30 Best Online PhD Programs for 2024

If you’re interested in pursuing an online PhD program, now may be the time. There are more online PhD programs available now than ever before.

Many college programs can be taken 100% online. Some online programs are blended or hybrid programs, which means they offer mostly online courses but may require you to take certain exams or classes on campus or at designated locations.

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There are many online PhD degree programs that allow graduate students to earn their degrees in the same amount of time as they would on campus. There is a variety of online doctoral programs in many different subjects, so you can focus on your field of choice.

Types of Online PhD Programs

We’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular online PhD programs below. Click on the area you’re interested in to learn more about that program.

1. Accounting
2. Business Administration
3. Counseling
4. Criminal Justice
5. Curriculum & Instruction
6. Education
7. Educational Leadership
8. Finance
9. Healthcare Management
10. Higher Education
11. Homeland Security
12. Human Resources
13. Information Technology
14. Management
15. Management Information Systems
16. Nurse Practitioner (RN Required)
17. Nursing Education (RN Required)
18. Organizational Leadership
19. Project Management
20. Psychology
21. Public Administration
22. Public Health
23. Public Policy
24. Special Education
25. Supply Chain and Logistics

Many of these graduate programs have concentrations that you can choose to specialize your studies even further.

Accounting

Online PhD programs for accounting are some of the most popular online doctoral programs in business. These programs are usually pursued by people with an undergrad and a master’s degree in the accounting or business management fields.

If you’re analytical and good with numbers, this may be a good advanced degree path for you to pursue.

These graduate programs are primarily research-based. The course requirements typically include several higher-level accounting classes and classes in research and theory. Common topics of study are empirical research methods, behavioral research methods, research in taxation, and capital markets research.

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Quantitative research tools and economics courses may also be a part of the curriculum. A few of the potential jobs a PhD in Accounting could lead to are senior accountant, owner of an accounting firm, college professor of accounting or business finance, consultant, researcher, and financial analyst.

Business Administration

This is another popular PhD that graduate students pursue, and there are many top-rated online business administration PhD programs. A PhD in Business Administration is the highest possible degree that can be attained in the business field in the U.S. and many other countries.

Students in these PhD programs typically have to complete coursework, independent research and study, and a comprehensive final exam to graduate.

Most Ph.D. in Business Administration programs require a bachelor’s degree in a relevant business field at a minimum to apply. A master’s degree in a business-related field is typically preferred. Most programs also require specific GRE or GMAT scores.

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Earning this advanced degree will likely require you to take higher-level courses in business-related classes, such as classes in strategy and innovation, leadership, project management, human resource management, accounting, and business intelligence.

Potential jobs after earning your PhD degree include private or government consultant, college professor, and more.

Counseling

Online doctoral degree programs in the field of counseling are designed to help students obtain the knowledge needed to practice counseling in many different settings, including private practices, educational institutions, and agencies.

These programs are typically focused on providing students with a well-rounded education that includes studies in overall health and wellness. upper-level psychology theories, advanced counseling techniques, and patient diversity.

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Courses are usually taught using a variety of seminars, coursework, and research. Towards the program’s end, it’s possible you may have to complete an internship and a final dissertation.

Earning a Ph.D. in Counseling can help you develop a deep understanding of the importance of research, research skills, and clinical theory, the complexities of the human psyche, and knowledge of the American Psychological Association (APA) code of conduct and ethics.

Criminal Justice

In addition to general coursework and electives, PhD programs in criminal justice usually put a strong focus on studies in the following:

• Criminal justice
• Criminology
• Qualitative empirical methods
• Quantitative empirical methods
• Justice policy

Coursework is often broken into online lectures and seminars, but a lot of your work will likely be done through research and practical casework.

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Earning your Ph.D in Criminal Justice can help you obtain the knowledge needed to staff various criminal justice agencies at the local, state, and federal levels and learn how to improve the safety of your area through advanced criminology techniques. It can also help you gain some experience in establishing research partnerships with various agencies.

Your criminal justice PhD could help you pursue jobs in criminal justice fields and institutions of higher education.

Curriculum & Instruction

If you’re applying for a doctoral program in curriculum and instruction, chances are you’re already an educator. Most online doctoral programs in education are almost exclusively designed for certified teachers.

However, it’s possible you’re a graduate student moving straight from certification into the doctoral program.

Either way, if you’re seeking your PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, you’re likely looking to increase your knowledge of the educational field. This degree program is meant for people interested in pursuing careers in curriculum development, leadership development, advanced teaching, or pure research.

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If you’re already a certified teacher, this degree can usually be earned in three or four years if you’re taking a full class load each semester.

Courses are typically heavily focused on designing curriculums, educational administration and leadership, curriculum instruction, research methods, qualitative and quantitative design, and analysis and advanced education studies. You’ll probably be required to give a dissertation at the end of the program.

Education

A PhD in Education is just one of the doctoral degrees available in education. Another is a Doctor of Education (EdD). Earning either of these degrees can help you gain employment in a clinical, administrative, or academic research position.

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Speaking specifically of the PhD in Education, courses are most often taught as a mixture of coursework, online lectures, and seminars. Plenty of research and a final dissertation are also usually required before you can officially earn your doctorate in this field.

Once you’ve earned your PhD in Education, you’ll have the potential to teach as a professor at the university level. You might also use this degree to become a school administrator or superintendent.

Educational Leadership

PhD in Educational Leadership programs are geared towards helping those in education gain the skills they need to become effective leaders.

Coursework for an educational leadership program typically focuses on critical thinking, higher reasoning, and how to solve problems effectively. Learning these skills can help you make positive changes at all levels of education, including elementary, middle, and high schools. These skills are beneficial for working in institutions of higher learning, corporate training facilities, and military educational institutions as well.

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Those who graduate with a PhD in Education Leadership often become any of the following:

• Educational administrators
• University professors
• Survey researchers
• Social service managers
• Community service managers
• Training and development managers
• Superintendents
• Deans

Obtaining your PhD in Education Leadership can help you extend your dream career further and pursue lucrative job opportunities.

Finance

Online doctoral degree programs in finance usually focus on a vast array of financial topics and courses, such as pricing and asset valuation, practical decision-making by financial intermediaries, and the behavior of finance on a global marketing scale.

Most coursework is handled through a series of online seminars and lectures, developing theoretical models, and testing them empirically.

Earning your doctoral degree in finance can help you develop an excellent grasp of all areas of finance, most notably as it relates to the empirical testing of theoretical modeling.

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Students that graduate with a  PhD in Finance pursue a variety of different jobs. People with this degree often become chief financial officers, budget analysts, compensation and benefits managers, financial managers, and sales agents in financial services, commodities, and securities.

Healthcare Management

PhD programs in healthcare management are open almost exclusively to students with a master’s degree in healthcare management or something similar. A few doctoral programs offered online in this field, though, are even more selective. They require applicants to have some experience working in healthcare management or management in a closely related field.

The coursework for an online PhD in Healthcare Management program usually consists of studies in organizational strategies, the development of communication skills, and research. The goal of these programs is to ready graduate students for upper-level leadership roles in healthcare administration.

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The politics of healthcare and healthcare reform, including economic factors that drive specific policies and legislation, are typically studied also. There are generally some courses in accounting, finance, and economics as well.

Higher Education

As the name suggests, earning a PhD in Higher Education can help prepare you for a career in higher education, particularly in higher education administration.

Taking this course of study online is often a little different from taking it on campus.

Coursework for this doctoral degree for online learners typically centers around one-on-one virtual time with professors and a lot of research. The research component is particularly important because it can help you learn research skills that are needed to perform duties in higher education, such as understanding statistics and writing grants.

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Because of this, a research-based dissertation is almost always required before your degree is conferred.

This field often appeals to people who love to learn and are research-oriented and incredibly focused. This degree can help prepare you for advanced leadership roles or senior administrative roles within higher education institutions.

Homeland Security

If you have excellent critical thinking and decision-making skills and a master’s degree in a field related to homeland security, getting a PhD in Homeland Security might be a great choice for you.

Also, if you have an interest in what’s going on in our country today and think you might be able to find creative solutions to problems in domestic security, you might be interested in this degree program.

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Some common topics of study in an online homeland security program include:

• Advanced critical reasoning
• Decision-making skills
• Communications
• Media communications
• Legal statutes and regulations
• Intelligence operations
• Cybersecurity
• Government
• Global relations
• Effective defense tactics

Earning your degree in this field can allow you to pursue government work at the local, state, and federal levels, in homeland security, or in national defense.

Human Resources

A career in human resources can help you pursue jobs in many different fields because just about every industry and business requires a human resources person.

A PhD in Human Resources can help you work towards a job in human resource management, which is the upper-level tier of human resources.

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Human resource managers are often expected to perform the following duties:

• Recruit/hire new employees
• Be the link between employees and management
• Plan and coordinate administrative functions
• Educate new employees about company policies and current employees about new or changing company policies
• Assist employees with understanding their benefits and tax information

A PhD in Human Resources degree program can help you develop the skills necessary to perform these duties.

Aside from becoming human resource managers, people with this doctoral degree often obtain other higher-lever jobs as well. A PhD in Human Resources could help you pursue a job as a compensation manager, employee manager, staffing director, or higher-level executive.

Information Technology

Information technology (IT) is one of the fastest-growing career fields available. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of information technology is projected to have an 11% job growth over the next ten years.

Almost every business needs the services of an IT person at some point. This means the potential to find a lucrative career in the information technology industry is high.

A degree program for a PhD in Information Technology usually consists of coursework, research, and a dissertation that is typically started early on in the program.

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Earning your PhD in Information Technology can help you pursue many high-level  IT jobs. You might become a professor of IT, chief information officer, Vice President or President of IT, senior IT manager, IT director, lead systems analyst, senior consultant, or systems administrator.

Management

If you’re interested in joining an online PhD in Management program, there are a few options you can choose from.

Many of these programs have very comprehensive course curriculums that incorporate facets of the social sciences, research skills, strategy, human resource management, organizational behavior, and more.

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Some potential classes for this degree include:

• Various levels of economics classes
• Human resources research
• Family business research
• Network theory

To be successful in this program, it helps if you are a hard worker and very driven. Most management programs are fast-paced and appeal to those who are both excellent leaders and multitaskers.

A management degree program can help prepare you to work in management fields in different industries. It can help give you access to many potential jobs. You might become a corporate entrepreneur, a professor of business, an upper-level executive, a policy analyst, or a management consultant.

Management Information Systems

If computers, research, and science are your thing, you might be looking to work towards obtaining a PhD in Management Information Systems. Programs for this degree typically focus heavily on methodology, research, and conceptual skills, all while incorporating technology into every aspect of the program.

If you’re into statistical analysis and designing complex programs, this might be the degree for you.

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Potential jobs you could be eligible for after earning your management information systems degree include professor of business or professor of information systems at the secondary or post-secondary level. You might also become a computer network architect, a computer hardware engineer, a computer and information systems manager, or a computer and information research scientist.

Your management information systems degree can help open the door to potential careers that are sustaining and lucrative.

Nurse Practitioner (RN Required)

If you are looking to further your nursing expertise, there are a few different nursing programs you can pursue, depending on your career goals. Two options are to work towards a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD in Nursing).

Although both doctorate degrees can help you obtain the extended education in nursing you need to excel in your chosen career, the primary focus of each nursing program can take you on different paths.

PhD in Nursing

A Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD in Nursing) focuses on research in health services. This degree typically takes an approach to nursing programs that is more scientific, research-based, and academic.

The coursework for this doctorate degree nursing program typically concentrates heavily on healthcare policy, data analysis and statistics, education, and research. A dissertation is usually required to complete this degree.

DNP

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) focuses on nursing practices in health care. Earning a DNP can potentially take you down an academic path, but it typically concentrates more on clinical practice and leadership.

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Your DNP coursework will likely focus on medical research and how it applies to patient care. It can give you opportunities to continue learning how to excel at nursing and managing teams. It can also help you gain knowledge that will help you improve hospital and clinic administration and learn how to use the latest technology. A scholarly project is usually required to complete a DNP degree.

If you are looking to conduct independent research or help improve healthcare policies or would love to teach, earning a PhD in Nursing may be the avenue to take.

If you are looking to continue your clinical work or become a nurse practitioner and hope to improve healthcare systems and the way people are cared for, earning a DNP may be a great option.

Nursing Education (RN Required)

A PhD in Nursing Education is actually quite similar to the PhD in Nursing listed above. Both of these fields typically appeal to a very similar set of people. Usually, nurses who have been in the nursing field for a long time and want to move into the research, theory, and educational fields of nursing apply for this program.

If you’re interested in becoming a professor of nursing or someone who trains other nurses, then a PhD in Nursing Education may be perfect for you.

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The common goal for these programs is to prepare nurses for new careers in clinical research, education, health administration, and sometimes advanced clinical practice. In short, this doctorate degree should prepare nurses to transition out of pure nursing and move into leadership roles instead.

Organizational Leadership

Organizational leadership graduate programs are usually quite similar in layout to programs for a PhD in Business Administration.

Earning a PhD in this field usually appeals to people who already work in supervisory, management, or leadership positions but want to update their skills and become better leaders within their organizations.

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This is usually a coursework-heavy doctorate degree that focuses on a wide variety of subjects, including but not limited to:

• Systems design
• Ethics
• Technology
• Strategy
• Organizational behavior
• Statistics
• Sociology
• Psychology

Part of the reason the classes are so varied is that it takes a well-rounded individual with many different attributes to become a good leader.

This particular degree can help improve the leadership skills of managers, supervisors, or leaders in almost any field. There is no single career path that lends itself to this degree. It can be implemented in almost all businesses.

Project Management

In certain ways, earning a PhD in Project Management is like receiving a PhD in Organizational Leadership. Both degrees appeal to similar types of people working in supervisory or leadership positions, and both degrees have a wide range of required courses in several different subjects and disciplines.

The difference is this: A PhD in Project Management typically focuses more on how to become a better leader within a team setting, whereas a PhD in this field usually helps students learn how to work more independently.

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In addition to some of the same classes required for this degree, the curriculum for a project management program typically includes courses on cost control, budget management, bid negotiation, and risk assessment.

Potential jobs for those with this degree include project director, program director, construction manager, and general operations manager.

Psychology

There are many PhD programs offered online in psychology. It’s probably one of the most popular choices for receiving an online doctoral degree.

Being hardworking and dedicated can help you succeed in obtaining this degree. Having a curious mind, a love of research, an empathetic personality, and the ability to listen to some of the most horrible stories imaginable without judgment can be very helpful as well.

A PhD in Psychology is, like most PhDs, a research-based doctoral degree. You’ll likely be expected to do a lot of independent research and case studies.

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There may be some online lectures and seminars, but much of your advanced degree program will likely require you to work independently of your professors and other PhD candidates.

Earning this degree can help equip you to work as a psychologist, counselor, mental health specialist, substance abuse counselor, and more in a variety of different settings, including private practices, hospitals, schools and universities, and prisons.

Public Administration

To apply for an online PhD program in public administration, you need to have at least your bachelor’s degree in either public administration or public policy. Many doctoral programs prefer applicants to have a master’s degree in either of those two fields.

Public administration doctoral programs, including online DPA programs, often have quite a bit of leeway in their course curriculum, and for that reason, very few programs are exactly alike. However, at their cores, they’re designed to teach students the best ways to oversee public assets.

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This degree often includes studies in advanced communications (particularly between disparate groups), policymaking, and public budgeting. A dissertation is usually required to graduate.

Those with this degree often become budget analysts, auditors, financial managers, human resources managers, and purchasing agents.

Public Health

The main focus of PhD programs in public health is the successful education of students so that they can help improve public health in the United States.

Earning a PhD in Public Health can help you develop the skills, background, and research-savvy necessary to help further our collective knowledge of how to best keep ourselves healthy and live longer. Your studies can also help you learn how to avert or mitigate crises affecting public health.

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Public health doctoral programs usually have a few different areas of concentration. These may include health policy and management, epidemiology of microbial diseases, environmental health, biostatistics, social science, and chronic diseases.

A love of biology, chemistry, research, and medicine can help you in this program. A healthy curiosity and a natural inclination towards the scientific method are also helpful. Many students that earn this degree go on to work for the CDC.

Public Policy

A PhD in Public Policy often goes hand-in-hand with a PhD in Public Administration. In fact, in many cases, the two fields are combined into one degree simply called a PhD in Public Policy and Administration.

This means that most of the classes and goals listed above in the public administration section are the same ones that should be listed for this degree.

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The two degrees often appeal to the same type of person, which is someone who is driven, outspoken, outgoing, and unafraid to make waves. Many of the same attributes that make people good politicians also make for good public policy and administration degree seekers.

In fact, many politicians start out as public administrators or policymakers. Other potential career fields include civil service, urban/strategic planning, and social justice.

Special Education

Receiving your online PhD in Special Education may be one of the most rewarding decisions you ever make. This field typically attracts people who are kind, loving, patient, empathetic, warm-hearted, and full of guidance.

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If you’re seeking a doctorate in special education degree, though, you’ve probably been teaching students with special needs for a while and are looking to move into a leadership position in a special education team or into a research field. You may desire to learn more about the options for this degree and possibly improve the methods used in educating students with special needs.

As far as the curriculum goes, you’ll likely have a mixture of courses in teaching, administration, and other education-related fields. You’ll also likely do a lot of research and a dissertation at the end of the program.

Supply Chain Logistics

The final PhD on our list is the PhD in Supply Chain Logistics. Common studies for this online doctoral program include:

• Advanced research tools, skills, and methods
• Transportation and supply chain economics
• Industrial organization
• Logistics modeling
• Supply chain and information technology
• Supply chain research
• Logistics research
• Analytics

You’ll probably be required to do a mixture of coursework and multiple research papers during the degree program. Towards the end, you’ll likely take both written and oral exams and deliver and defend a dissertation.

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After earning your degree, you could potentially get a job in supply chain logistics in just about any industry that sells goods. Whether it’s marshmallows or microphones, someone has to transport them.

How Do Online Doctoral Programs Work?

If you work a full-time job all day and have a family to take care of on top of that, don’t worry. Online doctoral programs were practically tailor-made for people just like you.

Many online graduate programs are specifically set up so that working professionals can earn their doctorates in their free time. There are two types of online degree programs, hybrid programs and those that are 100% online courses.

Hybrid or Blended Programs

The first type of degree program online is known as a blended or hybrid program. In this type of program, almost everything you do towards your degree is done online, though in addition to online learning, there are a few things that must be done face-to-face.

For example, some online doctorate degree programs may require you to takes tests at a physical testing location either on- or off-campus. With others, you may have to do hands-on casework at a designated location. For almost all doctoral programs, you may do all your coursework online but still have to present your final dissertation to a panel of professors in person.

If your class is blended, you should be told immediately after enrolling—or even before enrolling—how many times you’ll be required to visit physical locations, why you must visit them, and where they are.

100% Online

The other type of online doctoral program is one that is 100% online. If your degree program is 100% online courses—and most are—then you won’t have to worry about going to any specific locations for your classes. Every single bit of this degree—aside from perhaps the dissertation—is taken care of online.

There may be a few telephone calls thrown in every now and then, but in a 100% online degree program, you never meet anyone face-to-face, aside from the possible exception of your dissertation.

Online Programs: The Set-Up

Other than online learning using your computer and mobile devices, most PhD programs online are actually very similar to on-campus doctoral programs.

You’ll probably have some courses in your online program that require you to attend lectures, which will be on your computer—sometimes live, sometimes prerecorded. You’ll likely have online discussions and group chats as well.

You may even be required to complete assignments in forums to encourage “classroom discussion.”

Between the lectures and the discussion through online learning, one thing that’s absolutely essential for you to have is access to reliable internet to access your online classes. Without it, you could find yourself in trouble very quickly.

Mostly, you’ll be doing a lot of research and independent study. This isn’t much different from an on-campus doctoral program. Once you hit the doctoral level, it’s mostly up to you alone to do what needs to be done.

Dissertation

One of those things that needs to be done is your dissertation, which is one of the most essential parts of your doctoral program. Your dissertation must be a unique, original project on a topic that correlates with your chosen field of study.

It usually must be approved by your advisor before you can start, but once approved, you’ll likely be working on it pretty much throughout the entire program.

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At the program’s close, you may then be required to deliver and defend your dissertation orally in front of a panel of professors. Although there are one or two colleges that are exceptions to the rule, almost all colleges require that you travel to the university and do this in person.

Earning the Degree

If your dissertation passes scrutiny and is approved by the board, you may be granted your PhD. However, be aware that in some fields, a final exam is given and must be passed before your degree is conferred upon you.

Accreditation for Online PhD Programs

Accreditation for online doctoral programs is quite similar to accreditation for on-campus doctoral programs. You should look for regional accreditation. Each particular program may have a different association that accredits it, but if you do a little research, you’ll be able to find which accreditations are best for each online program.

It’s best if your school and program are both regionally and programmatically accredited. There’s also such a thing as national higher education accreditation, but regional is the gold standard.

Financial Aid Opportunities for PhD Students

You cannot get Federal Pell Grants when working towards your PhD, but you may be able to get financial assistance through federal loans, which usually have the best repayment options if you fall within a certain income bracket.

You can apply for those loans by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). One of these is the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.

However, the best financial assistance option is typically to apply for grants or fellowships. There are usually plenty of these to be found in every field of study. Once you’ve decided on a school, you can also look on that school’s website to find any fellowships or grants they may offer to doctoral students.

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Another critical thing doctoral students often overlook is financial assistance from their employers. If you are hoping to earn your PhD in the same field in which you’re already working, you may be entitled to financial aid or tuition reimbursement from the company you work for.

Finally, there is one last option, although it doesn’t really apply to online students. However, if you’re still on the fence about online vs. on-campus programs, this is useful information to have.

If you’re an on-campus PhD student, you can apply for an assistantship, which allows you to work as a research assistant, a teacher’s assistant, or some other on-campus job that usually involves teaching or working with undergrads in some capacity.

Can You Get a PhD Online?

Yes, there are online programs leading to a PhD in many different fields. In fact, because the average age of doctoral students is rising, most PhD candidates are working professionals who don’t have the time to earn a degree any other way than through an online program.

For this reason, more and more programs are providing students with the option to earn their PhDs online. If you want to receive your PhD in any of the above fields—and in some areas not listed here—you likely have the option to do so online.

Are Online PhD Programs Respected?

Yes, online PhD programs are respected by many. As long as the online PhD program in which you’re enrolled has higher education accreditation, then your PhD will likely be respected.

If your online doctoral program is only accredited nationally, it may only be recognized in specific areas, which is why it’s better to enroll in programs with regional accreditation.

Degrees earned by online learners through programs with regional accreditation are more accepted by employers and usually hold just as much gravity as regionally accredited degrees earned from on-campus programs.

How Long Does It Take to Get a PhD Online?

The average is 4-7 years, but it’s nearly impossible to put a time limit in years on earning a PhD.

There are simply too many factors to consider, such as the program of study in which you’re seeking to earn your online doctorate degree, how many courses you’re taking each semester, and whether you take courses year-round or take summers off. In addition, it also depends on whether you enroll in a full-time or part time PhD program.

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If you’re looking for a more precise answer, you can look up your specific field of study and see how many course credits are required to earn a PhD in that field.

How Much Does Online PhD Cost?

Online doctoral degree programs are quite varied when it comes to price. The cost per year will depend on the university, the program of study, and how many online classes you’re taking at a time.

Some colleges advertise options for as little as $4,000 a semester. Other programs can cost upwards of $30,000 a semester. This extreme cost is rare, though. Usually, online doctoral programs run between $5,000 and $8,000 per semester.

What Are the Cheapest Online PhD Programs?

Although no PhD program is going to be “cheap,” there are some that are less expensive than others. As the job market fluctuates, so, too, does the price of online programs. However, as of right now, the cheapest programs leading to a PhD for online learners are usually in the fields of business. This includes programs in business administration, human resources, and marketing.

One of the main reasons business doctoral programs are often the least expensive is because there are so many of them. Most universities, both online and on-campus, offer PhD programs in business. Therefore, the programs have to be inexpensive to remain competitive.

Universities Offering Online PhD Programs

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.