16 Most Affordable Online Business Administration Degree Programs (Doctorate) 2020

New Castle, Delaware

Wilmington University (WilmU) is a private, nonprofit institution serving students at 14 locations in three states, plus online. Campuses include several militarybases or stations, but around 40% of students take online programs. Most of the other 60% are commuter students. Nearly twice as many female students are enrolled. WilmU describes itself as military friendly, offering multiple benefits to personnel, including an Active Duty Military Discount on tuition, service member benefits including Tuition Assistance through the GI Bill, and more.

WilmU offers an online Doctor of Business Administration degree. This 54-credit program is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. It prepares students who are already managers, leaders, consultants,  and educators pursue senior manager or C-level executive positions or to teach in college. The DBA requires a one-time, 2-day residency and takes at least three years to complete. Courses are all online and categories consist of:

• Common Core
• Program Core
• Dissertation / Research 

A suitable master’s degree is required, and the program must be completed within seven years of starting.

Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University is a private, nonprofit institution — the largest such in the U.S. Liberty ranked Forbes Magazine ranked LU in the top 25 private American colleges for low federal loan debt. The university is the first in the state to receive a Purple Heart University designation for its overall support of military personnel, veterans and family. This Christian institution was founded by popular televangelist Jerry Falwell.  All courses incorporate a Christian world view — particularly that of Young Earth Creationism. Liberty has earned positions on various college ranking lists from:

• Forbes
• Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges
• U.S. News & World Report and others 

LU offers an online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree requiring 60 credits. The program takes about 4 years for completion, but does allow for up to 15 transfer credits. It is 100% online, with an 8-week course format and multiple start dates per year. The program helps students develop skills for industry leadership, thought leadership or executive leadership and management in general. Other topics include HR management and strategic research methods. Career options for graduates of this DBA vary by concentration, of which there are 12:

• Accounting
• Finance
• Healthcare Management
• Human Resources
• Information Systems
• International Business
• Leadership
• Marketing
• Non-Profit Leadership and Management
• Project Management
• Strategic Management
• Supply Chain Management and Logistics

Rates are significantly lower ($275/credit) for qualified military personnel.

Hampton, Virginia

Hampton University (HU) is a private, nonprofit Historically Black College or University . HU celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2018. It is a top producer of African-American business bachelor’s graduates. Its student population for Fall 2017 consisted of over 91% African-American students, but otherwise represents a fairly diverse group. HU even has a “Skin of Color Research Institute.” It had about a 2: 1 ratio of female to male students in Fall 2017.  Business enrollment ranked second, after Liberal Arts and Education. The university ranked #3 HBCU in Washington Monthly’s 2016 College Rankings. It ranked #3 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 list of HBCUs. It also found a spot in Princeton Review’s 2016 Best 381 Colleges ranking. Notable HU alumni include: Martin Luther King Jr’s mother, Alberta Williams King; educator and presidential advisor Booker T. Washington, who also founded Tuskegee University; and comedienne Wanda Sykes.

HU offers an online Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (Ph.D.) degree. It requires  61 credits for completion. Students coming from a non-business background may be eligible but will be required to complete additional courses. While coursework is primarily online (Fall and Spring semesters), two summer residencies on-campus are required for this cohort format program. The program has both Major and Minor coursework, a comprehensive test, and dissertation-related work. The timeline is typically 3.5 years, and courses run 16 weeks each. The program prepares students for either consulting or college professor careers.

Columbus, Ohio

Franklin University is a private, nonprofit institution serving students at locations in five states plus online. Nearly 80% of students take one or more online courses. Franklin particularly caters to working adults, having an average age for students of 34. Accolades earned by Franklin include two “military friendly” designations from Victory Media and Military Advanced Education.

Franklin offers an online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree requiring 58 credits. The average timeline is three years, though up to 24 transfer credits are allowed, potentially shortening the program duration. Dissertation work starts immediately, spreading out the effort and allowing the program to be completed sooner than most such programs. The 58 credits include:

• 16 credits for Research Core courses
• 20 for Major Area courses
• 12 for Elective courses
• 10 credits for Dissertation Requirements

The program prepares students for positions such as:

• leaders
• strategists
• consultants
• educators

Potential careers include:

• Professor
• Analyst
• Consultant
• Entrepreneur
• Executive
• Human Resources Specialist
• Manager

Note: Franklin offers a free, downloadable ebook that advice on completing a doctorate: “Free Guide: How to Complete Your Doctoral Journey.”

Riverside, California

California Baptist University (CBU) is a private, nonprofit institution affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Academic programs follow a Christ-centered educational viewpoint. The university is top-ranked in various categories by U.S. News & World Report, among others. 

CBU offers an online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree. The program is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. It follows a cohort model and requires 50 credits. It takes three years or longe to complete, including dissertation work. Classes are online and run in an 8-week format, taken one course at a time. Faculty collectively have professional experience in all sectors, public, non-profit, private. Some residency participation is required and is spread out across the program. Qualifying doctoral students may be eligible for some financial aid.

Providence, Rhode Island

Johnson and Wales University-Online  is a private, nonprofit institution serving students at campuses in four states and online. Johnson and Wales began as a business school. It has an educational model that integrates experiential learning into all facets of its programs. Students collectively put in over 250,000 hours of community service yearly. Notable Johnson and Wales alumni include celebrity chef and entrepreneur Emeril Lagasse, as well as celebrity chefs Tyler Florence and Anna Olson. The university JWU has appeared in US News and World Report, Money Magazine  and the Higher Education Community Service President’s Honor Role. 

Johnson and Wales offers an online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree which requires 54 credits for completion. The cohort-model program typically takes three years. Courses are fully online, eight weeks in duration, and taken one at a time. Students receive dissertation advisement at the end of year one, followed by “lock-step courses” for guidance. The program does not require any residency and up to three non-dissertation courses are allowed for transfer. Requirements for admission include five years work experience in management or industry leadership. Students without a master’s degree with a business component need three extra years of management experience. Note: Tuition rate will increase if a student does not remain continuously enrolled or fails one or more courses.

River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University-Chicago (CUG, ) is a private, nonprofit institution. It’s a member of the Concordia University System, and is affiliated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. The university incorporates Christian values into its programs, particularly of the Lutheran tradition. For its overall “volunteering and civic engagement,” CUC has earned Honor Roll designation in the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll program for several years. Other recognition:

• U.S. News & World Report (Best Regional University Midwest – 2018 #75
• Washington Monthly (Best Bang for the Buck – Midwest Colleges 2016 #41).

Notable CUC alumni include composers Paul Manz and Richard Hillert, and comedian/ actor Paul Walter Hauser.

CUG offers an online Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) degree requiring 60 credits for completion. The typical timeline is three years and online courses run in 8-week sessions. There are three residency requirements of four days each. Of the 60 credits, dissertation work makes up six. The dissertation effort starts immediately with a choice of a preliminary topic selected at the program start. Choice of specializations are:

• Leadership and Innovation
• Innovation in Health Care

This program leans towards careers in education, such as college teaching. However, students completing this DBA also gain skills applicable to managerial and executive leadership roles. Note: this school charges DBA tuition and fees at a rate of $15,360/year. The estimated full program rate below is based on a full complement of courses. Additional courses per semester, over full-time, are charged at a lower rate per credit hour.

Seattle, Washington

City University of Seattle (CityU) is a private, nonprofit institution. It’s a member of the National University System. It serves students in Seattle plus multiple campuses in seven other countries, and online. Accolades for CityU include:

• U.S. News & World Report (Best Online Bachelor’s Programs – 2018,#31)
• Best Online Graduate Business Programs 2018

Notable CityU alumni include billionaire Calvin Ayre, founder, Bodog Entertainment.

CityU offers an online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree, which requires 91 quarter credits for completion. The program typically takes between 3-4 years. In addition to one hour of lecture per week per course, students also learn and interact with faculty through Professor Live Chat. A capstone is part of the curriculum, as are three residency requirements. Each to develops a different dissertation-related skill. The DBA program has a particular focus on developing:

• advanced skills in organization interventional thinking
• agile business practices
• leadership
• critical thinking

Some potential careers for graduates of this program include:

• CEO
• CFO
• President
• Executive Director
• Director
• Business Consultant.

Newberg, Oregon

George Fox University (GFU) is a private, nonprofit institution. It’s affiliated with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and the Christian College Consortium. Newberg is considered one of the safest cities in Oregon, which is a factor considering the DBA program has residency requirements. The university ranks in several college review lists, including:

• Forbes (top Christian colleges)
• U.S. News & World Report (first-tier regional universities)
• Money Magazine (Best Colleges for Your Money 2017)
• Washington Monthly (Best Bang for the Buck 2017)
• Princeton Review (Best in the West)

Notable GFU alumni include:

• former U.S. President Herbert Hoover
• high school basketball coach Ken Carter, who inspired the movie Coach Carter.

GFU offers an online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree that requires 56 credits for completion. The program, which is designed to accommodate doctoral students working full time, takes about four years to complete. This includes one year of dissertation work. Some residency is required so students can meet their cohort and professors. The DBA is intended for business professionals wanting to increase their knowledge and skills in leadership. It is also for those changing careers to become:

• consultants
• corporate trainers
• professors
• education marketing executives

Dissertation coursework comprises eight of the 56 credits. The curriculum also includes a comprehensive exam. Courses are all online and students have a choice of three concentrations:

• Accounting
• Management
• Marketing

This DBA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Saint Leo, Florida

Saint Leo University (SLU, est. 1889) is a private, nonprofit institution affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church (Benedictine tradition). The university serves students of all faiths. The small but diverse student population consists of 41% from underrepresented populations. For this and other factors, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine included SLU in its list of Top 100 institutions for number of graduating minority bachelor’s students. The university also ranks in U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges list for the regional South category. About 95% of graduatessaid they’d recommend SLU to others. Notable SLU alumni include actor Lee Marvin, actor/ musician Desi Arnaz, and musician Stephen Stills, among others.

SLU offers a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program requiring 57 credits for completion. In addition to courses and dissertation work, the curriculum includes a comprehensive exam worth three credits and an orientation session. Dissertation courses and research total 15 credits. There is a choice between a Teaching track or a consulting track, each worth six credits. There are some residency requirements. 

Potential careers for DBA graduates include:

• Business Teacher
• Business Trainer
• Chief Financial Officer
• College Professor
• Consultant
• Economist
• Executive Manager
• Financial Manager
• Investment Analyst
• Research Analyst.

Note: qualified military personnel and veterans may be eligible for tuition assistance through the U.S. Department of Defense.

Flint, Michigan

Baker College (BC,) is a private, nonprofit institution with roots back to 1888. It is a career college with several locations in the state, plus online programs. It was founded as a business university and today is the largest independent higher education non-profit institution  in the state. It has ranked in U.S. News & World Report several times in business-related categories. Notable Baker alumni include Chef Kim Ryan, who won a Hell’s Kitchen reality TV series competition.

BC an online Executive Doctorate (DBA) degree requiring 60 credits for completion. The program is part-time, running 3.5 years, and is an executive doctoral program. Delivery is blended. The program follows a cohort format and a mentored dissertation model. The curriculum starts with required courses and allows students to evolve to independent research by the third year. Core courses comprise 27 credits while dissertation work totals 16 credits. While there is no comprehensive exam, a comprehensive essay worth two credits is required. Residency requirements are given two credits. There are six specializations available:

• Finance
• Human Resources
• Leadership
• Management Information Systems
• Marketing
• a custom-designed specialization

Potential careers for graduates of this program include:

• analyst
• business consultant
• business operations specialist
• C-level executive
• college/ university professor.

Lodi, New Jersey

Felician University is a private, nonprofit institution affiliated with the Catholic Church. It incorporates a Franciscan world view in academic programs. The student population is diverse, with 29% of undergrads comprised of Hispanic/ Latino students, making the university a Hispanic Serving Institution. It is likely headed for a Historically Black College or University designation in the future. Undergraduates in this category comprise 24%. PayScale.com ranked Felician third in the state for 2017 best value private institutions. U.S. News & World Report ranked a non-business master’s program (Master of Science in Nursing) as a best online grad program for 2018.

Felician offers an online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree requiring 61 credits for completion. The program is suitable for students who either plan to seek advanced roles in business or those pursuing academic roles including teaching. The curriculum is self-paced, including for assignments and tests. It is divided into four phases, with the fourth covering dissertation work. Students are partnered with a faculty member who acts as a personal learning coach. The curriculum emphasizes management, marketing, and decision theory. Courses are online, though there are two residency requirements – one for the hybrid-mode Statistics course and one for the doctoral defense. Phases 2 and 3 are Core Knowledge Projects and Concentration Mastery Demonstration, respectively. The latter offers two options, one of which is a teaching track and includes a practicum. In the other option, DBA students can choose to study towards a professional certification/ licensure exam and subsequently pass. Topic areas include: accounting/ auditing, finance/ investing, or management. Examples are:

• Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst
• Charted Financial Analyst
• Certified Financial Planner
• Certified Financial Auditor
• Certified Management Accountant
• Certified Public Accountant.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale (KU) is a private, nonprofit institution. It is a member of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida and serves students on 18 campuses in Florida, plus online. U.S. News &World Report listed KU in a number of rankings.

KU offers an online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree that requires 60 credits for completion and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. This is a unique online DBA degree in that curriculum is entirely in Spanish. The English track is only available on campus. Basic courses comprise 21 credits while dissertation work consists of 15 credits. Students choose between two specializations of 18 credits each:

• Global Organizational Leadership
• Global Business

Two residencies must be completed — one before the comprehensive exam, the other before the final course in the chosen specialization. Courses are eight weeks long and typically taken one or two at a time. Student can finish the program, including dissertation in about 2.5 years, Admission requirements include a Master’s degree in any of the following:

• business administration
• administration
• public or non-profit management
• a related field

Alternately, a student should have at least two years of management work experience. Additional requirements apply.

Irving, Texas

University of Dallas (UD) is a private, nonprofit institution affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. It has over 40 Fulbright Scholars in its 60+ year history. It is considered a top college/ university for women. UD has an extensive list of accolades, including:

• CEO Magazine 
• U.S. News & World Report’s 
• Best Value West
• Forbes Magazine
• Princeton Review 
• Fiske
• Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine 

UD offers a blended Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree, which is the only such AACSB-International-accredited program in the state. The cohort model program blends online learning with regular on-campus residency, and requires 61 credits for completion. It is designed for professionals with senior-level executive experience seeking one of three career paths:

• academic (full or part-time)
• executive leadership
• management consulting

Program commitment is  three years, and the dissertation portion accounts for 18 credits. Classes are on-campus one weekend per month, and supplemented with other online learning components. Students who do not complete their dissertation in the allotted time must register for 6-credit “doctoral reading courses” every semester until completed, at $500/credit.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Drexel University (Drexel) is a private, nonprofit institution serving students on two campuses plus online. Accolades for Drexel are numerous:

• U.S. News & World Report 
• Best Part-Time MBA Programs 
• Princeton Review
• Financial Times
• CEO Magazine 
• Forbes Magazine 

Drexel offers a blended Executive Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) degree which requires 60-68 credits for completion. There is a short residency requirement two times per semester. The program takes 10 quarter terms (2.5 years) part-time, including dissertation work.

The curriculum consists of 16 courses, including seven courses

covering dissertation work. The DBA follows both a cohort model with 12-18 students per cohort and a mentored dissertation model. Each student works with a dissertation chair, starting in year one. Program delivery is blended, combining online learning modules and on-campus residencies. This  allows doctoral students to continue to work full-time. Typical incoming students for this DBA include executives and senior managers with 10+ years of experience in industry or leadership and who have a related master’s degree. 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Temple University serves students on eight campuses  plus online. Temple was founded as a night school for working men . Temple was a private institution previously affiliated with the Baptist Church, but is now public.  It has ranked in:

• Princeton Review
• MONEY Magazine
• Kiplinger’s Personal Finance 

Notable Temple faculty have included science fiction writer Samuel Delany and poet Thomas Kinsella. Notable alumni include:

• famed linguist/ political activist Dr. Noam Chomsky
• actor Kunal Nayyer (“Raj” on Big Bang Theory TV series)
• actor Bob Saget (Full House)
• musicians Daryl Hall and John Oates
• several members of the musical act Sister Sledge

TU offers  an online Executive Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree requiring 54 credits for completion. This is a part-time program and the timeline is three years, with some on-campus residencies.  The first and second years consist of three terms, with Fall and Spring comprised of three courses each (nine credits per semester). The Summer terms consist solely of one 3-credit Research Project each. Two additional Research Project courses occur in Fall and Spring of Year 2. The final year consists of a 6-credit Dissertation course in each of Fall and Spring terms. The Fall term is a proposal defense, while the Spring term is a dissertation defense. Students work with a faculty member mentor in the DBA program. Typical students have work experience as senior managers or executives.

The university also has a PhD in Business Administration program aimed at students seeking research-related careers.