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Most Affordable Online DBA Programs

Find convenient online DBA programs that deliver the highest level of business education at the lowest costs.

Search hundreds of top schools for the doctorate YOU want.

Written by

PhDs.me Staff

Last updated

Jul 29, 2023

By pursuing an online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree, you can equip yourself with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in high-level leadership roles, tackling complex business challenges by applying advanced research and theories. While the cost of obtaining a doctorate degree can be daunting, there are now several reputable universities offering affordable online DBA programs. To help you find a quality program that won’t break the bank, we’ve compiled a list of the most cost-effective options available for 2023.

29 Most Affordable Online DBA Programs for 2023

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1
California Miramar University San Diego, California
Type: Private for-profit
Cost: $$

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree from California Miramar University has several characteristics that make it a very flexible option for business professionals. Most of the curriculum is available online, with some courses available 100% online and others offered in a hybrid format. This makes it possible for students to continue working while enrolled. There are also four concentrations to choose from: Marketing, Finance, International Business Administration, and Strategy Management. All require 61 credits to complete, which includes 30 credits for core business classes and 13 dissertation preparation credits. Most incoming students will already have a master's degree in business, although it's not a requirement. Those lacking this degree may need to take one or more prerequisites in marketing, finance, operations management, and accounting.

Program Highlights:

Doctor of Business Administration

  • Credits: 61
  • Length: Varies
  • Cost: $707/credit
  • Mode: Partially online
  • Accreditation: DEAC
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
13
AccreditationDEAC
2
University of West Alabama Livingston, Alabama
Type: Public
Cost: $$

The University of West Alabama offers a first-in-the-nation Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree in Rural Business. This program is well-suited for business, government, or academic professionals who want additional expertise in business concepts and issues commonly encountered by rural businesses. The DBA in Rural Business also offers further opportunities for specialization, with two tracks -- Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Rural and Transformational Leadership. Regardless of which pathway students choose, they will be prepared for future careers as C-suite executives or in academia, government, or economic development. To make accomplishing these professional goals as achievable as possible, the program can be completed fully online with a self-paced curriculum that students can finish in as little as 36 months.

Program Highlights:

Doctor of Business Administration in Rural Business

  • Credits: 60-66
  • Length: 3-7 years
  • Cost: $630/credit
  • Mode: 100% online
  • Accreditation: SACSCOC
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
14
AccreditationSACSCOC
3
Liberty University Lynchburg, Virginia
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$

When it comes to the widest selection of Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) specialties, the DBA program from Liberty University is hard to beat. It has 17 specializations available, including Six Sigma, Tourism Management, Supply Chain Management and Logistics, Strategic Media and Digital Content, and Nonprofit Leadership and Management. But the program flexibility doesn't stop with curriculum customization. The program is 100% online and self-paced, so students can learn as quickly or slowly as they want without having to worry about in-person residency or internship requirements. Individual classes are eight weeks long, so they're easier to fit into a busy schedule. Liberty University has a generous transfer policy, allowing up to 50% of the DBA curriculum credits to be met through approved transfer coursework.

Program Highlights:

Doctor of Business Administration

  • Credits: 60
  • Length: About 3 years
  • Cost: $595/credit (full-time) and $650/credit (part-time)
  • Mode: 100% online
  • Accreditation: ACBSP
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
17
AccreditationSACSCOC
4
Oklahoma Wesleyan University Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$

Students enrolled in the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program at Oklahoma Wesleyan University will enjoy several program features that make it a great option for earning a business doctorate. The first is that most of the curriculum is available online, so students can fit their learning into their work schedules. Another standout feature is that students can choose from Management or Leadership specializations. The former is ideal for those who want a career in academia, while the latter is best for those who want to work in the private sector. Another option for DBA students to consider is that they can earn their degree by completing either a Work Project or a Dissertation. While progressing through the program, students take one course at a time, with each class lasting eight weeks.

Program Highlights:

Doctor of Business Administration

  • Credits: 56
  • Length: About 3 years
  • Cost: $799/credit
  • Mode: Partially online
  • Accreditation: HLC
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
14
AccreditationHLC
5
Type: Public
Cost: $$

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program from the University of South Florida offers an ideal blend of online learning convenience, networking, and interactive learning. The bulk of the coursework is online but delivered in a synchronous format. To prevent this from interfering with most students' work schedules, classes are on alternating Saturdays throughout the year. The program requires two residencies, one relating to research skills and the other involving face-to-face meetings with dissertation committee members. There's also an optional third residency. To make the most of the online and in-person hybrid learning format, classes are organized into cohorts, with no cohort having more than 15 students. The University of South Florida's DBA program is AACSB accredited, an achievement not enjoyed by many comparable doctoral business programs.

Program Highlights:

Doctor of Business Administration

  • Credits: 72
  • Length: About 3 years
  • Cost: $1,250/credit
  • Mode: Partially online
  • Accreditation: AACSB
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
22
AccreditationSACSCOC
6
Concordia University-Chicago River Forest, Illinois
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
13
AccreditationHLC
7
Columbia International University Columbia, South Carolina
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
16
AccreditationSACSCOC
8
Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia
Type: Public
Cost: $$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
17
AccreditationHLC
9
University of Houston Houston, Texas
Type: Public
Cost: $$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
21
AccreditationSACSCOC
10
Type: Public
Cost: $$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
24
AccreditationSACSCOC
11
Baker College Owosso, Michigan
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
8
AccreditationHLC
12
Ottawa University-Ottawa Ottawa, Kansas
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
11
AccreditationHLC
13
Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, Tennessee
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
17
AccreditationSACSCOC
14
West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia
Type: Public
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
18
AccreditationHLC
15
Southern Wesleyan University Central, South Carolina
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
13
AccreditationSACSCOC
16
American International College Springfield, Massachusetts
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
17
AccreditationNECHE
17
Johnson & Wales University-Online Providence, Rhode Island
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
13
AccreditationNECHE
18
The University of Tampa Tampa, Florida
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
18
AccreditationSACSCOC
19
Westcliff University Irvine, California
Type: Private for-profit
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
10
AccreditationWSCUC
20
St. Thomas University Miami Gardens, Florida
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
10
AccreditationSACSCOC
21
Jacksonville University Jacksonville, Florida
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
13
AccreditationSACSCOC
22
George Fox University Newberg, Oregon
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
16
AccreditationNWCCU
23
Saint Leo University Saint Leo, Florida
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
16
AccreditationSACSCOC
24
University of Rhode Island Kingston, Rhode Island
Type: Public
Cost: $$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
17
AccreditationNECHE
25
Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Type: Public
Cost: $$$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
13
AccreditationMSCHE
26
Type: Private for-profit
Cost: $$$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
5
AccreditationWSCUC
27
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
13
AccreditationSACSCOC
28
Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, Tennessee
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
10
AccreditationSACSCOC
29
Felician University Lodi, New Jersey
Type: Private not-for-profit
Cost: $$$$
Academic
Counseling
Yes
Career
Placement
Yes
Student/
Faculty Ratio
14
AccreditationMSCHE

College Rankings Methodology

PhDs.me’s rankings are based on the most recent data provided by The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). To be eligible for our most affordable rankings, colleges were required to have the following characteristics:

  • Annual graduate tuition below $15,000.
  • At least one doctoral program in subject area offered partially online or fully online.
  • Accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Academic counseling and career placement services.

Eligible colleges were then scored on their performance in the following areas to determine the final ranking:

  • Cost: Relative cost of attendance compared to peer schools on the list. Based on in-state graduate tuition per academic year. (Heaviest weighting)
  • Selectivity: Based on overall admissions rate. More selective schools ranked higher.
  • Online learning availability: Based on percentage of grad students taking at least one class online and number of online doctoral programs in subject area reported by the school.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Schools with lower ratios ranked higher.