Best Online DBA and Ph.D. in Business Programs
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Management jobs pay some of the highest salaries of any career path. And a graduate degree in business can help you qualify for these coveted leadership roles.
While an MBA can get your foot in the door, a doctorate in business is the highest degree you can earn in business school. With a Ph.D. or DBA degree, you’ll gain specialized knowledge and skills while preparing for your career in business.
Top Online Business Ph.D. and DBA Programs
Baker College
Owosso, MI- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,960
- Out-of-state$9,960
- In-State$12,510
- Out-of-state$12,510
- Retention Rate61%
- Acceptance Rate54%
- Students Enrolled6,028
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment69%
- AccreditationYes
California Baptist University
- Riverside, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$33,930
- Out-of-state$33,930
- In-State$13,410
- Out-of-state$13,410
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate80%
- Students Enrolled11,317
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment83%
- AccreditationYes
City University of Seattle
- Seattle, WA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$13,658
- Out-of-state$13,658
- In-State$11,812
- Out-of-state$11,812
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled2,052
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment83%
- AccreditationYes
Concordia University-Chicago
- River Forest, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$32,660
- Out-of-state$32,660
- In-State$9,090
- Out-of-state$9,090
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled6,491
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment87%
- AccreditationYes
Felician University
- Lodi, NJ
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$32,550
- Out-of-state$32,550
- In-State$19,080
- Out-of-state$19,080
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled2,556
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
Franklin University
- Columbus, OH
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,552
- Out-of-state$9,552
- In-State$16,080
- Out-of-state$16,080
- Retention Rate9%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled5,926
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
Gardner-Webb University
- Boiling Springs, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$31,220
- Out-of-state$31,220
- In-State$9,000
- Out-of-state$9,000
- Retention Rate68%
- Acceptance Rate78%
- Students Enrolled3,536
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment74%
- AccreditationYes
Johnson & Wales University-Online
- Providence, RI
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$13,365
- Out-of-state$13,365
- In-State$14,148
- Out-of-state$14,148
- Retention Rate50%
- Acceptance Rate36%
- Students Enrolled2,152
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$19,808
- Out-of-state$19,808
- In-State$27,162
- Out-of-state$27,162
- Retention Rate60%
- Acceptance Rate97%
- Students Enrolled20,330
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment48%
- AccreditationYes
Liberty University
- Lynchburg, VA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$14,791
- Out-of-state$14,791
- In-State$7,935
- Out-of-state$7,935
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate50%
- Students Enrolled93,349
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment93%
- AccreditationYes
Lincoln Memorial University
- Harrogate, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$23,040
- Out-of-state$23,040
- In-State$20,705
- Out-of-state$20,705
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate69%
- Students Enrolled4,885
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment10%
- AccreditationYes
Saint Leo University
- Saint Leo, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$23,990
- Out-of-state$23,990
- In-State$14,568
- Out-of-state$14,568
- Retention Rate64%
- Acceptance Rate73%
- Students Enrolled9,832
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment92%
- AccreditationYes
St. Thomas University
- Miami Gardens, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$31,800
- Out-of-state$31,800
- In-State$14,400
- Out-of-state$14,400
- Retention Rate49%
- Acceptance Rate60%
- Students Enrolled5,601
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment36%
- AccreditationYes
University of Maryland Global Campus
- Adelphi, MD
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$7,200
- Out-of-state$11,976
- In-State$8,640
- Out-of-state$11,862
- Retention Rate55%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled58,526
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment92%
- AccreditationYes
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Greensboro, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,422
- Out-of-state$19,581
- In-State$5,219
- Out-of-state$18,937
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled19,764
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment94%
- AccreditationYes
University of West Alabama
- Livingston, AL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,100
- Out-of-state$18,200
- In-State$6,678
- Out-of-state$13,356
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance Rate93%
- Students Enrolled5,734
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment82%
- AccreditationYes
University of the Cumberlands
- Williamsburg, KY
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$9,875
- Out-of-state$9,875
- In-State$4,282
- Out-of-state$4,282
- Retention Rate66%
- Acceptance Rate81%
- Students Enrolled19,110
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment99%
- AccreditationYes
University of the Incarnate Word
- San Antonio, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$31,020
- Out-of-state$31,020
- In-State$18,000
- Out-of-state$18,000
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate97%
- Students Enrolled7,917
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment95%
- AccreditationYes
University of the Southwest
- Hobbs, NM
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$16,000
- Out-of-state$16,000
- In-State$22,500
- Out-of-state$22,500
- Retention Rate74%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled904
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
Wilmington University
- New Castle, DE
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,430
- Out-of-state$11,430
- In-State$8,784
- Out-of-state$8,784
- Retention Rate50%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled14,769
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment84%
- AccreditationYes
Why Get an Online Ph.D. in Business or DBA Degree?
- You’ll have tons of business careers to choose from, from accounting to advertising.
- An online Ph.D. in business can raise your salary potential and help you stand out from other job candidates.
- You’ll be more prepared to advance into executive roles.
- You can attend a top business program without having to relocate.
- Some online business doctorate programs offer discounted tuition to distance learners.
- You can attend classes and complete coursework on your own schedule.
Did You Know…
Business is one of the most popular graduate degrees — nearly a quarter of all master’s degrees awarded in 2020-2021 were in business.- Compared to those with a master’s degree, the median salary for those with a doctorate is around $19,000 higher per year.
- Professionals with a doctorate report the lowest unemployment rate for any education level except professional degrees.
| Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) | Ph.D. in Business |
|---|---|
|
|
Why Accreditation Matters for Online Business Doctorate Programs
Accreditation matters when you’re choosing an online doctoral program in business.
Accredited universities meet high standards for academic excellence. To earn accreditation, schools must undergo a rigorous review of their student learning outcomes, instructor qualifications, and teaching materials.
A school’s accreditation status can affect your financial aid, educational quality, and career prospects. Many employers and professional certifications require candidates to have a degree from an accredited institution.
When researching online business doctorate programs, check for accreditation.
In addition to institutional accreditation, reputable business schools should hold programmatic accreditation. Here are the major accrediting agencies for graduate business programs:
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
- International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
What Are the Admission Requirements for an Online Doctoral Program in Business?
General application- Official transcripts from all colleges attended (undergraduate and graduate)
- Test scores, usually from the GMAT or GRE
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Statement(s) of purpose
How Much Does an Online Ph.D. in Business Cost?
Most online Ph.D. in business programs take 4-6 years to complete, costing you anywhere from $50,000-$170,000 in total tuition and fees.
Online DBA programs take roughly 3-6 years, depending on your school and whether you’re full time or part time. This means that a DBA can cost anywhere from $37,000-$170,000.
The main factors that affect how much you’ll spend on your online business Ph.D. or DBA degree are:
- The length of your program
- Whether you enroll in a private or public school
- How much financial aid you qualify for
- Whether your program is fully funded (many doctoral programs are!)
- Whether you opt for a DBA or Ph.D.
Make sure to submit the FAFSA to see if you’re eligible for federal grants and loans. Colleges and universities also use the FAFSA to award institutional aid.
In addition, check whether your employer offers tuition reimbursement.
Remember that when earning your DBA or Ph.D. in business online, you may need to budget for things like technology fees and a laptop.
Online Ph.D. in Business Specializations to Choose From
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Management
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing
- Operations
How Much Money Can You Earn With an Online Business Doctorate?
With a doctorate in business, you can qualify for high-paying management and executive roles. Many of these positions report median salaries in the six figures.
As the following table shows, the earning potential with a business doctorate varies depending on the field and title. Some of these positions do not require a business doctorate, but having one may make you a more attractive candidate. Experience and location can also affect salaries.
| Job | Median Annual Salary (May 2024) | Job Growth Rate (2023-2033) |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $105,350 | 5% |
| Human Resources Managers | $140,030 | 6% |
| Training and Development Managers | $127,090 | 7% |
| Economists | $115,440 | 5% |
| Project Management Specialists | $100,750 | 7% |
| Management Analysts | $101,190 | 11% |
| Postsecondary Teachers | $83,980 | 8% |
| Logisticians | $80,880 | 19% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Busines Doctorate Programs
What can you do with an online Ph.D. in business?
An online Ph.D. in business can lead to opportunities in academia and research. For example, you could become a business professor.
While an online business Ph.D. emphasizes theoretical and research skills, a doctor of business administration, or DBA, focuses on applied business for those seeking leadership roles in business.
How many years does it take to get an online Ph.D. in business?
Earning your Ph.D. in business online typically takes 4-6 years, depending on the program and your enrollment status. For example, part-time students generally require more time.
In comparison, most DBA programs take 3-5 years.
Are business Ph.D.’s in demand?
A doctorate in business prepares you primarily to become a business professor. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, college professors are in demand, with a projected 8% growth rate from 2023-2033.
What’s more, business professors tend to earn high salaries.
Is a DBA better than a Ph.D. in business?
A DBA and a Ph.D. in business are both doctorates, but because the two degrees serve different purposes, neither is necessarily better than the other.
As a practice-focused degree, a DBA can help you get leadership roles in business. A Ph.D., in contrast, emphasizes research and typically leads to academic jobs, such as business professor.
Before applying to DBA or Ph.D. programs in business, consider your career goals to find the right fit for you.
Is a DBA worth it?
A DBA can pay off. As a practitioner’s degree in business, a DBA emphasizes applied skills and can help you advance into executive roles or gain the knowledge and skills to launch your own business.
DBAs also showcase your expertise for roles in consulting, administration, and academia.
