Top 10 Best Online PhD of Information Technology Programs (Doctorates)

Badge for BEST ONLINE DOCTORATE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Jenn Finley

Published: Jan 11, 2023
Updated: Oct 24, 2024

Key Takeaways

While not necessary to enter the job market, an online PhD in information technology is necessary for positions within academia, research, and top leadership positions within IT.
Employment opportunities in information technology are expected to grow much faster than other occupations according to the BLS.
An online PhD in information technology offers a similar curriculum to its traditional on-campus counterpart, but it offers more convenience and flexibility for busy professionals.

Table of Contents

Best Online Information Technology Doctorate Programs in 2025

Bowling Green State University
Indiana State University
Nova Southeastern University
North Carolina A&T State University
University of Central Missouri
Capella University
University of the Cumberlands
+1
Northcentral University
–1
Capitol Technology University
Dakota State University

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

The top 5 positions in our 2025 ranking of the best online PhD degree programs in information technology remain unchanged from the previous year.

BGSU and Indiana State have both expanded their online course offerings, and are using AI in unique ways, including to tailor curriculum to their student needs and for tutoring.

Nova has also strengthened its mentorship and career development programs, while Indiana State has expanded access to industry partnerships and virtual networking events, helping online students to connect with IT leaders and gain valuable career development opportunities.

Until computer systems break down, it’s simple to overlook how dependent every element of professional life has become on computers. A company’s IT manager may be the only thing preventing total disaster, whether in business, healthcare, education, or any other sector.

Given that a PhD in information technology relates to things happening online, it makes sense that one can earn this degree online. The desire for technology managers’ expertise has made this one of the fastest expanding fields, despite IT only becoming a notion in the last 30 years.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts this career will grow by 15% by 2031. Although acquiring a PhD in information technology is not necessary to take advantage of this growth curve, it does earn abilities and credentials that few others possess.

An online PhD education, however, is essential to successfully teach, research, or run a small or large IT operation.

Find other top schools with a look at these Online Program Rankings. Otherwise, read on.

Featured Programs

What is A PhD in Information Technology?

A PhD in information technology, or IT, entails a research-heavy academic workload that typically takes three to five years to finish. PhD programs train students for professions in academia, business, and government, among others.

With an online PhD in information technology, graduates can work in an academic field, either teaching or conducting research, or work in nearly any other field that requires computer support.

Information technology PhD holders can work in many positions, performing tasks such as:

Building computer networks
Creating and managing databases
Implementing and supporting security measures across a network
Troubleshooting issues with computers or other mobile devices
Managing software applications
Managing computer hardware
Designing, developing, and implementing computer-based information systems

Key Point: Graduates with a PhD in information technology will most often be in leadership positions within a company.

With an online doctoral program in IT, researchers can also focus on interdisciplinary fields, including AI, data analytics, information systems, and cybersecurity.

The 10 Best Online IT PhD Programs

Career Outlook for Students with Information Technology Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Information Technology

Degree Level: Doctorate

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $10,589
Avg. Expenses*: $18,400
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 11 years
Job Growth: 17.94%
Number of Jobs: 3,697,200
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers	17.42%	$169,510
Computer and Information Research Scientists	25.68%	$145,080
Database Architects	10.75%	$134,700
Software Developers	17.94%	$132,270
Computer Network Architects	13.44%	$129,840
Information Security Analysts	32.71%	$120,360
Data Scientists	36.03%	$108,020
Computer Occupations, All Other	10.85%	$104,920
Computer Systems Analysts	10.72%	$103,800
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	11.80%	$101,800

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$169,510
Computer and Information Research Scientists	$145,080
Database Architects	$134,700
Software Developers	$132,270
Computer Network Architects	$129,840
Information Security Analysts	$120,360
Data Scientists	$108,020
Computer Occupations, All Other	$104,920
Computer Systems Analysts	$103,800
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	$101,800

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

What are the requirements in an online PhD program in information technology?

To know what you’re about to get into, here is a broad breakdown of what is necessary to be admitted into an online PhD in information technology degree program:

Admission Requirements

The majority of PhD online programs in information technology include competitive requirements. For instance, some colleges and institutions demand that candidates have a minimum 3.5 GPA and a graduate degree in information technology or a closely related field.

Additionally, applicants to an IT online doctoral program should obtain recommendation letters and certified college transcripts from each previously attended university before applying for programs. The majority of online PhD programs also call for an essay and an in-person or telephone interview.

Credit Requirements

PhD in information technology programs require students to complete 55 to 70 credit hours, depending on the institution’s demand or the student’s chosen concentration, if any. Most schools, especially ones that offer 100% online degree programs, allow students to enroll part-time or full-time.

Online master’s degrees and online doctorate programs share similar class or coursework schedules with added research-related classes. Doctoral students can work with academic staff during their research projects, research colloquia, and departmental lectures.

Pre-Candidacy Research Projects

Working on research projects over the first one or two years of the program helps you get ready for candidacy acceptance. These research projects also aid in developing the abilities required to formulate queries and address actual IT issues

Preliminary or Qualifying Examination

A doctoral degree always provides qualifying exams to measure how well students can ace the prerequisites for candidacy. The academic and practical knowledge required to work on the research project is filled in part by these pre-candidacy exams.

Teaching Requirement

In almost every PhD online program, students are required to instruct undergraduate courses or assist the professor in the classroom to get doctoral students ready for a career in academia. This asserts the educational leadership aspect of this program/

Dissertation Proposal

The research hypothesis, which is in an area of information technology, will be presented in the dissertation proposal. Before beginning work on the proposal, a committee of faculty members for the doctoral degree program must approve it.

Successful Dissertation Defense

PhD students must present their original work through the dissertation proposal. They are required to justify their analyses and be authorities on their IT-related dissertation topic.

This is a crucial component of an information technology PhD. It shows that the student has achieved mastery of the skills required to carry out independent research projects after receiving their degree.

Optional Requirements

PhD candidates in information technology may attend conferences and land relevant internships. These types of opportunities allow students to share research knowledge and build social networks, both of which are especially helpful in a job search.

Bottom Line: Earning an online PhD in information technology is a challenging and lengthy process. Successful graduates will have contributed original research and findings to the field and built a network of contacts that will help them to advance in their career.

What courses can you expect to take in an online PhD degree program in information technology?

While specific courses may vary across different information technology programs, you can expect to take the following types of courses:

First Year Core Courses

The first year of an online PhD program in information technology is usually reserved for a required set of core courses. Classes may include topics like:

Computer science
Networking
Database administration
Information systems
Software design

Research Courses

The second year of an online PhD degree in information technology program typically focuses on research. Students focus on courses that will instruct them on research metholodogies and design.

These courses will prepare the PhD candidate to choose a topic to research for their dissertation.

Courses may include:

Research Processes, Theory, and Practice in Information Technology

PhD students must learn about research processes, theory, and practice, considering that this is what a PhD is all about. This introductory course helps students learn how to put ideas into effect in real-world situations. Along with quantitative and qualitative methodology, this course also covers researchers’ techniques to make findings.

Literature Review

This course aids students in learning how to read, assess, and apply knowledge obtained in research papers. These resources enable students to expand their dissertation plans and pick high-caliber sources for their assignments. Students specify whatever research gaps in the literature they want to address in their dissertations.

Dissertation Preparation

Years three through five (and beyond), are usually dedicated to research and writing for the dissertation. Students may participate in courses and seminars such as:

PhD Dissertation Research Seminar

Students participate in class discussions and give input on each other’s dissertations throughout this course. Students use the criticism they receive to improve their thesis. To enhance their research and writing techniques, students also learn best practices for research methodologies.

Doctoral Comprehensive Examination

The full assessment process is reviewed for students in this last course. Students look over the test’s guidelines and evaluation standards. Students receive their doctoral degrees after passing this exam and submitting and defending their dissertation.

PhD in Information Technology Careers

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in information technology can assist students in finding entry- and mid-level positions in this industry, while doctoral degrees lead to even more options. For instance, positions involving a lot of research may require a PhD in IT.

Here’s a list of the most common occupations for information technology PhD holders.

Postdoctoral Researcher/Research Fellow

The fundamental objectives of postdoctoral fellows and postdoctoral associates working on the research staff are to further their education and experience. Despite having a doctorate, individuals can only act as leading investigators if they are regarded as independent researchers. You could also need to perform specific instructional duties.

Most jobs have a fixed tenure of between six months and three years.

Assistant Professor/Professor

Typically, an assistant professorship is the first step toward tenure and publishing original research. They might be given the title of professor once they have served their tenure.

Evaluating an associate professor’s papers, research, and teaching might take a long time. Between five and seven years are spent on the tenure track.

Computer and Information Research Scientist

Research scientists develop creative applications for both new and old computer technology. Research scientists investigate computing-related issues and create models to solve them. They work with engineers and scientists to identify system demands and computing requirements.

Research scientists create new programming languages, software platforms, and other tools to enhance how humans interact with computers. They commonly use approaches from data science and machine learning experts to test the functionality of software systems.

Chief Information Officer

A chief information officer directs the information technology strategy of a company, fostering innovation through regulatory and technical adjustments. The chief information officer of a business may be in charge of strategic planning, vendor management, and project management.

See your other options are with a look at our full List of College Rankings.

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