The pursuit of an online doctorate in business administration likely indicates in such a person a good bit of money-savvy and an understanding of the importance of keeping down costs. Maintaining the balance between low-cost, high-quality, and efficiency is key to successful business administration.
It just makes good sense (and cents!) for business professionals who want to put themselves in the best position to reach their full administrative potential through an online doctoral program in business administration to look for the most affordable degrees out there.
If this describes you, this is the right place. The twenty following degree programs are the least expensive quality, accredited online doctorates in business administration available.
METHODOLOGY
This website will aid in that first step in preparing you for your path toward selecting an online college that works for you and fits your needs. By perusing each school’s website yourself, you may request information to be sent to you for your evaluation, which is also highly recommended and encouraged.
Below is our list of the Most Affordable Online Doctoral Programs in Business Administration (DBA). We provide information on each school’s tuition, the number of credits and the typical length of the program, and some introductory information about the way in which the online doctoral programs in business administration are delivered.
Each online degree program is unique in its highlights; therefore, they are listed in random order and based on the following considerations:
- Program Affordability,
- Designed to offer degree programs that lead to advancement positions in Business Administration, such as in Management & Leadership,
- Offers a comprehensive program that enhances skills, such as problem-solving, written and communication skills, as well as practical and theoretical knowledge in Business Administration,
- 100% Online Availability, providing convenience and flexibility for working adults,
- Flexibility in specific concentration choices, specially designed for your needs and career aspirations,
- Studies in conducting, writing, and recording research findings,
- Financial Aid Availability,
- Provides students with innovative skills in Business Administration to obtain career advancement or secure new career opportunities within the field.
For additional information, please see our Methodology page.
MOST AFFORDABLE ONLINE DOCTORAL PROGRAMS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (DBA)
Valdosta State University
Online Doctor of Public Administration
Valdosta State University is serious about making online graduate study affordable. In Valdosta’s online doctorate of Public Administration, online students pay the same as in-state students making this degree program the cheapest online doctorate in the field.
Intended for future leaders, graduates often go on to work in NGOs and other non-profit settings. Up to 15 credits can be transferred, and coursework takes about two years, making this degree not only affordable but fast!
Campus Location: Valdosta, GA
Tuition: $293.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Admission Requirements:
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution
- Acceptable GMAT or GRE score
- Adequate undergraduate GPA
- Resume
- Personal statement of goals
- Three letters of recommendation
A Sampling of Coursework:
- Administration and Government
- Financial Management for Public and Non-Governmental Organizations
- Managing Human Resources in Public and Non-Governmental Organizations
- The Logic of Inquiry in Administration
Degree Outcomes: This fast and cheap online doctorate is designed to get public administration practitioners fully ready to take on central leadership positions in public and non-governmental settings. They will have gained a mastery of the laws and principles informing such contexts.
Graduates of this program will also be able to integrate and implement sound leadership with inclusive principles of diversity and efficient resource management.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTORATE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AT VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY
Atlantic International University
Online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA, Ph.D.)
Atlantic International University’s online DBA, the Ph.D. program offers the business administration knowledge and skills needed for career advancement at a very affordable price. This program is designed to fit the needs and aspirations of each student as an individual, and the coursework and research components can be personally tailored.
Combining low-cost and adjustable coursework, this degree program will give its graduates the right mix of theory and practice to suit their specific career situations and aspirations.
Tuition: $250.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Accreditation Service for International Schools
Admission Requirements:
- Master’s degree
- 5 years of work experience
- CV/Resume
Sampling of Coursework:
- Organizational Behavior
- International Management
- Global Challenges in Management
- Leadership in Organization
- Commerce and Economics
Degree Outcomes: Graduates from this affordable online DBA, Ph.D. program receive a tailor-made management education that prepares them to be ready to compete in the business world with all the knowledge and savvy necessary to create and implement ethical and efficient management strategies.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AT ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Columbia Southern University
Online Doctor of Business Administration
This affordable online doctorate teaches its students to skillfully assimilate and apply management theory as well as their own research to business scenarios. As a research-based program, students have the opportunity to seek new insights and solutions to contemporary business problems.
With periodic enrollments, this 61-credit program rounds out the knowledge of future business management by requiring a dissertation that makes a genuine contribution to the field of business management and theory.
Campus Location: Orange Beach, AL
Tuition: $545.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in business administration or related field from an accredited institution
- Two years experience in a business field
A Sampling of Coursework:
- Business, Government, and Society
- Organizational Behavior and Comparative Management
- Business Ethics and Corporate Responsibility
- Marketing Research and Competitive Strategy
Degree Outcomes: Graduates from Columbia Southern’s online DBA program will be skilled in coming up with ways to tackle difficult business issues; they will be poised to apply theory to practice; they will be skillful researchers; they will be versed in business ethics and able to make important contributions to business management literature.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AT COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
University of Management and Technology
Online Doctor of Business Administration
UMT’s online DBA program emphasizes practical business application without stinting on the theories behind an application, all at a very affordable cost to the student. With a broad view of national and international business, UMT’s online DBA prepares business leaders who are both innovative and ethical.
This 60-credit degree program culminates in a research dissertation that demonstrates both scholarly and theoretical competency as well as the student’s ability to situate and apply his or her learning to real-life business management difficulties.
Campus Location: Arlington, VA
Tuition: $390.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission
Admission Requirements:
A Sampling of Coursework:
- Economic and Financial Theory
- Analytical Techniques in Research
- Evolution of Management Thought
- Philosophical Foundations of Knowledge & Research
Degree Outcomes: Graduates of UMT’s fast and affordable DBA will be able to apply scientific methodology to problems of business management. With their knowledge of the development of the theory behind management, they will be able to engage in relevant research and team-based leadership that contributes both to the success of their institutions and scholarship in business and management theory.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
Wayland Baptist University
WBU Online: Doctor of Management (D. Mgt.)
WBU Online’s doctor of management was designed with both flexibility and affordability in mind. This 60-credit degree program will appeal to practicing management professionals in a number of fields who are looking for a quality, low-cost terminal degree in management.
Combining theory and application, this degree program will help managers advance their careers, whether they work in business, nonprofit, education, or military settings.
Campus Location: Plainview, TX
Tuition: $444.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Official transcripts from each school attended
- Official GMAT or GRE scores
- Essay outlining goals and objectives
- Resume
- Three letters of recommendation
A Sampling of Coursework:
- Fundamentals of Project Management
- Managing Complex Projects
- Project Design in Management
- Comparative Analysis of Contemporary Managerial Approaches
Degree Outcomes: WBU Online’s cheap online doctorate prepares managers ready to take on the highest and most important positions in a variety of fields. Graduates will be skilled researchers and problem solvers with expertise in their specific fields.
Graduates will possess a global perspective that undergirds a broad, integrative field of vision. Finally, graduates of this program will be able to use in practical way their knowledge in a broad range of business and managerial settings.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF MANAGEMENT AT WBU ONLINE
California Intercontinental University
Online Doctor of Business Administration
Diversity and quality lost-cost business management education set CIU apart from the crowd. Low tuition makes this online doctorate in business management degree attainable, and the range of its specializations makes earning a DBA through CIU desirable.
This 60-credit degree program offers five areas in which business leaders can pursue the most fitting course of study to advance their careers.
Founded on the solid foundation of business theory and practice, coupled with affordable tuition and areas of focus designed to suit a wide range of needs, this degree program remains a top choice for cheap, high-quality online DBA education.
Campus Location: Irvine, CA
Tuition: $528.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission
Admission Requirements:
Degree Specializations:
- Doctor of Business Administration
- Doctor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship and Business Management
- Doctor of Business Administration in Global Business and Leadership
- Doctor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management and Leadership
- Doctor of Business Administration in Information Systems and Enterprise Resource Management
Degree Outcomes: Although each area of specialization will have its own specific outcomes, common to the CIU online DBA program is a mastery of business management knowledge and application. Graduates from this degree are critical thinkers that imagine innovative solutions, whether they’re working in a small town, in local businesses, or in the global economy.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND ITS SPECIALIZATIONS AT CALIFORNIA INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY
California Southern University
Online Doctor of Business Administration
California Southern University’s inexpensive online DBA program is designed to help working professionals advance to the top of their field. Because CSU accepts up to 30 transfer credits (out of 60 total), for those with prior study, this DBA can be one of the fastest degrees in the field.
With courses designed to give concrete, practical instruction on real-life business management problems and the opportunity to pursue specialized research and application through a doctoral project. CSU’s online DBA is an excellent option for experienced business leaders looking to earn an affordable and fast degree in order to meet their career aspirations.
Campus Location: Costa Mesa, CA
Tuition: $545.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Admission Requirements:
- Completed online application
- MBA or related master’s degree
- Transcripts from previous college coursework
- Personal statement of one to two pages
A Sampling of Coursework:
- Consumer Behavior, Theory, and Analysis
- Management Finance and Control
- Advanced Measurement and Statistics for Business
- Quantitative Research Methods
Degree Outcomes: The inexpensive online DBA offered at California Southern University prepares management practitioners to be effective communicators, skilled in critical thinking with broad cultural and social awareness.
Graduates from this degree program are ready to engage and implement the fruits of their familiarity with relevant research through sound quantitative and scientific methodologies according to proper ethical and legal standards.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AT CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Anaheim University: Akio Morita School of Business
Online Doctor of Business Administration
Affordability and variety mark the online DBA degree offered through Anaheim University. This degree program is based upon a solid foundation in theory and application with an eye to the global business scene.
This 60-credit program includes a dissertation project and is designed to be completed by professionals with full-time employment in only three years. Anaheim U’s international outlook, and low-cost, diverse specializations make for an ideal online DBA for business leaders looking to achieve a high level of success in the ever-changing and competitive global economy.
Campus Location: Anaheim, CA
Tuition: $500.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Recent photograph
- Official transcripts
- At least one course in accounting, finance, and economics
- Resume
- Statement of purpose
- A 1,000-word outline of possible dissertation topic
- Three letters of recommendation
Degree Specializations:
- Management Concentration
- Global Sustainable Management
- International Business
- Entrepreneurship Concentration
Degree Outcomes: Graduates from this low-cost degree program will have a sound grasp of current literature and access to research tools. They will have a strong understanding of contemporary business practices and concerns in the global economy. This degree will not just provide business strategies from books, but create true business strategists!
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND ITS SPECIALIZATIONS AT ANAHEIM UNIVERSITY’S AKIO MORITA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
University of the Cumberlands
Online DBA and Ph.D. in Business
The University of the Cumberlands works hard to provide affordable doctoral education to business professionals, whether they’re geared to business practice or theory. By providing an online DBA as well as a Ph.D. in business, the university has the applicants’ aspirations in mind.
The DBA is 60 credits and is designed for business leaders working in the field to help them advance their careers and take on top management positions.
The Ph.D. is also 60 credits and requires a dissertation. It is oriented towards preparing individuals for research positions in more scholarly settings. Either doctoral degree is a low-cost, quality terminal degree that is structured to meet the real needs of its students.
Campus Location: Williamsburg, KY
Tuition: $549.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- 500-700 word essay explaining work experience and professional goals
- Resume of academic and work-related accomplishments
- Official transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
A Sampling of Coursework:
DBA
- Digital Forensics
- Information Technology
- Project Management
PhD
- Development of Management Theory and Practice
- Global Management Models
- Strategic Talent Management
Degree Outcomes: Both degree tracks instill in their graduates a strong sense of the interplay and interrelation between theory and practice. Students will be current on the latest business trends and strategies and will be able to find and implement appropriate solutions to their institution’s business needs in the light of sound ethics, business technologies, and research.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND THE ONLINE PH.D. IN BUSINESS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS.
Liberty University Online
Doctor of Business Administration
Liberty Online’s low-cost tuition makes it off the bat an attractive program for working business professionals who want “to take the next step.” However, digging a bit beneath the surface, the online DBA is true of great value. Reputation, affordability, diversity, and quality all come together in this doctorate.
Informed by traditionally Christian ethics, this 60-credit program, through its strong core curriculum and 11 areas of specialization, stands out as one of the very best online DBA degrees available. The degree also accepts up to 15 transfer credits, making it both a cheap degree and a fast degree. What’s not to like?
Campus Location: Lynchburg, VA
Tuition: $595.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Master’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Official college transcripts
- Personal statement of goals
Degree Specializations:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Healthcare Management
- Human Resources
- Information Systems
- International Business
- Leadership
- Marketing
- Non-profit Leadership and Management
- Strategic Management
- Supply Chain Management and Logistics
Degree Outcomes: Liberty University Online’s DBA program, no matter the specialization the student chooses, positions its graduates for both career advancement as well as opens up greater job possibilities. Through specialized training, graduates will be able to fit the specific needs of employers.
With its strong foundation in general business management theory and practice coupled with specialized knowledge, this degree offers a way for graduates to distinguish themselves from the field in the competitive business market.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND ITS SPECIALIZATIONS AT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ONLINE
Westcliff University
Online Doctor of Business Administration
Westcliff University is committed to providing high-quality, yet affordable degree opportunities to motivated candidates seeking to earn an online DBA.
The 60-credit program is designed to allow different degrees of engagement in the program, making it possible for full-time business leaders to pursue a doctorate by taking a few courses at a time.
Business management professionals looking to improve their business knowledge, teaching, management skills, and entrepreneurial approach should consider Westcliff’s low-cost DBA degree.
Campus Location: Irvine, CA
Tuition: $780.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Interview with an admissions representative
- Statement of professionals’ goals
- Official college and/or university transcripts
A Sampling of Coursework:
- Strategic Planning and Implementation
- Statistics for Business
- Organizational Development
- Management Technology and Innovation
Degree Outcomes: This low-cost online DBA degree provides its graduates with a knowledge of business theory, analysis, and research, along with the ability to effectively communicate this information to a variety of audiences. Westcliff’s online DBA inculcates in its students the importance of a broad knowledge of culture and its effects on business practice.
This degree will prepare students to be effective business leaders by developing their skills in research and appropriate and ethical business and organization structures and strategies.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AT WESTCLIFF UNIVERSITY
Indiana Wesleyan University
DeVoe School of Business Online Doctor of Business Administration
The online DBA at WIU’s DeVoe School of Business provides experienced professionals who know the ropes with affordable advanced education in the field of business management.
WIU works hard to see that its DBA students are given the best training and instruction available in addressing complex organizational development and business issues all the while emphasizing the importance of team leadership. Each of this degree’s three specializations comprises 60 credits.
Campus Location: Marion, IN
Tuition: $650.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Master’s degree in business or a related field from an accredited institution
- Graduate GPA of 3.25 or above
- For applicants to the Healthcare Administration specialization
- 5 years of experience OR
- Master in the healthcare field with 5 years of experience
- For applicants to the Accounting specialization
- CPA OR
- 18 graduate credits with 5 years of management or teaching experience in accounting
Degree Specializations:
- Healthcare Administration
- Accounting
- Management
Degree Outcomes: The online DBA offered through IWU is designed to provide specialized business management knowledge to experienced business leaders. Graduates from this online degree will be ready to devise effective responses to business problems that contribute to and advance their organizations with a global outlook.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AT IWU Online
Colorado Technical University
CTU Global Online Doctor of Business Administration
One of the most extensive online DBA at 100 credits, CTU makes it a priority to keep its degree affordable. At just under $600.00 per credit, business leaders can earn a terminal degree that suits their personal and career needs.
The degree offers various start times throughout the year with opportunities for tailoring course schedules as well as an option for pursuing one’s degree at an accelerated pace by applying work experience for credit.
CTU’s online DBA requires some residency, which gives students a chance to participate in live interpersonal instruction.
Campus Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Tuition: $598.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Official transcripts
- Possible essay
- Possible interview by CTU department representative
A Sampling of Coursework:
- Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making
- Business Legal and Ethical Environment
- Marketing Strategy for the 21st Century
- Organizational Behavior and Management
Degree Outcomes: Experience is a premium at CTU’s online DBA. This includes both the professional experience of the students, but also experience throughout the program the process of evaluating business and management problems and coming up with appropriate, effective solutions.
Thought informs action in this low-cost online DBA, and graduates from this degree program will be poised to become thoughtful team leaders in top administrative positions.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AT CTU GLOBAL
Wilmington University
WilmU Online Doctor of Business Administration
In this low-cost online DBA, Wilmington University casts a broad net. WilmU has designed its online DBA to meet the needs of business managers and leaders as well as consultants and business educators.
In this cohort-based, 54-credit degree, students increase their business knowledge and managerial skills through coursework as well as course interaction and dissertation research. WilmU is committed to creating leaders who bring to their work critical thought, team leadership, and innovative business and organizational problem-solving.
With a combination of affordable tuition and fewer required credits than many of its competitors, WilmU helps positions business professionals to advance in their current careers or to seek new job opportunities in the broadened horizon provided by earning an online DBA.
Campus Location: New Castle, DE
Tuition: $696.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Admission Requirements:
- Doctoral application
- Official transcripts of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree work
- Resume
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of personal and professional goals
- Meeting with WilmU representative
A Sampling of Coursework:
- Research Design
- Advanced Organizational Behavior
- Advanced Marketing Management
- Managing Innovation and Change
Degree Outcomes: WilmU’s online DBA provides its graduates with current business theory and practice, as well as the ability to critically sift between meaningful and unimportant data.
Not only will graduates be more well-versed in the field, but they will also be trained to be effective communicators in both writing and oral forms. Ethical business leadership and practice will inform the managerial vision of WilmU DBA graduates.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AT WILMU ONLINE
Grand Canyon University
Online Doctor of Business Administration
Grand Canyon University’s online DBA program provides an excellent education in business knowledge and managerial skills at a low cost. Up to 9 credits can be transferred into this 60-credit degree.
GCU’s online DBA is designed to give business leaders a competitive advantage in the field by giving its students a global market perspective and the practical skills to analyze complex data in their application in problems related to political difficulties, mobile technology, and the growing role of e-commerce.
Students have the chance to network and interact with practicing business professionals and real-life problems throughout the program. The program culminates in a research dissertation giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skillset through a genuine contribution to contemporary business management literature.
Campus Location: Phoenix, AZ
Tuition: $725.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- MBA or graduate degree with courses in accounting, finance, statistics, and marketing
- Data Analytics emphases require a course in relational databases
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
Degree Specializations:
- Emphasis in Marketing
- Emphasis in Management
- The Emphasis in Data Analytics
Degree Outcomes: GCU’s affordable online DBA degree shapes business leaders with a knowledge of leading business and managerial tools and methods in business analytics.
Through their study and application of research, graduates from GCU will be able to understand, anticipate, and respond to dynamic market systems as well as retrieve and employ classic business and management strategies.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND ITS EMPHASES AT GCU ONLINE
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Online Doctor of Public Administration
West Chester’s Doctor of Public Administration is unique in this list of the most affordable online business doctorates.
Unlike the other degrees listed, WC’s online DPA degree is geared towards individuals with a civic and social mindset who aspire to manage the business of socially beneficial public organizations.
This degree program, along with being affordable, requires fewer credits (around 43) and does not require a dissertation. For business-minded persons who want to lead in the field of public services management, WCU’s DPA degree is a great, low-cost option.
Campus Location: West Chester, PA
Tuition: $176.18 Per Credit
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Admission Requirements:
- Completed official application
- Additional application queries (unspecified)
- Official transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
- Professional writing sample
- Resume or CV
A Sampling of Coursework:
- Strategic Public Management and Governance
- Advanced Public Sector Economic and Financial Decision Making
- Research Design for Program and Policy and Evaluation
- Advanced Practice and Applied Theories of Public Policy and Administration
Degree Outcomes: This inexpensive and fast degree program provides its graduates with a foundation in program policy, method, and evaluation. Through coursework and research, graduates will also have achieved an advanced level of competence in a specific area of public administration.
Finally, through capstone projects, graduates will have demonstrated a clear degree of knowledge and practical expertise in a specialized field of public administration that can be translated into real-life applications.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AT WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY
Hampton University-Hampton U Online
Ph.D. in Business Administration
Hampton U Online’s Ph.D. was created to fit working professionals who want to increase their knowledge in order to move into more advanced management positions. The program is also perfect for those who desire to become professors.
Whether your interest is in academia or industry, or finance, Hampton U Online is an affordable and quality doctoral degree that will greatly improve your standing in a context where every advantage is important. The program is 61 credits and requires a dissertation. This degree program has two summer residency requirements.
Campus Location: Hampton, VA
Tuition: $695.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Admission Requirements:
- Application
- The program can be entered by anyone wanting to earn an advanced degree
- Preferred candidates will possess a master’s degree in a business-related field
- GMAT score of 400 or higher
- Three letters of recommendation
A Sampling of Coursework:
- Organizational Behavior
- Advanced Computer Applications
- Teaching Methodology
- Advanced Leadership Concepts
Degree Outcomes: Graduates from Hampton U Online’s Ph.D. in Business program will have the luxury of excellent preparation for a number of roles and contexts. Graduates will be poised for job advancements. They will be ready to move into top business administration positions. Graduates, should they so elect, are thoroughly prepared to enter academia, as well.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN BUSINESS AT HAMPTON U ONLINE
Trident University International
Online DBA and Ph.D. in Business Administration
Trident offers two online low-cost doctorates in business. The DBA is designed for experienced business leaders with an already established track record in business administration excellence, looking to move into top management positions.
The Ph.D. in Business Administration is designed for business-minded individuals who see their vocation as educators and researchers in the field of business administration.
The Ph.D. requires a dissertation, while the DBA degree is more application-based and culminates in a doctoral project that applies theory to practical business situations.
Campus Location: Cypress, CA
Tuition: $787.50 Per Credit
Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and College
Admission Requirements:
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- Official Transcripts
- Current CV
- Scholarly writing sample
- A letter explaining motivations and goals for pursuing a doctorate
- Two letters of recommendation
- For those without a master’s degree
- Minimum 3.6 GPA
- GRE/GMAT scores
- DBA Degree
- Minimum of 5 years of experience
A Sampling of Coursework:
- DBA
- Advanced Strategic Marketing
- Applied Statistics for Research in Business and Management
- Innovation and Creativity in Business
- PhD
- Introductory Data Analysis
- Research Design and Fieldwork
- Advanced Multivariate Data Analysis
Degree Outcomes: Both degrees prepare graduates for career advancement and promotion. A mix and theory and practice informs both, while the Ph.D. is research-oriented and the DBA is practice-directed.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN BUSINESS DEGREES AT TRIDENT UNIVERSITY
City University of Seattle
Online Doctor of Business Administration
City U of Seattle works hard to combine academic rigor and thoroughness with low-cost affordability in its 91 credits online DBA. That this has worked is confirmed by the very high rate of student satisfaction with the program.
The program uses a mix of synchronous and asynchronous methods of delivery, and, for local students, the courses can be a blend of onsite and online formats. This affordable degree offers flexibility, as well, in the concentrations students pursue.
Campus Location: Seattle, WA
Tuition: $785.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Transcripts
- Additional degree-related materials may be required.
A Sampling of Coursework:
- Financial Decision Making
- Research Design
- Advanced Research Topics
- Organizational Identity and Culture
Degree Outcomes: Graduates from City U’s online DBA program will possess extensive knowledge and greatly sharpened skills in both business and managerial realms.
Because critical thinking and sound application of appropriate theory to situations are pillars of the program, graduates are versatile and effective team leaders who build community amongst their colleagues and improve their organizations.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AT CITY U OF SEATTLE
Franklin University
Online Doctor of Business Administration
Franklin’s online DBA makes the top 20 most affordable online business doctorates. However, low cost doesn’t reduce the program’s quality.
This three-year degree helps business leaders to set themselves apart from competitors. Franklin’s doctorate challenges students to be ahead of the curve in the rapidly changing business world.
Business practitioners who can anticipate and react in an effective manner to such changes put their organizations in a stronger position than those whose leaders lack this skill. The degree is open to transferring credits. It requires a dissertation in order to graduate.
Campus Location: Columbus, OH
Tuition: $748.00 Per Credit
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Admission Requirements:
- Completed application
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- At least 30 credits of graduate work in business
A Sampling of Coursework:
- Development of Management Theory Practice
- Organizational Behavior, Culture, and Effectiveness
- Research Methods and Design
- Ethics and Social Responsibility
Degree Outcomes: Business leaders who complete the low-cost online DBA offered through Franklin U will be skilled in the areas of business research, analysis and integration, and application. Besides general knowledge, graduates will have excellent knowledge in a key concentration area.
Successful completion of the program will mean that students have mastered forms of written and oral communication on business-related topics. Finally, students will have a developed ethical sense.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONLINE DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AT FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main differences between the DBA and the Ph.D.?
Each degree is considered a terminal degree. This means that beyond the doctorate, there is no higher degree that can be earned. Thus, the formal study “terminates” with the conferral of the doctorate.
While each degree represents the high point of academic achievement in its field, there are some key basic differences between the DBA and Ph.D. that should be considered when choosing which doctoral degree path to take.
First, the DBA is more practice-focused than the Ph.D., which makes the DBA more likely better suited to business professionals already established in the field of business administration.
This means that business theories, strategies, data analyses, etc., in the DBA program, will be studied with an eye toward how knowledge and information can be used to advance, change, or improve an organization’s business model, strategies, and place in the market.
While many DBA programs require a dissertation, many others do not. In place of a dissertation, doctoral projects, which seek to implement learning in real-life business contexts, are required from students in order to graduate.
Moreover, often in DBA degrees, dissertations will be less theoretical and more practice-oriented, dealing with questions of practical finance, applied business strategies, and managerial techniques. The Ph.D. in business administration most often has a theoretical orientation, and graduates from Ph.D. programs typically go on to work as professors, analysts, consultants, and the like.
Virtually every Ph.D. degree program in business administration will require a research-based dissertation that seeks to identify and address a specific question that is related to business administration rather than come up with practical policies that will be directly implemented in a given business context.
While the two degrees are in no way radically opposed to each other, nor are the boundaries between the degrees impermeable, the two degrees have different directions and outcomes for their graduates. These should be carefully considered.
What are the common admission requirements for an online Doctoral study in Business Administration?
Acceptance into an online doctoral degree program in business administration can be competitive, and schools will often give first consideration to the most impressive candidates.
Because the doctorate is an advanced degree, there are important prerequisites that must be met in order to both prepare the potential doctoral student for the rigors of advanced study and to demonstrate to the representatives of online doctoral programs that the student is capable of successfully completing their program.
The DBA and Ph.D. both require at least a master’s degree in business administration (often an MBA), OR a master’s in a business-related field. OR at least a certain number of graduate-level credits in business-related topics such as finance, marketing, accounting, statistics, etc.
A key point of difference between the admission requirements for a DBA versus a Ph.D. in business administration degree is that in addition to a master’s degree, the DBA will almost always require several years of work experience in business-related administrative positions.
Both degrees will often require a current resume, a personal career goal statement, and letters of recommendation from employment and academic superiors and mentors. Be sure to carefully check each school’s specific requirements because there are often minor differences between degree programs.
What is the average length of time needed to complete a Doctorate in Business Administration?
Most often, online doctoral degrees in business administration require a minimum of three years to complete. Often such degree programs can take up to five years because most students are already involved in career, social, religious, family, etc., situations that do not allow for full-time, concentrated study.
However, schools work hard to help busy students manage their academic workload while juggling other important responsibilities so that an online doctorate in business administration can be completed in a timely manner.
A final important aspect of reducing the time needed to complete your degree is whether or not a program accepts the transfer of credits and the number of credits that will be accepted. This can significantly reduce the time spent working on an online doctorate in business administration.
What are some additional facts I should consider when thinking about how affordable an online Doctorate in Business Administration program is?
While tuition is the clearest, most straightforward, and the most basic indicator of how affordable an online doctorate in business administration is, there are some other important factors to look at when considering the cost of a program.
The first is the actual number of credits that a degree program requires. It will sometimes be the case that a program with lower tuition will end up costing more than another program with higher tuition that requires fewer credits.
Another important consideration in addition to tuition and required credits is the number of transfer credits that a degree program will accept. If a school has slightly higher tuition and, perhaps, requires more credits yet accepts a significant number of transfer credits, the overall cost of the program might actually be lower than other programs with lower tuition and fewer credits.
How do residency requirements affect my study experience?
Residency requirements refer to the times when a doctoral student is required to be on the physical campus of the school offering his or her degree program.
These are commonly for in-person instruction, presentations, and networking with faculty, fellow students, and representatives of the business field. Residency requirements vary greatly between online doctoral degrees in business administration. Some online programs have zero residency requirements.
Most, however, have some residency requirements. Each program should be consulted about such requirements when one is considering applying to that school. The level and sophistication of doctoral study residencies allow for direct assessment of students by faculty and fruitful interactions that enrich the learning experience.
Even if residency requirements increase the complexity of the doctoral study, this should be looked upon as part of a learning adventure, not a mere inconvenience.
What are the top five most popular occupations to consider with a Doctor of Business Administration degree?
- Management Consultant
- Business Analyst
- Financial Analyst
- Organizational Development Specialist
- Project Manager
What are the top five earning occupations to consider with a Doctor of Business Administration degree?
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Operating Officer
- Vice President of Business Development
- Corporate Financial Analyst
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