01
Policy design
Examine how a proposed policy is expected to work. Compare alternatives and identify the assumptions behind their intended educational benefits.
Ph.D. / Ed.D. · Online
Evaluate the policies that shape educational opportunity. Develop the research expertise to compare options and assess how decisions affect learners and institutions.
For educators and policy professionals preparing for greater responsibility in policy analysis and evaluation.
From policy choices to educational outcomes
Education policy influences who can access learning, how institutions are funded, and what they are expected to achieve. Evaluating a policy means examining its aims alongside its effects in practice.
NMU’s Education Policy program combines doctoral research with the study of educational systems and policy. Develop the ability to assess proposals, examine implementation, and make recommendations supported by evidence.
Examine how a proposed policy is expected to work. Compare alternatives and identify the assumptions behind their intended educational benefits.
Assess how funding decisions distribute resources across learners and institutions. Weigh costs and budget constraints against educational priorities.
Examine how policies affect participation and access to educational support. Assess who benefits and where barriers remain.
Study how policy is put into practice across educational settings. Consider how institutional capacity and local conditions influence results.
Assess whether a policy achieves its aims. Interpret results and identify unintended effects to support recommendations for improvement.
Policy context · U.S. Census Bureau
School funding shows the scale of decisions education policy informs. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the following for public elementary and secondary school systems in fiscal year 2024.
U.S. Census Bureau · School system finances ↗
Figures are in current dollars, not adjusted for inflation or differences in the cost of living.
Research skills help policy professionals assess how resources are used and whether funding decisions support educational goals.
Assess policy proposals and implementation for education departments or agencies. Explain the implications for learners and the institutions serving them.
Evaluate educational initiatives for agencies, institutions, or research organizations. Develop findings that inform decisions about continuation or change.
Compare education proposals and funding options. Prepare research that helps decision-makers understand likely effects and trade-offs.
Support policy development within colleges and other educational organizations. Assess how institutional decisions affect access, delivery, and educational outcomes.
These are possible professional applications. Qualifications vary by role and employer; prior experience and other requirements may apply.
Advanced research in practice
Examine the evidence behind competing proposals. Assess their expected benefits, resource requirements, and limitations before recommending a course of action.
Use quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate outcomes. Assess whether observed changes can reasonably be attributed to a policy or reflect other influences.
Translate research into clear recommendations for education decision-makers. Explain uncertainty and the conditions that affect whether findings apply in a particular setting.
What Works Clearinghouse guidance asks decision-makers to consider study quality and whether the research population and setting fit their own. This reinforces the value of research training for judging whether findings can support a policy decision.
Institute of Education Sciences research standards call for documenting implementation costs and measuring educational outcomes. Developing these evaluation skills helps you assess what an initiative achieves and the resources it requires.
Ph.D. pathway
Conduct original research that contributes to understanding education policy and its relationship to educational systems and outcomes.
Ed.D. pathway
Apply research to policy implementation and improvement within educational organizations, producing findings that inform professional decisions.
Foundational coursework differs by pathway and develops the scholarly writing and ethical judgment needed for doctoral research.
Complete EDU720 and EDU721, Current Issues in Education Research I and II, for the Ph.D.; or EDD722 and EDD723, Current Issues in Education Practice I and II, for the Ed.D. These courses total six credits. Select another 12 elective credits with faculty and advisors.
Work with your committee to develop and defend a proposal. Complete the study and present your findings in a written dissertation and final oral defense.
Research involving human participants requires Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval before data collection. Research also requires appropriate data access and protection of confidential information.
From coursework to defense
Coursework is online and asynchronous, with four instructional weeks in each monthly term. Students normally take one course per term.
An advisor helps you plan your studies from admission. Writing support and faculty office hours are available throughout your coursework.
After coursework, complete the candidacy examination and defend a proposal developed with your committee.
Obtain required ethics approval, carry out your research, and defend the completed dissertation before your committee.
Tuition
Per three-credit course for eligible geographic pricing zones. Additional fees apply.
Spread the cost of your doctorate across your studies. Pay for each course as you enroll, making tuition easier to manage.
The catalog lists a $20 application fee, $50 registration fee, and $200 graduation fee. Ask admissions for an itemized breakdown before enrolling.
Eligible first-time students receive a 50% tuition reduction on their first course, subject to catalog terms.
Rates are in USD. Source: NMU 2026–2027 catalog.
Your starting point
NMU reviews your academic preparation and readiness for doctoral study. Discuss how your education or policy experience fits the program and which pathway supports your goals.
Before you decide
Education Policy focuses on policy analysis, implementation, and evaluation. Educational Leadership focuses on leading educational organizations and developing other leaders. Both offer Ph.D. and Ed.D. pathways.
Doctoral study adds advanced research methods and a dissertation to your graduate preparation. Develop the ability to evaluate educational policy evidence and conduct research that contributes to scholarship or professional practice.
The Ph.D. emphasizes original research that contributes to education scholarship. The Ed.D. emphasizes applied research addressing policy implementation and improvement in educational organizations. Discuss your goals with admissions to choose the appropriate pathway.
The catalog allows up to six transfer credits, limited to approved electives. Courses are evaluated individually for equivalence. A prior master’s degree does not automatically shorten the program.
Asynchronous coursework lets you plan study around work, within published deadlines. Proposal and final oral defenses require scheduled participation. Completion depends on your progress through coursework and dissertation milestones; the catalog allows up to seven years from first enrollment.
The university catalog explains NMU’s status. NMU does not hold accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or CHEA. Check with an employer or receiving institution about acceptance for your intended use.
Education Policy · Ph.D. / Ed.D.
Speak with admissions about your qualifications and whether the program fits your goals.
Fill out the form to get personalized guidance and explore how New Meridian University can support your doctoral goals.