North Dakota State University offers both the Ph.D. and Ed.D. degrees in Education, with an emphasis in either Adult and Community Education, Institutional Effectiveness, or Organizational Learning and Leadership. Both degrees require a minimum of 90 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree in courses that carry graduate credit.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree focuses on translating theory and research into practice, and has the larger goal of preparing scholar-practitioners who will be well-informed, credible leaders in the field of education. Ed.D. recipients in education analyze educational contexts and practices from various applied perspectives, conduct scholarly practice, evaluation, and organizational development using various methodologies of inquiry, and become responsible stewards of the discipline and culture of lifelong learning. The purpose of the Ed.D. degree is to develop scholar-practitioners who can utilize theory and research to enhance their capacity to bridge theory and diverse philosophical perspectives with practice as well as contribute to knowledge in the field.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree emphasizes the study and synthesis of theory and research, and is intended to produce dedicated scholar-researchers committed to the advancement of knowledge and scholarship in the field. Ph.D. recipients in education analyze educational contexts and practices from various theoretical and philosophical perspectives, lead and conduct independent scholarly research using various sophisticated methodologies of disciplined inquiry, and become responsible stewards of the discipline and culture of lifelong learning. The purpose of the Ph.D. degree is to develop scholar-researchers who can create, advance, expand, revise and disseminate new theories and knowledge in the field.