Online Doctorate in Education

Best Hybrid and Online DBA Programs for 2024 Top Consensus Ranked Online Doctor of Business Ad­min­is­tra­tion Degrees

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Business & MBA Editor
B.S., MBA
Tammie Cagle is a writer, editor, entrepreneur, and certified academic life coach. Tammie received her bachelor’s degree from Texas A & M University-College Station and her MBA from Marylhurst University.
Best Online DBA Programs for 2024

If you want to focus on a career in business and want one of the most advanced degrees out there, consider a Doctorate of Business Administration. It will equip you with the tools and skills needed for success. Pursuing an advanced degree in business, like the Online DBA program, brings many tangible and intangible benefits. It can open doors for the highest leadership roles in the business world.

The Nation’s Best Online DBA Programs

Tomorrow’s top business managers and leaders know that an MBA is a popular degree program. But pursuing an Online DBA goes a step further in showing that you’re willing to go the extra mile in preparing yourself for top leadership roles. Distance-based DBA programs are designed to provide professionals and executives with advanced business research tools and skills. These are relied upon for decision making and strategic planning. Here are the top online business doctorates currently available nationwide.

Methodology

Our ranking of the Best Hybrid and Online DBA Degree Programs for 2024 is a consensus ranking of Doctor of Business Administration programs with a significant distance-based curriculum. The ranking list combines information from four leading ranking systems: Forbes, Fortune, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Financial Times, and U.S. News and World Report. Each ranking was converted to a score on a 100-point scale. All scores were weighted equally and then averaged to find the ranking order. The Consensus Score reveals their score average in relation to each other on this list. In the event of a tie, the base tuition of the Online DBA was used as the tie-breaker.

Recommended Online Programs

Explore our featured online programs to find the right match for you today.

One of the nation’s best online DBA programs is offered at the Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida. This excellent online Doctor of Business Administration program is offered as an option under the PhD degree. It is a professional doctorate that integrates the theory and practice of business within the context of problems the business world currently faces. The UF DBA helps candidates develop proficiency in applied research. They improve their methodological and analytical skills while working alongside standout instructors at the UF Warrington College of Business.

There are many things to weigh when considering a DBA program. The Warrington College of Business and the University of Florida backs this distance degree. UF’s DBA program stands out for many reasons. The AACSB accredits the online DBA. Florida’s business school hires the highest-quality faculty and delivers a relevant and challenging curriculum. Program graduates enjoy educational and career opportunities missing from business schools without the accreditation. Enroll in this online DBA and set your career to hyperdrive.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 352-392-1365

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Website

Consensus Score
100.00

The University of Pittsburgh features an Online DBA at the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. This Executive DBA program is offered in a “Hyflex” hybrid format. Students can complete coursework in person, online format, or as a combination of the two. The College reports that the 2020 calendar year proved the effectiveness of hybrid learning. All instructors teaching in the program are research-active and are highly recognized in their fields. Many instructors are chaired professors.

The transformative and innovative three-year program is ideal for doctoral students wishing to be intellectually challenged and who desire to prepare themselves to excel in careers at their current employer or to pivot to new jobs in industry, teaching, government, or consulting. The University of Pittsburgh’s executive program is perfect for those ready to expand their collegiate business education while interacting with respected faculty and other motivated and driven EDBA students. This online Executive DBA consists of forty-two credits. It includes ten and a half Methodology Core credits, twenty-two credits of Disciplinary Core Seminars, and nine credits of Practicum Research Projects. Pittsburgh’s online DBA program delivers in all the right ways.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 412-648-1600

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Degree Website

Consensus Score
87.58

The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University provides one of the nation’s best online DBA programs. Enrolled students take their professional careers to new heights and set themselves apart in a competitive industry. This Doctor of Business Administration is one of the best offerings at Weatherhead School of Management. Case Western Reserve is one of the top universities in Ohio. Its comprehensive, research-focused program prepares students to create social, economic, and intellectual value for organizations and society.

Doctoral students take three years to complete the program. They can extend their program a year to earn Weatherhead’s Ph.D. in Management. The business school’s Designing Sustainable Systems degree helps students reorient their careers to formally pursue positions as academic researchers and scholars. Case Western Reserve online DBA students study at one of the nation’s best research universities. The campus is in the country’s most culturally robust neighborhoods. Nearby students live and learn in a city famous for industry and healthcare innovation. Program leaders guide students as they break through business concepts. This excellent online DBA is worth a second look.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 216-368-4390

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Website

Consensus Score
64.47

Ready to start your journey?

The hybrid DBA program at CUNY has a limited number of on-campus residencies supported by online learning.  This stellar DBA program is at CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business and is perfect for senior executives with seven or more years of executive experience. Enrolled students gain empirical knowledge and research experience at the doctoral level. Zicklin students gain skills needed to thrive in the C-suite and broaden their opportunities as consultants. Some graduates enter the college classroom as professors.

The business school’s doctoral faculty has developed a quality multidisciplinary curriculum. It employs many traditional and cutting-edge research methodologies to reinforce the critical business issues of the day. Program highlights include AACSB accreditation. All courses are structured to accommodate executives’ schedules. There are a limited number of on-campus residencies. Most coursework is presented through online learning. Multidisciplinary courses recognize that executives solve problems across functional lines of academic and business areas of study. The stellar online DBA sets students up for success.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 646-312-1300

AACSB Accredited: YES

Hybrid DBA Website

Consensus Score
64.38

The University of Houston’s C.T. Bauer College of Business features an online DBA program. The Bauer College Executive Doctorate in Business Administration was developed with today’s business leaders in mind. DBA graduates define and advance their careers. The cutting-edge curriculum includes research tools, critical thinking skills, and a change-based mindset. Enrolled students meet the demands and challenges of an increasingly complicated business landscape.

Executive DBA candidates get a lot from this comprehensive program. They gain the highest-level analytical and research skills corporations need from their executive team. Online DBA students gain access to a network of like-minded C-Suite classmates in the classroom and at work. Program graduates impact their organizations by using innovative frameworks and models. The academic scholarship at work in their area of focus advances business thinking. Doctoral students work alongside the brightest research minds in their fields. Distance learners also get the credentials to teach in a secondary educational organization. Bauer sets the standard with this online Executive DBA.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 713-743-5284

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Website

Consensus Score
53.22

Penn State features one of the nation’s best online Doctor of Business Administration degree program through the Smeal College of Business. The Executive DBA from Penn State is a flexible, part-time program perfect for senior-level leaders worldwide. Distance learners who choose Smeal as their business partner develop research skills grounded in theory and application for impactful business leadership. Part-time students enrolled in this online business doctorate take three years to satisfy all program requirements.

The career objective of this program is advanced executive leadership or teaching faculty. The scope of study includes an Interdisciplinary approach that consists of all business disciplines with an applied research emphasis. This online DBA’s first two years of study include core online courses and a chosen elective. All distance learners must attend up to four days of in-person instruction at Penn State at the start of each semester. The semester’s remaining curriculum is delivered in a highly engaging remote synchronous structure. Year three involves working remotely with advisors on a personalized dissertation or research project. This stellar online doctorate in business stands out in a crowd.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 814-863-0474

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Degree Website

Consensus Score
49.59

Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School features an excellent online DBA. Enrolled students elevate their expertise and stake claims with a global community of practitioner scholars. Pepperdine Graziadio’s Executive Doctor of Business Administration has much going for it. Graduate students advance their leadership and experience competencies. They conduct research and share their insights through publishing, thought leadership, and effective action.

All online DBA students can flourish under the guidance and mentorship of an expert faculty. Doctoral students leverage contemporary theories and advanced analytical methods. The curriculum leverages executive experience to develop evidence-based insights for improving and directing the future of worldwide business. Pepperdine University is committed to the highest Christian values and academic excellence standards. This online DBA program incorporates sustainable business principles to empower doctoral students to lead the next generation of organizations. Program graduates operate with a high purpose and positively impact business, society, and their world. Graziadio hits a grand slam with this online DBA.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 310-568-5535

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Website

Consensus Score
40.50

Hult International Business School features an online Doctor of Business Administration. This Doctorate in Business Administration leverages Hult’s experience in world-renowned business education and research. The new kind of DBA aims to empower new generations of senior business leaders by creating new answers to new questions. Enrolled students take part in online sessions once every two weeks and convene with their peers three times annually on a Hult campus. After 30 months of intense coursework, students graduate with a fully-accredited doctoral degree and the skills and knowledge to improve business practice worldwide.

Hult’s DBA is a working professional’s path to career advancement in teaching or consulting career transitions. All DBA online students begin their journeys by identifying a significant business issue that is directly relevant to them and is not currently addressed by modern business theories. Students’ research leads them to create novel, rigorous tools that address the problems and improve long-term business management practice. Program designers of this online degree have left nothing out in this top program.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 617-746-1990

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Degree Website

Consensus Score
35.14

An online Doctor of Business Administration degree is offered at the University of Southern Florida’s Muma College of Business. The business school provides options galore. Students who may struggle with the program’s monthly weekend meetings in Tampa will be delighted to know that Muma offers a 100% online version of the DBA program. Small cohorts meet for highly interactive sessions on alternate Saturdays throughout the program. The online program provides identical content, taught by the same instructors as the original program.

USF’s Doctor of Business Administration degree is a three-year program. All online students move through the program as cohorts, with access to the same classes, varying from cohort to cohort. The program’s first two years are predominantly coursework. The last year is focused on the candidate’s dissertation assignment. The DBA program’s cohorts are intended for highly qualified individuals with schedules or locations that preclude them from joining one of the traditional cohorts with an in-person residential requirement. Regardless of their career path, USF offers its students an engaging program that prepares them for success.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 813-974-3350

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Degree Website

Consensus Score
30.10

One of the nation’s best online DBA programs is offered at the College of Business at the University of North Texas. This Doctor of Business Administration is the newest degree the G. Brint Ryan College of Business provides doctoral students. The program is perfect for executives and managers wishing to enhance their knowledge, skills, and expertise within a research-driven framework. The hybrid program can be completed in three years. Enrolled students can stay working full-time. Classes meet four times each semester over the weekend.

UNT’s online DBA program opens diverse career options for managers and executives. Program graduates can become thought leaders in their business fields. Some students advance in their current industries as consultants, while others lead new entrepreneurial ventures. The terminal degree lets doctoral students join academia as business school instructors. All enrolled students use advanced research skills to analyze business issues within their current positions. This online DBA at the University of North Texas has much going for it.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 940-565-2383

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Website

Consensus Score
17.11

Recommended Online Programs

Explore our featured online programs to find the right match for you today.

The Bennett S. LeBow College of Business at Drexel University provides one of the nation’s best online DBA programs. The curriculum is an integrative framework of empirical exploration and evidence-based problem-solving. Enrolled students develop successful data-driven strategies and solutions. All course material is applied to respective organizations or fields. Doctoral students become recognized experts and contributors to critical business challenges. Program leaders guide learners through research and advanced decision-making. Graduates distinguish themselves as they move through and beyond C-suite leadership.

The Executive Doctorate in Business Administration is a part-time executive doctoral program. It is perfect for executives and senior managers with over ten years of industry and leadership experience. Candidates hold a master’s degree in a related field of study. They gain the methods to address complicated industry and organizational problems. This is the one for you if you want to earn an online DBA at an R1 Research University.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 1-800-2-DREXEL

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Website

Consensus Score
15.66

An excellent online DBA program is at Florida International University. The Chapman Graduate School of Business backs this Doctorate in Business Administration. This stellar program is offered under the umbrella of the PhD degree. Working senior-level professionals desiring to achieve a doctoral degree in business will thrive. These students can gain excellent business leadership without sacrificing their work responsibilities and careers.

FIT’s online DBA equips doctoral students. They gain practical-oriented research experience to fulfill leadership and other strategic responsibilities. Enrolled students obtain the advanced knowledge to understand, alter, and quickly solve complicated business issues. Looking for a program that will sharpen your critical and analytical skills? This online DBA will equip you with the needed tools. You can advance your career in management and leadership at the executive levels of business. The online DBA represents the highest academic achievement credential in business administration. The stellar online DBA has the skills to pay the bills.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 305.348.0148

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Website

Consensus Score
15.40

The University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business features an online DBA program. The Sykes College of Business Executive Doctor of Business Administration prepares senior-level professionals. They gain the expertise and credentials to become sought-after business leaders. Online EDBA students master advanced research and analytical methods. Doctoral students gain global perspectives and learn vital tools for managing risk and solving data-based problems for their organizations.

This business school’s distinguished instructors, flexible scheduling, and multidisciplinary approach empower working professionals and MBA students to take the next career step. Online EDBA students advance within their organizations. They can enter academia as university administrators or instructors. Program graduates become management consultants and achieve the professional development needed to guide businesses into new ventures. The program structure includes 32 months of academic years and eight total semesters. The sixty-four credit hours feature a cohort-based format. Tampa gives online DBA students a top-shelf learning experience and seasoned instructors.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 813-253-6211

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Website

Consensus Score
14.25

Marshall University’s Lewis College of Business features an excellent online DBA. The Marshall Doctor of Business Administration is a research-based doctoral program. It combines a disciplined approach to scholarship emphasizing compelling practice issues. Enrolled students thrive within the DBA program’s 66-credit hour, three-year, hybrid format. Doctoral students prepare an applied research proposal and dissertation. Lewis learners study seminal and modern business literature. They develop research questions in their area of interest.

This program’s stellar curriculum includes literature reviews, research studies, data analysis, and relevant conclusions that affect business innovation and economic development. All online DBA students choose specializations that focus on broad business areas. The business school provides flexibility with a hybrid course delivery. There are online synchronous and asynchronous lessons with five on-campus visits per academic year. This cohort-based program bridges the gap between theory and practice. Marshall’s practice-based research is one of the things to love about this online DBA.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 304-696-4723

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Website

Consensus Score
7.31

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs College of Business features an excellent online DBA. This online Executive Doctor of Business Administration in Cybersecurity Management puts you in the driver’s seat. It is a unique terminal degree that develops scholar-practitioners skilled in practice-focused research in cybersecurity. UC Colorado Springs’s EDBA-Cyber program equips students with the ability to create skills for cybersecurity scholarship. They gain valuable research competency while analyzing and communicating issues impacting cybersecurity.

Program leaders help students demonstrate knowledge of information security research. They apply current research to address complicated issues of cybersecurity practice. The business school offers the prestige and quality that comes with AACSB accreditation. Budget-minded students will appreciate the attractive price. Business school leaders accept up to fifteen credits of graduate work completed at UCCS. Candidates with coursework from other regionally accredited schools are accepted in transfer. Incoming coursework should parallel courses in the EDBA-Cyber and meet the UCCS transfer credit policy. This online DBA is one of the nation’s best.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 719-255-3417

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Website

Consensus Score
7.31

The University of Rhode Island’s College of Business offers an online Doctor of Business Administration. Designed for actively working professionals with experience. URI’s Doctor of Business Administration stands on the principles of future-oriented learning, experiential thinking, and enduring connections. The online DBA program helps business leaders approach the world and see issues differently. The College of Business’s personalized curriculum and flexible course delivery prepare students for a broad range of future accomplishments, strengthening their abilities to solve problems, communicate answers, and apply advanced research knowledge and skills to lead change.

Program details include a three-year blended online study format and three residencies each year that offer maximum flexibility for working professionals. All students apply theories and research skills that inform decision-making in an evolving world with emphasis on areas in blue prosperity, sustainability, and human-centered artificial intelligence. Students who come to the program with specific problems in mind are immersed in rigorous discussions with cohorts of like-minded professionals. This excellent online DBA has got what it takes.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 401-874-2262

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Degree Website

Consensus Score
7.31

One of the nation’s best online DBA programs is offered at the College of Business and Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The UW-Whitewater Doctorate of Business Administration is intentionally challenging and practical. Candidates admitted should expect a rigorous and rewarding learning experience. Enrolled students get prepared to solve real-world business issues. The curriculum includes current professional and academic knowledge regarding essential business issues.

Online DBA students learn about the latest leadership tools and techniques. Distance learners can solve the organizational problems posed by students experiencing workplace issues. This program enables DBA students to become competent researchers to find practical solutions to advanced business issues. There are solutions based on limited or no evidence in business. This degree uses scholarly research, so DBA students can review previously published work and propose solutions based on work analysis. This online DBA is a high-quality business degree.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 262-472-1440

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Website

Consensus Score
7.31

The College of Business at Prairie View A&M University provides one of the nation’s best online DBA programs. This online Doctor of Business Administration is a professional degree. It is perfect for business executives with significant professional and management experience. Professionals possessing an MBA or a related master’s degree will thrive within its context. The three-year program is delivered in an executive format. Enrolled executives continue their employment while pursuing their online DBA.

PVAMU’s Doctor of Business Administration is the only one of its kind in the Gulf Coast region. The online DBA suits practicing professionals handling real-world business issues. The non-traditional doctoral program is for business executives and professionals. The PVAMU DBA program gives business executives in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin the chance to strengthen their research skills and network. The AACSB-International accredits this advanced management degree. If you are looking for a quality curriculum with cutting-edge concepts and theories, look no further.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 936-261-3518

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Website

Consensus Score
7.31

A stellar online DBA program is at the University of North Alabama’s College of Business. The Executive DBA at North Alabama helps students address real-world organizational issues and disruptive trends. Enrolled students develop applied executive-level research skills. They can solve complex organizational problems and design innovative business solutions. This online EDBA program is perfect for experienced leaders seeking to advance within their organizations or transition into consulting careers or higher education.

This excellent online DBA features an applied dissertation. The attribute can be leveraged to solve existing organizational problems. UNA’s Doctor of Business Administration program is mostly online. The program features on-campus sessions one weekend each month. This prestigious degree distinguishes students in their field. They are prepared to implement research projects to direct organizational strategic decisions innovatively and efficiently. When serious about a quality online DBA, give this one a shot.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 256-765-4608

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Website

Consensus Score
7.31

The Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business at the University of Dallas provides an Online DBA degree program. This rigorous research-based program prepares proven business professionals with opportunities to expand their abilities and breadth of knowledge in leadership, customer engagement, and innovation. The sixty-one credit-hour online program has been designed to equip doctoral students to apply evidence-based solutions to the issues presented by the dynamic complexity of today’s contemporary international business economy.

The University of Dallas DBA prepares individuals to transition into academic positions in either full or part-time roles and advance in their current careers by equipping evidence-based tools for improving organizational effectiveness. Students can also expect to develop advanced skills in organizational analysis in various business management consulting roles. Accomplished instructors deliver this rigorous, applied research curriculum with extensive managerial and executive consulting experience. The three-year, sixty-one-hour program is refined through selective, capped admissions. This high-powered online business doctorate from the University of Dallas will aptly prepare business professionals.

Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Phone: 972-721-5266

AACSB Accredited: YES

Online DBA Degree Website

Consensus Score
7.31

Ready to start your journey?

There are many excellent reasons to consider pursuing an online Doctor of Business Administration. Here are just a few:

DBA Students Acquire Advanced Skills and Techniques

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Organizations are more likely to pick a DBA graduate over an MBA because they will possess more advanced knowledge and expertise. A DBA curriculum is known for being rigorous. Employers can appreciate the commitment and hard work program graduates have put in. This helps to put them at the top of the pecking order when it comes to hiring. No matter the student’s expertise, all the way from Human Resources Management to Business Strategy to Technology Management, a DBA can assist professionals in meeting their career goals. DBA students develop their strategic management, financial management, risk management, organizational behavior, business intelligence, and management decision making skills.

DBA Online Programs Open Many Career Paths

job interview

Completing an online DBA identifies professionals as experts in their field. It results in a tangible set of management and decision-making skills. These help land senior-level leadership positions. Many online DBA programs also enjoy the option of applying for researcher or consultant roles. Once a student finishes her DBA, she will be well prepared to enter any industry, whether healthcare management, global supply chain management, business, education, or government. An online DBA helps professionals understand the various challenges prominent in these sectors while providing them with the practical skills needed to complete all types of challenges.

DBAs Can Result in Higher Salaries

analyst salary

The more credentials leaders gain, the more chance they can secure senior-level positions. This, in turn, provides them with higher salary potential. Employers understand that those who complete advanced degrees demand higher salaries and better compensation packages. In many large organizations, six-figure salaries tend to be the norm. Even smaller firms pay out more to DBA degree holders.

Online DBAs are Flexible

adult business computer 374720

One of the best things about a Doctorate in Business Administration degree is that business students have the chance to study for it online if they wish. Many people in the business world don’t have the time for a traditional program. They can’t attend weekly on-campus lectures, seminars, and meetings. Online schools are a more popular route to take. Whether it’s long hours of work or children to look after, pursuing a degree like this can provide professionals with flexibility. Some of the best business schools nationwide provide part-time, distance-learning DBAs. These doctoral degree programs are for senior professionals to hone their global leadership skills while they work in their current roles.

Online DBA Programs Provide Help and Support

business manager

Students studying for a Doctorate in Business Administration will discover that online and traditional providers offer excellent help. Their support guides students through the course and assists them if any worries or concerns present themselves. No matter how you pursue a degree, it’s helpful to know you can speak with tutors, administrators, and professors. These professionals provide guidance in your studies when you face any barriers or challenges.

If you are seriously considering an Online DBA, you might have some questions. Let’s answer a few.

What Prerequisites are Needed for an Online DBA?

Colleges and universities consider many factors when reviewing applicants for online Doctor of Business Administration programs. Universally, earning a master’s degree in business administration or an MBA is a prerequisite for pursuing a DBA. Some business schools value real-world experience. Depending on the school and program, it can substitute for a graduate degree requirement. Additional prerequisites include meeting specific GPA requirements, including letters of recommendation in your admissions packet, and having several years of related professional experience.

What is the Coursework Like for an Online Doctor of Business Administration?

Many students pursuing an online DBA have already acquired a graduate degree. Doctoral degree programs don’t focus on general or introductory education courses. Once accepted into an online Doctor of Business Administration program, get ready to immediately enroll in courses that prepare you for writing and defending your dissertation. Examples of relevant coursework include survey design, statistics, and quantitative research design.

How Long Will an Online DBA Take to Complete? 

An online Doctor of Business Administration degree takes between three and five years. The curriculum includes between 54 and 60 credit hours. This timetable will vary based on how much time you can commit to academic work. Candidates interested in the theoretical frameworks and research behind business strategy perform well in this program.

Students interested in completing qualitative and quantitative analysis and communicating the research in a written dissertation will find the doctoral program enjoyable. Doctoral learners can work on soft skills while pursuing an online DBA. The curriculum includes lessons covering decision-making, leadership, collaboration, and teamwork.

How Much Do Online DBA Degrees Cost?

The cost of online DBA degrees can vary depending on several factors, including the institution, program reputation, duration, and delivery format. It’s essential to research and compare different online DBA programs to find the one that best fits your budget, career goals, and educational needs. Additionally, remember to inquire about any available financial aid options, scholarships, or employer reimbursement programs that may help offset the cost of the degree. The top online DBA programs are available between $60,000 and $180,000.

SchoolAffordability
University of Florida$$$
University of Pittsburgh$$$$
Case Western Reserve University$$$$
CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College$$$
University of Houston$$$
Penn State$$$
Pepperdine University$$$$
Hult International Business School$$
University of South Florida$$
University of North Texas$$$
Drexel University$$$
Florida International University$
University of Tampa$$
Marshall University$
University of Colorado Colorado Springs$
University of Rhode Island$$
University of Wisconsin-​Whitewater$$
Prairie View A&M University$$
University of North Alabama$$
University of Dallas$$$
This is a list of the top Online DBA programs and the affordability of their tuition. $ = $0-$79,999; $$ = $80,000-$99,999; $$$ = $100,000-$149,999; $$$$ = $150,000+

What Kinds of Accreditation, Licensure, and Certification Can I Expect from an Online DBA?

Universities and colleges that uphold specific quality standards determined by a third-party, independent organization are deemed “accredited.” Accreditation is valuable to students as it shows employers that the business school provided students with an education that meets highly defined standards. B-school students have a much smoother process of transferring credits from an accredited institution.

Regional accrediting organizations for Doctor of Business Administration programs include:

Some professionals earn certifications after pursuing an online DBA degree. These credentials set them apart from competing job candidates. Certificates are not required by graduates for popular roles. They can signal that candidates have degrees of specialization or expertise in specific areas. These certifications include the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and the Certified Manager (CM) credential.

Professional associations offer opportunities for volunteerism, networking, and professional development. DBA graduates will want to consider the following professional associations:

What Is the Difference Between an Online DBA and a Traditional DBA?

Most traditional DBA programs accommodate working professionals by using evenings and weekends for coursework and meetings. Distance degrees offer more flexibility for students with less access to college campuses. Online DBA cohorts are intended for highly qualified students whose schedules or locations keep them from joining a traditional cohort. There is usually a monthly or quarterly in-person residential requirement.

Many business schools developed or honed their online DBA program design as an outgrowth of their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The time in history has required some of the best traditional programs to rethink their format and deliver their programs online synchronously.

Main Differences 

Traditional and online DBA cohorts are identical. The programs differ from an instructional standpoint. The vital differences are as follows:

Some online DBA cohorts meet every other week, once a month, or once a quarter. Too many days in a row watching a computer screen is very fatiguing. Business schools like the one at the University of South Florida schedule meetings every other Saturday during standard semester schedules (Summer, Fall, Spring).

Trimester schedules can be helpful. Traditional DBA program students are not able to travel during the summer. Trips and life events are quickly interrupted when doctoral students must return to their school campus. Online participants can participate in classes from wherever the Internet is available. It makes sense to run courses year-round and place breaks between terms.

Limited cohort sizes allow for more interaction. DBA classes include lots of interaction between instructors and participants. Online students enjoy more interaction by having smaller groups. Top business schools offering online DBA programs limit admissions to smaller amounts of participants (these may be less than half of the limit for traditional cohorts). 

What Will I Learn While Pursuing an Online DBA?

An online DBA program should help professionals acquire high-level skills and knowledge in management theory, strategic thinking, innovation, organizational leadership, and research. Through a robust curriculum, online DBA students gain the knowledge needed to succeed as leaders in today’s fast-paced business environments. Collaborative, research-oriented projects help distance learners grow their networks and build lasting relationships with diverse groups of professionals.

B-school faculty members are experts in their fields. These educators possess a wide range of professional experience. They’re committed to helping doctorate students achieve their program’s learning goals. 

  • Online DBA Programs Help Students Manage with Evidence – Program directives may include managing with evidence. DBA students conduct research and utilize social science facts to inform decision-making.
  • Online DBA Students Collaborate – Distance degree DBA students learn to collaborate effectively. Course content includes lessons on leading, facilitating, and collaborating with many individuals and diverse teams.
  • Online DBA Students Analyze Research – Programs help learners conduct and analyze quantitative and qualitative information to solve complicated business issues.
  • Online DBA Students Learn to Communicate – These professionals lead by communicating clearly to team members and employees.
  • Online DBA Students Apply Theory – The nation’s top programs give students an understanding of and an ability to apply formal management theory.

What Are Some More Reasons to Choose an Online DBA?

The online Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) degree provides real-world, practical business management knowledge. Alongside the PhD in Business Administration, the DBA is the highest level of study for business management. Online DBA degrees differ from an online PhD. The latter is more research-focused and prepares learners for academic careers. DBA degrees have practical applications. They are geared toward working professionals seeking to deepen their business and management knowledge.

Do you have real-world business experience and a business graduate degree? Are you ready to set yourself apart from the competition? Do you wish to sharpen your existing strategy development and business analysis skills? If you answered “yes” to these questions, an online DBA is the degree for you.

How Can an Online DBA Hone My Leadership Style?

DBA programs help students solve complex business situations while they gain leadership skills. Other skills sharpened during the program include writing and giving effective presentations. There are essential skills for excelling in a business environment. These and more qualities are emphasized in this online program.

Can I Add an Emphasis to My Online DBA?

Doctoral students pursuing an online DBA degree can choose an emphasis to accentuate their program. Leadership, healthcare management, entrepreneurship, and human resources management are popular specializations. The extra coursework allows professionals to differentiate themselves from other job seekers and makes them more marketable to potential employers.

What Are Some Other Popular Concentrations for Students Pursuing an Online DBA?

Doctor of Business Administration studies are tailored to a candidate’s goals. Specific concentrations are highly specialized. Here are some specializations to consider adding to your DBA program:

Marketing

A DBA with a marketing concentration serves professionals wanting to fine-tune their skills in public relations, branding, consumer behavior, and product development. During the executive program, students uncover innovative ways to:

  • Steer a company’s social media presence.
  • Learn marketing research design.
  • Design public policies.
  • Improve consumer experiences.
  • Deliver products to a global market. 

Students get hands-on training in project management to understand how to relate marketing theories to marketing challenges and opportunities. DBA students focus on marketing work for luxury brands, top-tier advertising firms, heavily financed startups, and government agencies. Today’s DBA marketing students have a hand in shaping tomorrow’s trends.

Business Management

Many DBA candidates apply their new skills to the business world. The diversity of the industry is represented under the business administration umbrella. Specializations range from tourism and human resources to international relations and sports. Some candidates enhance business processes by learning operations management. Other learners study strategic management to understand the resources that aid organizations. In an Organization Studies pathway, students gain deep insights into how diversity, working conditions, and gender impact organizational change.

Finance

DBA candidates specializing in finance usually pursue careers in accounting, economics, and international banking. Investment firms, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies highly value these professionals for their creative approach to applying research to solve modern financial problems. Financial executives with a doctorate maximize an organization’s value through derivative securities, capital budgeting, data analysis for investments, and asset pricing of equity. They also gain an understanding of the theories behind markets for financial assets, credit risk modeling, mergers and acquisitions, and economic growth.

When you’re serious about advancing your career, consider one of the best online DBA programs. If you can envision yourself in an essential managerial leadership role, it’s time to consider the degree. Putting in the time, effort, and resources required for a doctoral business degree is excellent. Gaining this valuable qualification can help you stand out from other potential job candidates. It helps you secure your dream job.

Related Resources:

Best Online MBA Programs
Best Online Doctorate in Leadership Programs
Best DBA Programs

Ready to start your journey?

Ready to start your journey?