The purpose of this study was to identify intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors for professional doctoral degree attainment among educators. The researcher examined the following intrinsic motivating factors: personal attainment, skill and ability enhancement, and goals. The researcher also included the following extrinsic factors: financial benefits, status and recognition, credentialing in upward mobility, and becoming a faculty member that doctoral students from one southern university felt were the primary motivators behind their desire to pursue a doctoral degree in education. Inferential descriptive statistics provided the data analysis for this study. The findings of the study identified intrinsic motivators supplied the drive of educators to pursue a doctorate degree. The findings of this study would benefit recruiting agencies of universities and serve as an aid in increasing the retention rate among current professional doctoral candidates. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]