Ed.D. or MBA for higher ed administration

I am currently a full-time instructor at a two year state college. My academic background and current field of instruction is criminal justice . My long term career goal is to move through the administrative ranks of the school.

I have a BA in management and a MS in criminal justice . I have the opportunity to attend an AACSB accredited MBA program from a top 50 school. The school is local and offers a part-time program on campus for working adults. Tuition for the 28 month program is about $30k.

My dilemma involves whether I should seek the utility of the MBA or push on to a terminal degree. I have been reviewing several Ed.D. programs focused on higher ed management. The cost and time commitment are significantly higher with the doctoral programs (obviously).

My school does not offer any financial incentive for a second master's degree and the pay increase for doctoral work is negligible. Therefore, the purpose of the degree is for career advancement and personal improvement. Administrators at my college hold varying degrees (masters, Ed.D.'s and Ph.D.'s) so there is no clear "track".

So, the big question is whether a top 50 MBA provides more "bang" than an Ed.D. from an average BM school. I have no intention of leaving my employer for private industry or another institution, but I am slightly concerned about the flexibility of the Ed.D.

 

Neither one. You can rise through the administrative ranks with your current credentials.

 

I am NO expert in this area but I would say that I have heard and seen mostly EdD's. FYI, Oral Roberts used to have an EdD program in Higher Ed Administration.

 

I think the MBA pulls more weight inside a business school, other than that I'd go with the Ed.D

 

No question, IMO, to move up the ranks at your school, get the doctorate.

 

If you have no interest in leaving academia then it is a no brainer to get the Doctorate. Pursuing an MBA will probably make it look like you don't "care" enough about the field of education. If you aspire to administrative ranks the Doctorate (in any field, not just Education) will probably be the deciding factor.

 

Thanks for the advice everyone! In my heart I knew the Ed.D. or Ph.D. route made more sense. I think the prospect of a top ranked MBA so close to home distracted me.

 

Can I ask which MBA program you were considering? If you don't want to disclose I completely understand.

 

Absolutely! It is the MBA from the University of South Carolina, Darla Moore School of Business. They rank #1 for international MBA programs and #54 for graduate B-schools (USNWR). Granted it is no Duke or Stanford, but the location, price and curriculum seemed a good fit.

 

Go for both! :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

 

My background is also in Criminal Justice, I have a Master's degree in Criminal Justice Leadership (St. John's University) and over twelve years in the field. I would lean towards a terminal degree (Ed.D) rather then another Master's Degree. I personally feel that an Ed.D would open more doors in academia then another Master's degree.

Nevertheless, after I finish my current degree (PhD), I plan on going back for another Master's Degree.

 

I think in the old days, you could likely have gone in either direction. These days, and into the future, it seems that a doctorate is becoming the standard. I always think that the best idea is to earn the credentials for your future and not for your present.


Tom Nixon
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Best Online High Schools

 

Really? :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

 

I personally like to see a bang-bang-bang progression from bachelors through to doctorate, without any duplication of same-level degrees, so I would favour the doctorate, perhaps supplemented by a weeklong (or so) executive education certificate in leadership, management or teambuilding from a top 5 school. But that's just me, and, really, who cares what I think! ;-) Best of luck with your decision, whichever way you go.

 

Steve, thanks for my first laugh-out-loud moment of the weekend!

To the OP: I concur with my colleagues and suggest you go for the doctorate. I did earn 2 Master's degrees, but there is a definite method to my madness that I will reveal/explain if/when I complete the doctoral journey in about 3-4 years.