Fastest Online Doctoral Degree Programs Ranked for Students in 2025
Are you interested in completing an online doctoral degree, but need it as quickly as possible? We have a list of the fastest online PhD degree programs here.
Key Takeaways
- A growing number of doctoral programs can now be completed online.
- The fastest online doctoral degrees are typically self-paced online doctorate degree programs offered by graduate schools with excellent graduation rates.
- Graduate students looking for the shortest doctoral programs online can choose from the online doctorate options below, which boast a minimum graduation rate of 65%.
Fastest Online Doctoral Degree Programs in 2025
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.
In 2025, the top ten fastest online doctoral degree programs saw a fair amount of movement. The University of Georgia gained the most ranking positions as the school expanded its online learning platform, featuring more interactive and user-friendly technology, such as virtual labs, real-time collaboration tools, and enhanced access to digital research resources. UGA has also introduced new interdisciplinary online doctoral programs in fields like education leadership, public health, and business, catering to the growing demand for flexible, high-quality advanced degrees. Additionally, the university has strengthened its virtual mentorship and networking programs, offering online doctoral students better opportunities to connect with faculty, industry leaders, and peers in their fields.
Featured Programs
Fastest Online Doctoral Degree Programs
- #1 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #1 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #6 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #13 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
97%
Student body
18K
Median SAT/ACT
1530/34
Career Outlook for degree at Duke University
Cost of Degree: $63,985Expenses: $21,267Starting Salary: $114,500Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
Dmin in Doctor Of Ministry
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
DNP in Doctor Of Nursing Practice
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #9 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #14 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #14 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #17 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Tuition + fees
$65K
Acceptance
12%
Graduation
92%
Student body
54K
Median SAT/ACT
1500/33
Career Outlook for degree at University of Southern California
Cost of Degree: $68,128Expenses: $22,216Starting Salary: $88,800Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
EdD in Educational Leadership
- Required Credits: 43
- Completion time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Online
EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 3.5-4.5 years
- Format: Online
EdD in Global Executive
- Required Credits: 50
- Completion time: 3-4 years
- Format: Online
DSW in Social Work
- Required Credits: 42
- Completion time: 2.5-3.5 years
- Format: Online
- #19 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #3 Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts 2025 #3 Best Research Universities in Massachusetts 2025 #3 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 2025
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
89%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1425/32
Career Outlook for degree at Boston University
Cost of Degree: $64,712Expenses: $21,195Starting Salary: $75,900Cost Recoup Time: 17 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
DMA in Music Education
- Required Credits: 44
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
OTD in Occupational Therapy
- Required Credits: 40
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #9 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #9 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #12 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2025 #13 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
91%
Student body
34K
Median SAT/ACT
1440/32
Career Outlook for degree at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Cost of Degree: $12,527Expenses: $17,120Starting Salary: $68,800Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
DrPH in Public Health Executive Leadership
- Required Credits: 45-51
- Completion time: 36 months
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Private Colleges in Florida 2025 #2 Best Colleges in Florida 2024 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #2 Best Grad Schools in Florida 2024
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
84%
Student body
22K
Median SAT/ACT
1395/31
Career Outlook for degree at University of Miami
Cost of Degree: $44,858Expenses: $28,514Starting Salary: $72,900Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
EdD in Applied Learning Sciences
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #14 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #1 Best Public Colleges in Georgia 2025 #2 Best Colleges in Georgia 2025 #2 Best Research Universities in Georgia 2025
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
43%
Graduation
88%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1320/29
Career Outlook for degree at University of Georgia
Cost of Degree: $10,268Expenses: $16,926Starting Salary: $59,100Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
EdS in Education
Concentrations
- Educational Psychology - Gifted & Creative Education
- Required Credits: 31
- Completion time: 12 months
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Public Colleges in Massachusetts 2024 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts Ranked for Students in 2024 #6 Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts 2025 #6 Best Research Universities in Massachusetts 2025
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
83%
Student body
37K
Median SAT/ACT
1370/31
Career Outlook for degree at University of Massachusetts Amherst
Cost of Degree: $17,009Expenses: $17,309Starting Salary: $57,700Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
DNP in Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Public Health Nurse Leader
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
DNP in Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #4 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #24 Most Affordable Graduate Schools Ranked for 2025 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Florida 2025 #2 Best Public Colleges in Florida 2025
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
25%
Graduation
85%
Student body
51K
Median SAT/ACT
1290/28
Career Outlook for degree at Florida State University
Cost of Degree: $11,553Expenses: $20,296Starting Salary: $53,900Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy
- Required Credits: 69
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
EdS in Educational Leadership and Policy
- Required Credits: 33
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
EdD in Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies
- Required Credits: 66
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
DNP in Nursing Practice
- Required Credits: 41-79
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #5 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #8 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #1 Best Christian Colleges in New York 2024
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
54%
Graduation
83%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1400/31
Career Outlook for degree at Fordham University
Cost of Degree: $25,954Expenses: $27,583Starting Salary: $67,000Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
EdD in Education
- Required Credits: 50
- Completion time: 3-4 years
- Format: Online
DMin in Ministry
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #5 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #9 15 Colleges with the Happiest Freshmen #1 Best Christian Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
Tuition + fees
$64K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
91%
Student body
17K
Median SAT/ACT
1487/34
Career Outlook for degree at Boston College
Cost of Degree: $35,900Expenses: $21,925Starting Salary: $92,500Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
EdD in Higher Education
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 3 years
- Format: Online
- #1 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2024 #4 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #6 15 Colleges with the Happiest Freshmen #10 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024
Tuition + fees
$52K
Acceptance
46%
Graduation
81%
Student body
23K
Median SAT/ACT
1320/30
Career Outlook for degree at Baylor University
Cost of Degree: $41,130Expenses: $19,425Starting Salary: $58,400Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
EdD in Learning and Organizational Change Hybrid
- Required Credits: 54
- Completion time: 3-4 years
- Format: Online
PhD in Social Work
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 3.5-4.5 years
- Format: Online
OTD in Occupational Therapy
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
DNP in Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Executive Nurse Leadership
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
DNP in Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Required Credits: 31-37
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
DNP in Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Required Credits: 31-37
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
DNP in Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Nurse-Midwifery
- Required Credits: 31-37
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
DNP in Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Required Credits: 31-37
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in South Carolina 2025 #2 Best Grad Schools in South Carolina 2025 #2 Best Colleges in South Carolina 2025
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
43%
Graduation
85%
Student body
30K
Median SAT/ACT
1315/30
Career Outlook for degree at Clemson University
Cost of Degree: $12,646Expenses: $19,784Starting Salary: $58,900Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
PBCERT in Online Teaching Certificate
- Required Credits: 12
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
EdS in Administration And Supervision
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
PhD in Healthcare Genetics
Concentrations
- Interventionists
- Translational Bench Science
- Ethics And Health Policy
- Required Credits: 70
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
PhD in Parks, Recreation, And Tourism Management
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Online MBA Programs in Massachusetts #5 Best Online Master's Programs in Massachusetts 2025 #9 Best Online Master’s in Information Technology 2025 #14 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2025
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
57%
Graduation
89%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for degree at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Cost of Degree: $29,040Expenses: $20,472Starting Salary: $84,600Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
PhD in Systems Engineering
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #5 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2024 #11 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Nebraska 2025 #1 Best Private Colleges in Nebraska 2025
Tuition + fees
$46K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
78%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1313/29
Career Outlook for degree at Creighton University
Cost of Degree: $19,676Expenses: $16,790Starting Salary: $70,100Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
EdD in Interdisciplinary Leadership
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois 2025 #8 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 2025 #16 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Earning Business Degrees in 2025 #5 Best Online Master's Programs in Illinois 2024
Tuition + fees
$38K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
76%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1165/27
Career Outlook for degree at Bradley University
Cost of Degree: $19,014Expenses: $16,290Starting Salary: $58,300Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
EdD in Education
Concentrations
- Higher Education Administration
- Required Credits: 48
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
DNP in Leadership
- Required Credits: 39+
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
DNP in Nursing
Concentrations
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Required Credits: 82+
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #9 Best Grad Schools in Missouri 2025 #9 Best Research Universities in Missouri 2025 #3 Best Online Bachelor's of Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Missouri #4 Best Online MBA Programs in Missouri
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
67%
Student body
14K
Career Outlook for degree at Maryville University
Cost of Degree: $15,766Starting Salary: $51,100Online Degrees
EdD in Education Leadership
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 32 months
- Format: Online
DNP in Nursing
Concentrations
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Required Credits: 66-77
- Completion time: 40 months
- Format: Online
DNP in Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Doctor of Nursing Practice with NP
- AGACNP
- Required Credits: 33
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #12 Best Online Colleges in Illinois 2024 #14 Best Online MBA Programs in Illinois #22 Best Online Master's Programs in Illinois 2024
Tuition + fees
$38K
Acceptance
58%
Graduation
67%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at Olivet Nazarene University
Cost of Degree: $10,957Expenses: $15,024Starting Salary: $44,000Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
EdD in Ethical Leadership
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 Years
- Format: Online
- #18 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2025 #18 Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024
Tuition + fees
$39K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
78%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1215/27
Career Outlook for degree at Messiah University
Cost of Degree: $13,590Expenses: $16,130Starting Salary: $50,500Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
DNP in Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Family Nurse Practitioner COncentration
- Required Credits: 86
- Completion time: 3 years
- Format: Online
DNP in Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Nursing Leadership Concentration
- Required Credits: 34-39
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in South Carolina 2025 #8 Best Online Colleges in South Carolina 2024 #12 Fastest Online Associate Degrees Ranked for 2024 #12 Most Affordable Online PhD Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
48%
Graduation
70%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1092/20
Career Outlook for degree at Columbia International University
Cost of Degree: $11,640Expenses: $15,550Starting Salary: $31,400Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
PhD in Organizational Leadership
- Required Credits: 48
- Completion time: 27 months
- Format: Online
PhD in Educational Leadership
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 4-6. years
- Format: Online
DMin in Ministerial Studies
- Required Credits: 32
- Completion time: 3 years
- Format: Online
PhD in Biblical Studies
- Required Credits: 42
- Completion time: 3-5 years
- Format: Online
PhD in Intercultural Studies
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
PhD in Theological Studies
- Required Credits: 45
- Completion time: 3-5 years
- Format: Online
- #8 Top 8 Best Online Public Health PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates) #9 Best Online MBA Programs in Nebraska #11 Best Online Colleges in Nebraska 2024 #12 Best Online Master's Programs in Nebraska 2025
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
72%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Nebraska Methodist College
Cost of Degree: $13,249Expenses: $18,108Starting Salary: $50,600Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
EdD in Doctorate In Education
- Required Credits: 44
- Completion time: 24 months
- Format: Online
DNP in Doctor Of Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Aprn To Dnp
- Required Credits: 34
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
DNP in Msn/Mhp To Dnp
Concentrations
- Public Health Policy
- Required Credits: 50
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
DNP in Doctor Of Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Bsn To Dnp Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Required Credits: 75
- Completion time: 36 months
- Format: Online
DNP in Doctor Of Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Bsn To Dnp Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Required Credits: 75
- Completion time: 36 months
- Format: Online
DNP in Doctor Of Nursing Practice
Concentrations
- Bsn To Dnp Family Nurse Practitioner
- Required Credits: 75
- Completion time: 36 months
- Format: Online
EdD in Public Health Policy
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 24 months
- Format: Online
Getting your doctoral degree online is one way to reduce the time to completion. The doctoral degree is typically a costly and time-consuming pursuit. Any steps that you can take to reduce the time spent pursuing your doctorate degree would reduce the cost of your program.
Online doctoral programs offer opportunities for self-paced completion of certain credit hours as well as ways to apply your continuing professional practice to the completion of your doctoral degree requirements.
Online doctoral programs are a great option for students looking to minimize their time to complete their graduate education. Most doctoral programs will center on a research project of your own design. Doctoral students will typically work closely with a mentor to complete this capstone project.
You may be required to fulfill credit hours with an array of requirements including research courses, student teaching, community college leadership, internship, and laboratory work.
Online doctoral programs focus on a combination of dissertation research and education research. Doctorate degrees prepare students for leadership positions in their fields as well as opportunities to lead research and provide postsecondary education.
Interested in finding the most affordable online doctorate programs? Check out our ranking of the online PhD programs with the lowest price tag.
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What You Should Know About Online Programs for Getting an Online Doctoral Degree
The online doctoral degree is a relatively fast and efficient way to earn a graduate degree so that you can move on with your education and career. But before you jump into online learning, there are a few important things you should know first:
- The minimum requirement for entry into an online doctoral degree is typically a bachelor’s degree. You are not required to earn a master’s degree to gain admission into an online doctorate program. However, graduate students who have completed their master’s degree may be able to apply some graduate credits toward their online doctoral programs. This is one way you might be able to reduce the time to completion of your doctoral program.
- It is also essential to choose from online doctoral programs with accreditation from the colleges and schools commission in your region. Regional accreditation is very important as you search for a credible doctoral program. Any research opportunities, education leadership opportunities, or professional certifications you plan to pursue will depend on the accreditation of your online doctorate.
- Your access to financial aid will also depend on the accreditation status of your online doctorate. Doctoral students will only be eligible for financial aid when completing online degree programs through a graduate school with accreditation from a Department of Education-recognized colleges and schools commission.
- Doctoral degrees come in numerous forms including the online doctor of arts, online doctor of science, and online doctoral of applied science. The right doctoral degree program for you will depend on your educational and career goals.
- Students enrolled to get their doctorate online typically have access to the same curriculum, content, and credit hours as traditional doctoral degree candidates.
How We Ranked Fast Online Doctoral Degree Programs
We ranked the shortest doctoral programs by first identifying fully online doctoral degree programs that rank for Influence—a metric which scores colleges and universities based on the real-world impact of students, alumni, and professors. After identifying the best online doctorate programs based on influence and rate of fully-online graduate enrollment, we measured for graduation rate as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
The online doctorate degree programs ranked here include only doctoral programs with a 65% graduation rate or better. The majority of online doctoral degree programs ranked here demonstrate a better than 70% graduation rate. This denotes that each online doctoral degree program listed here excels at producing doctoral graduates.
How to Find An Accelerated Online Program
You can find an online degree program with an accelerated format by reaching out directly to the online doctorate programs ranked below. Each online graduate school here excels in delivering students to graduation in their respective Phd degree programs. Find out if you can get an accelerated doctorate degree online from one of these top programs.
While NCES data does not provide comprehensive data on online accelerated degree programs, it does rank graduation rate statistics for doctoral degree programs. Those that achieve the highest graduation rate also typically rank high for average time to complete. One reason for this, especially at the doctoral degree level, is the availability of numerous flexible, self-paced online learning options.
Students typically complete their doctorate degrees in roughly 5 to 7 years. However, rapid proliferation of educational technology and online learning options has improved the flexibility of the traditional doctoral program. With self-pacing, online courses make it possible for students to reduce their time to completion to as little as 4 to 5 years.
If you want to take your career advancement opportunities to the next level with an accelerated doctorate degree, check out our Guide to Accelerated Degree Programs.
The 25 Fastest Online Doctoral Degree Programs
Each doctoral degree program ranked below boasts a high graduation rate and a top Influence score. Start your school search with a look at these fastest online doctoral degree programs.