Earning a PhD will typically place you at the highest academic tier in your field. The doctoral degree will qualify you as an expert in your chosen subject and give you access to opportunities like professorship, research leadership, and more. But earning the PhD is also a very lengthy and potentially costly undertaking. Fortunately, there are affordable online doctorate programs that make it possible to reach this elite academic status while still working directly in your field.
Many doctoral candidates have already reached more advanced stages in their career. The online doctorate is a great way to continue in your education while remaining active in your career. Online doctoral degree programs are often tailored to the scheduling needs of working professionals. This means that you may be able to complete your online doctorate while still earning a living. This can help offset your dependence on financial aid options and, ultimately, reduce your student loan debt.
Online doctoral degree programs are offered in a variety of disciplines including business administration, health sciences, computer science, and more. Some doctoral degree programs do not naturally lend themselves to online learning, but for those that do, it may be possible to choose from a variety of affordable online doctorate degrees.
Earning a doctorate qualifies you to work at the highest levels in your field including executive leadership business, consultation in public affairs, work as a university professor, or a career spent in research. Depending on your area of concentration, your online doctoral program could allow you to contribute to important economic research, participate in major long-term public health surveys, or provide R&D leadership to a major consumer brand.
The admission requirements for online doctoral degree programs are the same as those for a traditional doctorate degree. The bachelor’s degree is typically the basic threshold for entry into a doctoral program. Most reputable online doctoral degree programs will also require a strong academic track record and a minimum undergraduate GPA. You are not required to earn a master’s degree before gaining entry into a doctoral degree program. However, some doctoral programs may recognize these graduate credits. Starting with some credits earned could reduce the time and money you’ll spend on your PhD. In other words, if you already have a master’s degree, you could choose from an array of more affordable online doctorate degree programs.
The cost of a doctoral degree is extremely variant. Most online doctoral programs fall on the higher end of the cost spectrum and can range from roughly $30-$40K per year for in-state students to upwards of $60,000 to $100,000 per year for out of state students. That said, the most affordable online doctoral programs actually offer online learning opportunities for as little as $5,000 to $9,000 per year.
Yes, you can absolutely get an affordable online doctorate degree. A growing number of highly reputable universities now provide partially or fully online doctoral programs. For many doctoral students, one of the biggest challenges is balancing the enormous commitment of time spent on research and coursework with work, family and home-life demands.
Earning an online doctorate makes it possible to save money on expenses like housing, transportation, and certain campus fees. Online doctoral programs also make it possible to continue working in your field, which means you can complete your degree program while still earning a living. This can ultimately reduce your dependence on student loan debt.
An affordable, quality education from an accredited online doctorate program is within your reach. Our in-depth, comprehensive guide to affordable degree programs will give you even more tips on making a doctorate degree as affordable as possible.
In most cases, the most affordable online doctoral degree programs will be those offered by universities in your state. Online students who attend public universities enjoy access to in-state tuition rates just like traditional on-campus doctoral candidates.
That’s why we’ve ranked these online doctorate programs by placing the highest weight on in-state tuition rates. The tuition price listed below may not reflect the lower rate extended to in-state residents. Click on each school to learn more about in state tuition discounts. Other factors included in our ranking are Influence–the measure of a school’s excellence based on the real-world impact of its professors, students, and alumni; and the percentage of full-time students enrolled in online degree programs at each institution.
Below is a mix of both public and private universities offering the most affordable online doctoral degree programs on the higher education landscape.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
6K
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
74%
Graduation
39%
Student body
5K
Tuition + fees
$10K
Graduation
29%
Student body
49K
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
62%
Student body
79K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/25
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
42%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
995/19
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
45%
Student body
94K
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
63%
Graduation
54%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1110/23
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
19%
Student body
8K
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
47%
Graduation
51%
Student body
<1K
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
46%
Student body
9K
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
41%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1065/21
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
46%
Graduation
62%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1045/20
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
63%
Graduation
40%
Student body
4K
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
73%
Student body
1K
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
50%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
955/21
Tuition + fees
$19K
Acceptance
41%
Graduation
62%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/25
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
57%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1040/22
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
52%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1020/21
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
43%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
970/20
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
48%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/23
The average cost of a year in an online doctoral degree program is somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000 per year for both private and public grad schools. However, you can pay as much as $100,000 per year to attend some of the nation’s most prestigious private schools. The most affordable online doctorate degree programs may cost as little as $5,000 to $9,000 per year of tuition and fees.
Financial aid, scholarships, and geographical considerations all offer ways to offset the sticker price of an online doctoral degree. Financial aid and scholarships are both central considerations as you look for ways to cut your PhD program costs. Finding a grad school in state can also offer various opportunities for state-specific financial aid and tuition discounts.
You may also be able to offset some of the expenses of the doctoral degree by earning your PhD online. While tuition for online doctoral degree programs is generally in line with tuition for the traditional PhD experience, you may be able to saving on housing, transportation, and certain campus fees.
For more tips on getting an affordable online education, check out our Guide to Financial Aid in Higher Education