High-Quality Online Business Administration Doctorates in Illinois
Here’s everything you need to know about earning an online Doctorate of Business Administration in Illinois and how a DBA can transform your career.
Inside Online DBA Programs in Illinois: School Spotlights
If you’re interested in earning your online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Illinois, you’re in luck. The state’s business and financial operations occupations are projected to rise nearly 42% by 2033. To find the best online DBA in Illinois, keep reading for spotlights on some of the state’s best virtual and hybrid programs, tuition information, career outlook, and common questions from other DBA students.
Concordia University hosts a great online DBA in Illinois. The 60-hour program is designed for experienced business professionals with MBAs who want to further their abilities.
Its students choose from two specializations: Innovation in Health Care Management and Strategic Leadership and Innovation. Alongside courses in their concentrations, students complete core classes on topics like global leadership, developing marketing strategies, and financial decision-making.
While most coursework is online, there are three in-person residencies, one for each year of the three-year program. In the first residency, students meet faculty and their peers and assess their individual professional strengths and weaknesses. In the second and third residencies, students work with their mentors to develop their dissertations.
Students also have virtual meetings with their dissertation mentors between residencies. Concordia claims to have a unique process that considers students’ research interests and professional goals when matching learners with mentors.
DePaul University is a great option for hybrid DBA students. There are two ideal candidate types for this program: teaching professionals with business experience who hope to transition into academia full-time and experienced business leaders looking for C-suite roles.
Applicants must have an MBA before applying and be able to articulate their relevant business experience. Since most students work while completing this degree, courses are delivered part-time, and residencies run Friday through Sunday to help ensure Monday through Friday workers can attend.
The curriculum focuses on leadership strategies and professional development practices to advance one’s career. All courses are delivered in a small group format, providing space to discuss and get to know classmates better. While the program doesn’t offer specializations, students complete an intensive dissertation that can dive into whatever area of business they’d like to explore.
National Louis University hosts a great DBA program for those with a master’s in business who want to build upon that knowledge. Since this program balances research methods with practical applications in business, it’s an excellent possibility for academics or business professionals looking to advance into senior leadership roles.
Alongside online courses, students complete one in-person immersion experience per term. These residencies allow students to network and discuss course topics with classmates and faculty face-to-face.
The school also facilitates online community and support through virtual support resources. Alongside coursework, students complete a dissertation and a job-focused practicum, which provides space to reflect on the direction of their career. In total, the program takes about four years to complete.
DBA or PhD in Business: Which Degree Do You Need?
During your search for the best online DBA in Illinois for you, you may come across PhD in business programs. While the two degrees are similar, there are some key differences. Each may be right for different professional goals and academic interests. Those main differences are highlighted in the table below.
| DBA | PhD in Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To let graduates practically implement different business strategies and schools of thought | Advance scholarship and research regarding best business practices |
| Student Type | Mid-career professionals | Early- or mid-career professionals |
| Career Goals | A leadership position within a business or within the nonprofit sector | Career in academia or research |
| Funding | Often self-funded or funded by the student’s employer | Often funded through scholarships, grants, or fellowships |
| Prerequisites | Master’s degree in business or a related field and experience within the business sector | A bachelor’s or master’s degree in business |
| Length | 3-4 years | 5-6 years |
| Capstone | Portfolio or a larger project | Dissertation |
Specializations Offered by Online DBA Programs in Illinois
As you probably know, “business” is a broad industry that includes finance, marketing, supply chain management, and many other sub-sectors. While not all DBA programs offer concentrations, a specialization can help you stand out as a leader in your field. Below are five specializations that match in-demand career fields identified by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Healthcare Management
Healthcare management is one of the fastest-growing fields in Illinois, the state. A DBA specific to how business and healthcare intersect can set graduates up to apply for executive or C-suite roles in administration or management at a local hospital or healthcare organization.
Operations
The number of operations managers in Illinois is expected to grow by nearly 12,000 per year by at least 2030. Typically, operations managers have an advanced degree, and a specialization in operations can set your resume apart when applying for roles. Operations managers can also work across industries, making this a versatile specialization.
Marketing
The state of Illinois predicts there will be just over 2,000 annual openings for marketing managers in the next year, making this another great specialization. Those with a DBA in marketing often serve as the head of marketing or a vice president of a related sector, like sales, communication, or advertising.
Finance
Finance is another fast-growing field in Illinois. In fact, it’s growing faster than the national prediction! A DBA that specializes in finance prepares you to be a leader or executive within this sector.
Human Resource
Another high-priority field highlighted by the Illinois government is human resources, especially when it comes to leadership positions. While a DBA isn’t required to work as an HR manager, it can help you stand out, especially for C-suite human resource roles like vice president of people. It may also aid in getting promoted to mid-managerial roles, such as director of recruiting.
Expert Insight
Look closely at how each program connects to local industry, especially in fields like healthcare, operations, and finance that are growing in Illinois. Programs that actively tie coursework or projects to real organizations tend to deliver more practical value than ones that stay mostly theoretical. Those connections can have a major impact when it comes to finding a career.
Cost Breakdown: Online DBA Programs in Illinois
A DBA can cost a significant amount. For example, the three spotlighted programs above range in price from $48,000 to over $70,000.
Unlike with PhDs in business, schools don’t often offer fellowships or scholarships for this type of doctoral program, making it essential to save up. There may be other financial aid opportunities too, which will be discussed in the next section. For now, let’s focus on the upfront costs of three popular programs.
| School | Program | No. of Credits | Est. Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia University | Doctorate in Business Administration | 60 | $56,700 |
| DePaul University | Doctorate in Business Administration | 65 | $129,000 |
| National Louis University | Doctorate in Business Administration | 60 | $48,000 |
Financial Aid Opportunities for Illinois DBA Majors
A program’s tuition is just the asking price. You can lower the cost of your DBA by taking advantage of financial aid opportunities. These include scholarships and grants specifically for DBA candidates or more general alternatives.
There may also be fellowships or assistantship positions at your university, though these are rare. Your employer may cover all or part of the tuition costs, too.
While you can (and should) explore nationwide scholarship opportunities, there are some options only available in Illinois. These scholarships may be more accessible because your competition is in one state instead of 50.
Popular ones include the grants and scholarships provided by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Most individual institutions, such as Concordia University Chicago, also offer state-specific guidance on financial aid.
DBA Salary Potential in Illinois
A DBA in Illinois positions you for the highest levels of executive leadership across the state’s diverse industries — from financial services and healthcare to technology, manufacturing, and logistics. Graduates serve as chief executives, senior consultants, and business school faculty — bringing evidence-based management practice and original research to complex organizational challenges in one of the country’s major business markets. Illinois’s strong corporate presence makes it a competitive and rewarding environment for doctoral-level business leaders.
Chief executives in Illinois earn competitive compensation reflecting the state’s economic scale and industry mix, with salaries that vary significantly by sector, company size, and metropolitan area.
Use the salary table to see what chief executives earn in Illinois, and benchmark DBA-level leadership compensation across the state’s key markets.
Chief Executives
| Area | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $310,740 | $432,910 | $929,520 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $344,960 | $428,710 | $599,520 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $205,030 | $306,300 | $502,170 |
| Decatur, IL | $212,400 | $351,670 | $422,580 |
| Illinois | $331,920 | $428,710 | $589,720 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $148,710 | $191,990 | $348,400 |
| Peoria, IL | $270,090 | $487,440 | $516,830 |
| Rockford, IL | $323,030 | $394,260 | $601,760 |
| Springfield, IL | $338,570 | $451,230 | $493,420 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $202,840 | $317,990 | $504,140 |
Source: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes111011.htm
Data reflects national numbers, not school-specific information.
FAQs About Online DBA Programs in Illinois
Are online DBA programs more affordable than in-person programs?
Some online programs are more affordable. It is possible to find online DBA programs that cost less than their in-person counterparts, though the difference isn’t universal. Regardless of whether online tuition is lower, virtual DBA candidates also save on costs related to their program, such as transportation expenses and student fees.
How long does it take to earn an Illinois DBA degree online?
Two to four years is the typical amount of time, though the exact time it takes to earn a DBA online in Illinois varies. While it is possible to graduate within twelve months, one-year DBAs are uncommon. For the three schools listed above, the average timelines were:
- DePaul University: three years
- Concordia University: three years
- National Louis University: four years
Is a dissertation required to earn my online DBA in Illinois?
Usually, a dissertation isn’t a required component of a DBA. That’s because DBAs are geared toward practical applications of business scholarship, not contributing original research. If you don’t want to complete a dissertation, consider searching for no-dissertation DBAs.
Expert Insight
Some DBA programs in Illinois are more coursework-heavy, while others quietly expect significant independent research or applied projects. That difference can dramatically affect your workload and how well the degree fits alongside a full-time job. Make sure you understand what “no dissertation” or “applied project” really means in practice.
Helpful Resources for Illinois DBA Students
- American Marketing Association, Chicago Chapter
For those who live in or close to Chicago, AMA’s Chicago chapter may be a great resource if you work in marketing or want to pivot into that sector. - Healthcare Financial Management Association
If you’re interested in where finance and healthcare intersect, check out this association’s Illinois chapters. The organization regularly hosts networking events and educational seminars. - Illinois Small Business Development Centers
For DBA candidates interested in starting a business, the state funds development centers in different cities and communities to provide mentorship, resources, and more as you begin your entrepreneurial journey. - MBA vs DBA
If you already have an MBA, you may be asking yourself, “Why should I get a DBA as well?” This guide from George Fox University answers that question and dives into the financial benefits of getting a DBA. - Top DBA Programs in the United States
If it is time to expand your DBA search beyond Illinois, this list of the nation’s top DBA programs may help. One school from Illinois (Concordia University) even made the list.
