Did you know that one in five U.S. adults lack literacy skills? This includes the ability to compare and contrast, and make inferences. Earning an Ed.D. in reading and literacy online can prepare you to help boost the U.S. literacy rate and increase equity in classrooms.
Graduates with a doctorate in reading and literacy online can pursue various reading and literacy occupations, including teaching or research. They become curriculum developers, instructional coordinators, college professors, and researchers.
Considering earning a terminal degree? This comprehensive guide explores everything you need to know about earning a doctorate in reading and literacy online. Here you can find information about coursework, tuition, admission criteria, and job outcomes.
Featured Doctorates in Reading and Literacy Online
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Online Doctorate in Reading and Literacy Programs
This section highlights online doctoral programs (Ed.D and Ph.D.) in reading and literacy.
The programs below are unranked and listed alphabetically by school. To be included on our list, the school had to be nonprofit, institutionally accredited, and located in the United States.
Guide to Affordable Online Doctorates in Reading and Literacy
Concordia University-Chicago
- River Forest, IL
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: CAEP
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $753
Out-of-State | $753
Credits to Graduate: 61-67
CUC's online leadership doctorate program in reading, language, and literacy offers two degree options: a 61-credit track leading to an Ed.D. degree and a 67-credit Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. program includes a more intensive analytical focus, requiring additional courses in mixed methods research and advanced statistical or qualitative research.
CUC's online learning model includes accelerated eight-week course structures and asynchronous course components for increased flexibility. The school also offers financial aid, including loans, grants, and awards for faith-based community leadership.
Percent Online Enrollment
84%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
Guide to Affordable Online Doctorates in Reading and Literacy
Indiana University-Bloomington
- Bloomington, IN
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: CAEP
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $500
Out-of-State | $600
Credits to Graduate: 60
IU Bloomington's online Ed.D. in literacy, culture, and language education explores topics in literacy theory and research methods. Students take seminars and inquiry-based classes to deepen their knowledge of language education. The program also requires an internship and a dissertation.
IU offers fellowships, assistantships, and other forms of financial aid to doctoral students. Enrollees with a master's degree in a relevant field can transfer up to 18 credits toward their doctorate.
Percent Online Enrollment
48%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
Guide to Affordable Online Doctorates in Reading and Literacy
State University of New York at Albany
- Albany, NY
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: AAQEP
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $533
Out-of-State | $627
Credits to Graduate: 66
SUNY at Albany's online Ph.D. in literacy prepares learners for advanced research or teaching careers. Enrollees study literacy theory and research methods, taking classes about topics like early literacy and language development; teacher leadership; and equitable, diverse learning contexts. Learners also complete 12 credits of research methodology coursework.
Full-time graduate students can access fellowships and assistantships, which provide a stipend and tuition remission. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation, a writing sample, and a literacy essay.
Percent Online Enrollment
41%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Guide to Affordable Online Doctorates in Reading and Literacy
St. John's University-New York
- Queens, NY
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: CAEP
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $1,470
Out-of-State | $1,470
Credits to Graduate: 42
St. John's online Ph.D. in literacy features specialization tracks in literacy and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). The literacy track takes a holistic K-12 focus, examining literacy development across childhood and adolescence. The TESOL track emphasizes unique skills for teaching English to native speakers of other languages.
Core classes include literacy leadership, models and processes of reading and writing acquisition and competency, and a seminar about literacy for at-risk diverse populations. The program runs fully online and offers asynchronous coursework. St. John's offers additional financial aid to all qualified students.
Percent Online Enrollment
42%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Ph.D. vs. Ed.D in Reading and Literacy
A Ph.D. and Ed.D are the highest accomplishments in reading and literacy degrees. Thesedoctoral programs in education offer various areas of specialization and potential professional paths.
A Ph.D. prepares graduates for college-level teaching and research positions, while earning a Ph.D. in reading and literacy gives learners qualitative and quantitative research experience in preparation for their dissertation. For teaching or administration practitioner roles, such as a principal, an Ed.D. focuses on practical application.
Completing an Ed.D. takes around three years if you pursue it full time after your undergraduate degree. Learners devote two of those three years to study, and the last year to a dissertation. Meanwhile, It takes approximately 2-7 years of study to earn a doctoral degree.
Doctoral Coursework in Reading and Literacy
Dissertation Proposal Planning
This course includes workshops that provide practical skills for developing a research proposal and research questions. Students decide on their dissertation committee and draft proposals by the end of the course.
Educational Research and Data Analysis
Data drives educational decisions, affecting curriculum and teaching standards. This course covers how to use advanced qualitative data analysis techniques to understand educational issues and provide solutions. The lessons include using statistical software.
Literacy Leadership
Literacy leaders support evidence-based teaching methods rooted in the science of reading, often with lessons centered on a phonics approach to reading. By applying literacy standards in a practical way, this course empowers learners to advance their vision.
Reading and Literacy Assessment and Evaluations
Literacy experts depend on assessment and measurement to gain insight into the needs and most effective strategies for diverse learners. In this course, educators can deepen their expertise in literary research.
Research Theory and Design
This course teaches various techniques to retrieve data and conduct doctoral-level research. Students learn qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Reasons to Earn a Doctorate in Reading and Literacy Online
- Convenient format that allows you to continue working
- Opens opportunities to positions in research or academia, working in theory or policy
- Provides opportunities to boost earnings
- Expands an educator's knowledge of literacy theory and trends
- More affordable tuition, compared to campus offerings, often a flat tuition rate
Discover Related Doctorates in Education
How Much Does an Online Doctorate in Reading and Literacy Cost?
Earn a doctorate in reading and literacy online, and you save on tuition. The average annual tuition and fees for an online doctorate in education totaled $9,856 in 2020, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Traditional doctorate in education programs had a higher average annual cost of $11,442 that same year. Tuition almost always costs more at private colleges, compared to public schools. Scholarships are always an option to lower tuition costs.
How to Afford a Doctoral Program in Reading and Literacy
Federal Student Loans
Doctoral students should apply for federal loans before taking out any personal loans. Options for doctoral candidates include Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS loans. Regardless of financial need, doctoral students enrolled at least part time can apply for Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
Graduate and professional students can borrow up to $20,500 from direct unsubsidized loans. For Direct PLUS loans, graduate students can get funding for the cost of attendance, minus any other loans or grants received.
Scholarships and Grants
Doctoral students can access scholarships and grants that do not require repayment. Scholarship funds can go toward college expenses, while grants generally fund research in the area of reading or literacy. Educators can receive research funding through grants provided by nonprofits.
Specific requirements and amounts vary by award. For instance, sometimes awards require that candidates submit a dissertation prospectus prior to applying.
Graduate Student Assistantships
Colleges offer various graduate assistantships that provide paid work, stipends, or tuition waivers. Positions vary by department and colleges.
Doctoral students may work as teaching assistants, helping faculty to grade work or lead lectures. Research assistants help collect and process data. Qualifications may include full-time enrollment.
Employer Tuition Assistance
Employers may provide tuition assistance to encourage staff members to pursue a higher education. Jobs may cover the full cost of tuition or a certain percentage, if employees study in a field that relates to their job. This benefits both the employers and employees, since the government offers companies up to $5,250 in tax deductions annually.
Loan Forgiveness Programs
People working professions in areas of critical need (teaching, for example) can apply for loan forgiveness. Through the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program, teachers who work for five consecutive years at an eligible school can get up to $17,500 of their federal loans wiped off.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program offers forgiveness for federal Direct Loan balances after borrowers pay at least 120 payments over roughly 10 years.
What Can I Do With a Ph.D. or Ed.D in Reading and Literacy?
Earning a doctorate in reading and literacy online prepares graduates for careers in research and academia. Graduates can work in elementary, middle, and high schools, but also colleges in the teaching departments.
Working in P-12 public schools requires a state teaching license, and earning a reading endorsement requires additional college credits in courses such as phonics, fluency, and oral language.
With an Ed.D. or Ph.D. in reading and literacy, graduates can also work in settings like private companies, nonprofits, and government agencies.
These terminal degrees enable educators to enhance their understanding of literary theories and learn how to use student data to inform their instruction. Pursuing a doctoral degree can also prepare individuals for research or instructional coordination roles, such as becoming a reading specialist.
Occupations for Ph.D and Ed.D graduates offer various job security. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that postsecondary teachers' jobs to increase by 8% from 2022 to 2032. Instructional coordinators should see positions increase by 2% in the next decade.
Careers for Ph.D. and Ed.D. in Reading and Literacy Graduates
| Job Title |
Median Salary |
| College Professor |
$66,930 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary |
$99,940 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 |
$101,320 |
| Education Specialist |
$57,806* |
| Instructional Coordinator |
$66,490 |
| Literacy Specialist |
$53,500* |
| Reading Specialist |
$57,764* |
Sources: BLS, Payscale | salaries with an* are averages
Admission Requirements for Doctoral Programs in Reading and Literacy
Candidates for admissions into Ed.D. and Ph.D. in reading and literacy online programs need specific materials and prerequisites to get in. Application materials for each program generally include:
- An online application
- Letters of recommendation
- Transcripts detailing all previous academic credits, including undergraduate and graduate programs
- A resume
- An essay that outlines career background and goals
- Writing samples
Ed.D. programs often require a master's degree but not GRE scores, while Ph.D. programs may admit students with only a bachelor's degree. However, Ph.D. programs often require the GRE.
Frequently Asked Questions About Doctorates in Reading and Literacy Online
Luckily, earning a doctorate in reading and literacy can bring the opportunity for a salary increase. Jobs such as instructional coordinator, licensed educator, and curriculum developer can pay decently. In addition, a doctorate can deepen your knowledge of the field.
Reading specialists lead literacy programs within schools, libraries, or nonprofits. At schools, they administer assessments and create modified learning plans according to students' needs. Elsewhere they may create literacy programs that engage children and families to promote reading.
Among teachers, postsecondary teachers make the most money (BLS reports the average salary is $78,540 annually, with the top 10% of earners making over $129,570). But the BLS states postsecondary education administrators make the most money on average ($115,180, with top 10% making over $196,420).
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by Grad School Hub. Page last reviewed February 23, 2024.
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