collageThe DBA degree opens up many valuable opportunities in the business industry. DBA degree holders can become leaders, executives, consultants, and more in various settings, including in commercial businesses, nonprofits, education settings, and governmental offices. These upper-level positions carry high salaries; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, top executive positions carried a median salary of $104,980 in 2018, while chief executives had a median annual wage of $189,600. The job outlook for these positions is expected to grow by 6% from 2018 to 2029, which is as fast as the typical job outlook. The below online DBA degree programs can give you the specialized knowledge and experience you need to be successful in these upper-level positions.
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These online DBA programs can be completed either entirely online or with minimal on-campus residency requirements. All of the programs require the completion of a significant research project, often a dissertation. Close faculty mentoring is another keystone element of many of these programs. When choosing the program that’s right for you, you should consider whether a program offers a specialization or concentration in an area that interests you. Faculty experience and research specializations are also important since faculty can contribute to the success of your dissertation and the overall quality of your education experience. Be sure to consider whether you have time to study at a full-time or part-time pace, since some of these programs allow both options, while others may require you to study full-time.
Business is one of the most popular – and most selective – graduate programs today. Growingly, business schools are moving their doctoral tracks online, offering students even more options to consider. With the sheer number of business specializations, from entrepreneurship to organizational management, narrowing down a list of potential schools can be challenging. Our rankings of the best online PhD business degree programs is a great place to start.
| Rank | School Title | Net Price | Financial Aid | Total Programs | Student-Teacher ratio | Grad Rate | Ranking Score | School Description | Additional Benefits: | Placement Services | Counseling Services | Credit for Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Charleston | NET PRICE | FINANCIAL AID %90% | TOTAL PROGRAMS1 | STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO | GRAD RATE41% | RANKING SCORE99.48 | The University of Charleston was established as Barboursville Seminary in 1888. Its original enrollment of 25 students has grown to more than 2,400 students today. The university’s Doctor of Executive Leadership degree is offered entirely online except for an annual residence at the Charleston campus each year. General curriculum includes studies in leadership, decision-making, ethics, collaboration and the international business environment. Five research courses are required in methods, data analysis and interpretation. Students are also required to complete two proseminars and a dissertation. Applicants must hold a master’s or first professional degree for consideration. | ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: | Placement ServicesYes | Counseling ServicesYes | Credit for ExperienceYes |
| 2 | Baker College Center for Graduate Studies | NET PRICE | FINANCIAL AID %72% | TOTAL PROGRAMS1 | STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO | GRAD RATE25% | RANKING SCORE98.97 | Graduates interested in pursuing a doctorate of business administration may complete the entirety of their coursework online with the Baker College Center for Graduate Studies. All of Baker College’s campuses offer the services students require to make their aspirations a reality, whether it’s academic advising, tutoring, or career advisement. At Baker College, students are ensured one-on-one time with their instructors, as class sizes are averaged at 25 students, and most instructors have had many years of real-world experience. Courses are able to stay up-to-date with Baker College’s Advisory Board, which is made up of professionals and employers specific to a field of study. | ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: | Placement ServicesYes | Counseling ServicesYes | Credit for ExperienceYes |
| 3 | Our Lady of the Lake University | NET PRICE | FINANCIAL AID %99% | TOTAL PROGRAMS1 | STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO | GRAD RATE27% | RANKING SCORE96.93 | Our Lady of the Lake University was founded by the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence in 1895. Today, it enrolls more than 300 doctoral students across a range of programs representing the pinnacle of academic attainment. The interdisciplinary Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Leadership Studies program prepares graduates for roles in business, education, and healthcare fields, among others. Requiring completion of 75 semester credit hours, the PhD centers around a 4-5 year-long course sequence and concludes with the student’s delivery and defense of a dissertation. Applicants must hold a master’s degree. | ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: | Placement ServicesYes | Counseling ServicesYes | Credit for ExperienceYes |
| 4 | Concordia University-Chicago | NET PRICE | FINANCIAL AID %100% | TOTAL PROGRAMS1 | STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO | GRAD RATE49% | RANKING SCORE96.72 | Concordia University Chicago offers an excellent opportunity for graduates who wish to further their education with a doctoral program in organizational leadership. Because this program is offered through both online and on-campus courses, students will be able to build a personalized academic plan that will fit into their schedules. The faculty at Concordia University Chicago is aware of the financial burden an academic career may cause, and is proud to offer numerous financial aid opportunities to students that exhibit excellence in their studies. Incoming freshman are able to transition comfortably into their upcoming academic careers with Concordia University Chicago’s Jump Start orientation program. | ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: | Placement ServicesYes | Counseling ServicesYes | Credit for ExperienceYes |
| 5 | Indiana Wesleyan University | NET PRICE | FINANCIAL AID %50% | TOTAL PROGRAMS1 | STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO | GRAD RATE70% | RANKING SCORE95.73 | Students interested in completing their doctorate in organizational leadership may wish to apply for the academic program at Indiana Wesleyan University. Split between on-campus and online coursework, this PhD program allows students the flexibility necessary to work their studies into their busy lives. Indiana Wesleyan University disperses thousands of dollars of institutional aid in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, and veterans benefits every year. There are nearly 40 student clubs and organizations at Indiana Wesleyan, including intramural sports and performance arts. Student services include a health center, career center, recreational facilities, and academic advising. | ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: | Placement ServicesYes | Counseling ServicesYes | Credit for ExperienceYes |
| 6 | Johnson University | NET PRICE | FINANCIAL AID %87% | TOTAL PROGRAMS1 | STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO | GRAD RATE62% | RANKING SCORE95.51 | In 1893, Johnson University became a residential academic institution and a correspondence bible college. Today it offers degree programs at three campuses and online. JU’s PhD in Leadership Studies interdisciplinary degree program is offered entirely online. Doctoral students can choose from concentrations in Educational Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Philosophy and Theology of Leadership, and Missional Leadership. The leadership core classes are made up of global studies, leadership studies and theory, organizational studies and theory, intercultural behavior, worldview, and communication. Students culminate their doctoral studies with preparation and defense of a dissertation reflecting independent research. | ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: | Placement ServicesYes | Counseling ServicesYes | Credit for ExperienceNo |
| 7 | University of the Cumberlands | NET PRICE | FINANCIAL AID %100% | TOTAL PROGRAMS1 | STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO | GRAD RATE45% | RANKING SCORE95.45 | At the University of the Cumberlands, prospective doctoral students can pursue their PhD in leadership to advance their business credentials and knowledge. In order to gain organizational leadership proficiency, students will learn various critical thinking and decision making strategies through research, analytics, and communication, and gain specialized knowledge in business leadership. This program is expected to take three years to complete. Financial assistance such as FAFSA, loans, and scholarships are provided for nearly 97 percent of the student population along with various payment plans to make programs financially accessible to students. | ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: | Placement ServicesNo | Counseling ServicesYes | Credit for ExperienceNo |
| 8 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | NET PRICE | FINANCIAL AID %54% | TOTAL PROGRAMS1 | STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO | GRAD RATE73% | RANKING SCORE94.13 | The PhD in Business Administration degree at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is directed by the Carlson School of Management, founded in 1919 as the University of Minnesota School of Business. Students in the PhD can choose from concentrations in Accounting, Finance, Information and Decision Sciences, Marketing, Supply Chain and Operations, Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship, Work and Organizations. During their first two years, students are expected to complete a minimum of 40 semester credits along with 20 hours per week in assigned teaching assistantships. Milestones include a preliminary and oral exam, and a dissertation proposal and final defense. | ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: | Placement ServicesYes | Counseling ServicesYes | Credit for ExperienceYes |
| 9 | Wilmington University | NET PRICE | FINANCIAL AID %20% | TOTAL PROGRAMS1 | STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO | GRAD RATE34% | RANKING SCORE93.81 | Graduates who wish to earn their doctorate in business administration may be interested in applying for a program with Wilmington University. Students receive their education in a hybrid format, combining both online and in-class learning. With proportional student-to-faculty ratios, Wilmington University gives its students the necessary one-on-one time with their teachers to ensure academic achievement. With state-of-the-art housing and dining facilities, Wilmington University facilitates the personal growth of its students, providing a feeling of communal bonding. Students are also able to regulate their health and wellness with the health and disability service centers at Wilmington University. | ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: | Placement ServicesYes | Counseling ServicesYes | Credit for ExperienceYes |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | NET PRICE | FINANCIAL AID %37% | TOTAL PROGRAMS1 | STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO | GRAD RATE86% | RANKING SCORE93.54 | Located on the Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, the Smeal College of Business has offered degree programs since 1953. Its PhD Program enrolls only a limited number of students each year. Doctoral students benefit from the college’s research centers and institutes dedicated to the study of supply chain management, commercial real estate, and B2B marketing. PhD students are expected to complete graduate-level courses in research methodology in addition to their choice of concentration among options in accounting, finance, management and organization, marketing, supply chain and information systems, or real estate. Students assist faculty members in projects leading to jointly authored papers. | ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: | Placement ServicesYes | Counseling ServicesYes | Credit for ExperienceYes |
| 11 | National Graduate School of Quality Management | NET PRICE | FINANCIAL AID %N/A | TOTAL PROGRAMS1 | STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO | GRAD RATEN/A | RANKING SCORE89.38 | ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: | Placement ServicesNo | Counseling ServicesYes | Credit for ExperienceYes | |
| 12 | Southern New Hampshire University | NET PRICE | FINANCIAL AID %71% | TOTAL PROGRAMS1 | STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO | GRAD RATE59% | RANKING SCORE88.23 | ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: | Placement ServicesYes | Counseling ServicesYes | Credit for ExperienceYes | |
| 13 | University of Maryland-University College | NET PRICE | FINANCIAL AID %7% | TOTAL PROGRAMS1 | STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO | GRAD RATE4% | RANKING SCORE86.73 | ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: | Placement ServicesNo | Counseling ServicesYes | Credit for ExperienceYes |
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