Quality Online Business Administration Doctorates in New Jersey
For Garden Staters looking for a professional doctorate in business, an online Doctor of Business Administration in New Jersey can save you time and money while you study. Read on to learn more.
Whether you’re in management, human resources, accounting, or a different facet of the world of business, it’s not unusual to reach a point in your career when you’re ready for advanced education. And in New Jersey, if you want a professional degree in business, you might be a good fit for a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). For an active businessperson, an online DBA in New Jersey is a great way to earn your degree in a way that fits with your career and saves you money. Have a look and see if a New Jersey online DBA might be a fit for you.
Inside Online DBA Programs in New Jersey: School Spotlights
Which online DBA program is the best fit for you will depend on a variety of factors, from academic specializations to financial aid offerings and beyond. However, below are a few high-quality, accredited programs in New Jersey for you to consider as you get started in your research:
Thomas Edison State University, or TESU, is a state school with a campus in Trenton. It has long been famous for its emphasis on flexibility to suit its students’ needs. This pioneering approach extends to their extensive online degree offerings, including their fully online DBA. This 48-credit program is designed for working professionals with some career experience in the broader world of business, with the option to specialize in either Organizational Leadership or Human Resource Management. The degree finishes with a capstone project known as the scholar-practitioner field project.
Interested students must apply online and meet TESU’s general graduate admissions requirements and DBA-specific requirements. These include an accredited undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, having at least three years of relevant work experience, and completing an interview with a staff member. Applications are open twice per year.
Felician University is a private Catholic university with a campus in Rutherford and a large number of online programs. They offer a fully online DBA degree that can be completed entirely from home, with the option to complete some program requirements, such as your mandatory teaching assistantship, in a hybrid format with campus visits.
Once enrolled in this program, you will need to complete foundation general-education courses to prepare you for doctoral study, including classes in writing and research methodology. You will also complete a series of mandatory business and management courses, including courses on management strategy from a theoretical and historical perspective. Finally, you’ll be completing the aforementioned teaching assistantship and practicum, doing fieldwork, and writing a dissertation before graduating.
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and should apply online. Applications are open year-round and considered on a rolling basis.
Rutgers offers a highly selective, two-year DBA program. While it’s on campus, it’s designed for working professionals – meaning courses are primarily held during weekends. You’ll take core classes, electives, and an independent study in the two years or so it takes to complete the program.
Classes start once per year, in the autumn, with applications for Fall 2025 due by April 1, 2025. Applicants should have a master’s degree, preferably an MBA or EMBA, and ten years or more of relevant professional experience to be considered for admission. Those with senior executive experience or a strong background in advanced technical positions are particularly encouraged to apply.
Differences Between a DBA and PhD in Business
Did you know a DBA is only one of two different types of doctorates you can earn in business? If you’re looking at an online doctorate in business administration in New Jersey, you may also encounter PhD programs in business and wonder what the difference is. While both are advanced, terminal degrees, they serve very different purposes. Check out which of these sounds like it might be a better fit for you:
| DBA | PhD in Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Prepare and train students for executive-level careers as business leaders | Prepare and train students to conduct high-level research in the business field |
| Student Type | Experienced professional | Recent master’s graduate |
| Career Goals | Upper-level management, executive position, and/or consultancy | Academia and/or upper-level business research |
| Funding | Typically funded by the student | Generally funded by the school and through research/teaching assistantships |
| Prerequisites | Relevant master’s degree; 5-10 years of work experience | Relevant master’s degree |
| Length | 2-3 Years | 5-6 Years |
| Capstone | Doctoral dissertation or capstone research project | Doctoral thesis defended in front of a committee |
Online DBA Specializations in New Jersey
Business is an extensive field, and by the time you begin your online DBA in New Jersey, you’ll likely already have several years of work experience behind you. That should help you pick a specialization to tailor your degree and eventual dissertation around. Check out some popular DBA specializations you might be interested in:
Organizational Leadership
Organizational leadership is a broad-ranging specialty for those who want to take on a leadership role at a small business, large corporation, nonprofit, or organization in the public sector. This is a potential fit for those looking to take on an executive role after graduation.
Human Resource Management
A company is only as strong as its employees. If you specialize in human resource management, your online doctorate in business administration in New Jersey will be dedicated to making sure your company has the best employees possible. From recruitment to retention to dispute mediation, this specialization is all about the people who make up a business.
Accounting
For the mathematically inclined professional, a DBA specializing in accounting might be a good fit. This specialization will help train you to oversee the finances of large and complex businesses and organizations, including tracking payroll, ensuring that taxes are filed accurately and on time, and more.
Marketing
Marketing is a crucial role that helps ensure your business finds the customers it wants to reach. If you’ve worked in marketing or want to oversee one of the most creative, artistic aspects of business administration, consider a marketing specialization for your DBA and learn how this fast-moving industry has adapted to technology and is still shifting.
International Business
International business is a broad-ranging specialization that can encompass many other aspects of business. The difference is that this specialization prepares you to work across nations and cultures, being mindful of international laws and trade regulations, potential language and cultural barriers, and more.
Online DBA in New Jersey Program Costs
Before you enroll in your DBA, you should have an idea of how much the degree will cost and have a plan for how you’re going to pay for it. This may include using your savings, taking advantage of an employer assistance program, getting financial aid from your school, taking out student loans from a federally subsidized program, or applying for private scholarships. That said, not all DBA programs carry the same costs, so look at your school’s tuition rates before enrolling. Here are some examples of how tuition rates can vary between different online DBA programs at New Jersey universities for you to compare:
Paying for Your New Jersey DBA: Financial Aid Options
Even after you’ve figured out the total bill for your degree, you’ll want to have a plan in place to get your total cost as low as possible. While your online DBA in New Jersey may already be saving you money, both by avoiding relocation costs and by potentially fitting around your salaried job, there are other ways to help pay for your degree. Your school may offer you some financial aid based on need and/or merit, and the State of New Jersey has a variety of aid options, including state-supported grants and aid. Beyond that, consider applying for private grants and scholarships, especially any niche ones you may qualify for, such as those for historically underrepresented student groups. These will likely have fewer applicants, increasing your chances of receiving an award.
Career and Salary Outlook for New Jersey DBA Graduates
You may already be thinking about what your career will look like once you’ve finished your DBA. This is a professional degree, and graduates generally take on upper-level roles in the world of business, management, and beyond. Here are just a few examples of jobs you might be interested in after you finish your degree:
| Career | Median Pay (2023) | 90th Percentile Pay (2023) | Job Outlook (2023-33) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Analyst | $99,010 | $175,840 | 9% |
| Human Resource Manager | $136,350 | $239,200 | 6% |
| College Professor | $84,380 | $182,710 | 8% |
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts use data to guide businesses and/or individuals to make decisions that maximize profits. This can include looking at the impact of staffing decisions, investments, product launches, and more and developing strategies that incorporate new data. While financial analysts work at many levels of business, DBA graduates are likely to be employed at the highest levels of the role, often for major multinational corporations.
Human Resource Manager
Human resource managers are vital management professionals, especially within larger businesses and organizations. In this role, you’ll oversee recruitment, hiring, and retention strategies and their implementation. Alongside the rest of senior management and the HR team, you’ll also work to ensure that employees meet goals and alter staffing numbers as needed.
College Professor
As a graduate of a terminal degree program, you’ll be eligible to teach at the postsecondary level. This can mean a full-time role or working as an adjunct teaching only one or two classes, and you may be teaching undergraduates, graduate students, or community college students working towards an associate’s degree or certificate. Many business professors specialize in an area where they worked before (or during) their teaching career.
FAQs From Online DBA Students in New Jersey
Are online DBA programs more affordable than in-person programs?
Generally speaking, online DBAs will be more affordable than studying in person, if only because you are spared the expenses associated with relocating to campus. With that in mind, you should still look at the costs of various online DBA programs since tuition and fees can vary significantly from school to school.
How long is an online DBA program in New Jersey?
Online DBA programs can vary in length, with many programs, like those at Thomas Edison State and Rutgers, taking 2-3 years on average to complete. However, part-time students may take longer, while transfer students may take as little as one year to finish certain programs.
Is a dissertation required to earn my online DBA in New Jersey?
Generally speaking, a doctorate in business administration will require a dissertation. However, some schools will use a final project instead of a traditional doctoral dissertation. If you’re interested in earning a DBA but not writing a dissertation, look for schools with no-dissertation DBA options.
Valuable Resources for New Jersey DBA Students
- Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey
The Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey is a membership-based network of New Jersey businesses that holds virtual and in-person events, forums and more. - Community Foundation of New Jersey
The Community Foundation of New Jersey is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides funding and support for individuals and organizations in New Jersey, including scholarships. - Executives’ Association of New Jersey
The Executives’ Association of New Jersey is a networking organization that, for over 80 years, has held weekly meetings to collaborate between state business leaders. - Executive Women of New Jersey
Executive Women of New Jersey is an organization that, for over forty years, has sought to advance women into business leadership roles in the Garden State. - New Jersey Business and Industry Association
The New Jersey Business and Industry Association, or NJBIA, is a membership organization that provides its members with education and training resources for their businesses.