
What can you do with an Ed.D. degree?
If you’re an experienced health care provider, administrator, organizational leader or educator ready to apply your research to enhance industry success, an Ed.D. degree elevates your knowledge so that you can step into leadership roles and make a difference in your area of expertise. You might design academic programs in higher education, direct a non-profit, guide initiatives in public service or grow as a leader in private industry.
Learn more about career opportunities with a Doctor of Education degree.
What is a Ph.D. degree?
A Doctor of Philosophy degree is a theoretical research-focused program that prepares students to expand their field through original scholarship. The degree emphasizes theory development, academic inquiry and deep exploration of complex issues.
Ph.D. students gain advanced training in research design, data analysis and scholarly writing. They learn how to generate new knowledge and contribute to their field through original research, peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Ph.D. programs commonly include comprehensive, in-person coursework followed by a dissertation based on academic research.
What can you do with a Ph.D.?
If your goal is to become a researcher or faculty member in higher education, a Ph.D. is a strong fit. This degree prepares you for faculty roles in universities and colleges, where you can design courses, publish scholarly work and mentor undergraduate and graduate students. You could also pursue research positions in academic centers, policy institutes, government agencies or other industries that advance change.
The Ed.D. is world-changing, and the Ph.D. is world-revealing.
Brooke Blevins
Dean, College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
Ed.D. vs Ph.D.: Which degree should you choose?
Still weighing your options? When deciding between two advanced degree options, it’s not always easy to determine which one is the right fit. As Brooke Blevins, Dean of University of Idaho’s College of Education, Health and Human Sciences puts it, “The Ed.D. is world-changing, and the Ph.D. is world-revealing.” In other words, the Ed.D. degree focuses on applying research to lead change in practice, while the Ph.D. degree centers on generating new knowledge and advancing theory.
Keep that perspective in mind as you review the chart below to compare the degrees side by side, considering which one aligns with your professional goals and leadership style.
| Differentiators | Ed.D. (Doctor of Education) | Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Prepares leaders to apply research and lead change in organizational settings | Prepares scholars to conduct original research and contribute to academic knowledge |
| Career outcomes | Industry or organizational leader, health care administrator, military leader, student affairs or higher education professional | Faculty member, academic or industry researcher, policy analyst or scholar |
| Research approach | Applied research on real-world problems | Theoretical research that builds the field |
| Leadership development | Emphasis on ethical leadership, change management and organizational development | Emphasis on contributing to disciplinary knowledge and academic communities |
| Teaching and learning focus | Grounded in practice, supporting student learning and effective professional environments | Grounded in pedagogy and theory, preparing future researchers and scholars |
| Technology and innovation | Practical use of technology to improve systems and leadership effectiveness | May explore technological tools through research |
| Program outcomes | Design applied projects, lead diverse teams and implement best practices | Publish research, develop grant proposals, present at conferences and teach college-level courses |
| Social justice and equity | Integrates ethical decision-making and community-based leadership | Integrates ethical principles in research, teaching and scholarly contribution |
Take a closer look at U of I’s College of Education, Health and Human Sciences’ doctoral degrees
You don’t have to look anywhere else to find a doctoral program that fits your goals — University of Idaho’s College of Education, Health and Human Sciences offers both the Ed.D. and Ph.D. degrees. Whether you're focused on advancing your leadership in practice or contributing new knowledge through research, you can do it with us.
- Online Doctor of Education: Designed for working professionals across industries, U of I’s Ed.D. degree is a 100% online, three-year cohort-based program that embeds the problem of practice dissertation directly into the curriculum. With a focus on improvement science and leadership, the program prepares you to lead systems-level change in health care, corporate, education and various professional environments.
- Doctor of Philosophy: Our Ph.D. degrees can be completed in person or online in approximately four to eight years (full-time or part-time attendance). The Ph.D. degree includes specialized focus areas and equips you to develop new knowledge, conduct original research and pursue academic or policy-based careers.
Pick the right doctoral degree for your future
While the Doctor of Education degree and Doctor of Philosophy degree have differences, they are both meant to help you advance your expertise in a field you’re passionate about. At University of Idaho, you can choose the doctoral program that matches your experience, interests and long-term goals.
Join us by requesting more information or submitting your application.