Mikeie Reiland is a writer who has written features for Oxford American, Bitter Southerner, Gravy, and SB Nation, among other publications. He received a James Beard nomination for a feature he wrote in 2023.
Mikeie Reiland, MFA
Mikeie Reiland is a writer who has written features for Oxford American, Bitter Southerner, Gravy, and SB Nation, among other publications. He received a James Beard nomination for a feature he wrote in 2023.
Brenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accolades in California and North Carolina. Since 2018, she has worked in the higher-education web content space, where she aims to help current and prospective students of all backgrounds find effective, accessible pathways to rewarding careers.
Reviewed
Brenna Swanston
Brenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accolades in California and North Carolina. Since 2018, she has worked in the higher-education web content space, where she aims to help current and prospective students of all backgrounds find effective, accessible pathways to rewarding careers.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
If you want to create and advance cutting-edge theories in the business world, a Ph.D. in business administration might be the right fit for you. And for maximum flexibility and minimal interruption to your life, you can earn your Ph.D. in business administration online.
This terminal doctoral degree typically requires between three and five years to complete and provides expert-level knowledge in both business and research. Graduates often go on to work as business researchers and academics.
We’ve researched the best online colleges in the U.S. and found four schools that meet our ranking criteria and deliver online Ph.D.s in business administration. Read on to learn more about each program and about how to finance your education.
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Show Summary
- Best Online Ph.D. in Business Administration Options
- Should You Enroll in a Ph.D. in Business Administration Online?
- Accreditation for Online Ph.D.s in Business Administration
- How To Find the Right Online Ph.D. in Business Administration for You
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Online Ph.D. in Business Administration Programs
Best Online Ph.D. in Business Administration Options
Should You Enroll in a Ph.D. in Business Administration Online?
An online Ph.D. in business administration is the right fit for a specific type of learner. To determine whether you should pursue a doctoral degree in business administration, ask yourself a few key questions:
- What’s your budget? Distance learners generally save on expenses related to on-campus housing and transportation. Moreover, some public universities allow out-of-state students who exclusively enroll in online programs to pay in-state or otherwise discounted tuition rates. If you’re looking to save money, online learning could help.
- How much flexibility do you need? Flexibility is among the best features of distance learning. If you’re a parent or plan to work full time, you might seek an asynchronous online program, which won’t include scheduled class times.
- How do you best learn? Online learning requires a great deal of organization, discipline and time management skills. If you crave more structure or prefer closer interaction with peers and faculty, on-campus or hybrid learning might offer a better fit.
Accreditation for Online Ph.D.s in Business Administration
There are two key types of college accreditation: institutional and programmatic.
Institutional accreditation is the more essential of the two. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education oversee the agencies that handle institutional accreditation, which involves vetting the quality of each school’s faculty, student services and finances.
You should enroll only at institutionally accredited schools. Otherwise, you will be ineligible for federal student aid, and employers may not recognize your degree.
Programmatic accreditation provides quality assurance for specific degree programs and departments. For an online business administration degree, you should keep an eye out for programmatic accreditation from one of three organizations:
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
- The International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
How To Find the Right Online Ph.D. in Business Administration for You
Once you’re sure about pursuing an online Ph.D. in business administration, here’s what to do next.
Consider Your Future Goals
A Ph.D. in business administration suits students who want to eventually become professors or pursue other academic or research-related roles in business. A Ph.D. in business is more theory-focused than a Doctor of Business Administration, which is comparatively practice-focused and includes an applied research component.
Most academic jobs in business do not require licensure or certification. However, you may need a demonstrated history of academic writing and publishing. A Ph.D. program with a dissertation can help you satisfy those criteria.
Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options
Per-credit tuition rates for the four programs in our guide range from $442 to $695. Over the course of a typical 60-credit Ph.D. program, this translates to approximately $26,000 to $42,00 in total tuition.
Make sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to see if you qualify for any federal grant, loan or scholarship opportunities. You can also pursue aid through third parties such as nonprofit organizations or your prospective university.
Doctoral programs often offer graduate assistantships to help offset the cost of tuition. Some Ph.D. programs even provide students with stipends or housing allowances in exchange for them teaching undergraduate courses or assisting professors with research. However, these opportunities are often reserved for on-campus students.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Online Ph.D. in Business Administration Programs
What is a Ph.D. in business administration?
A Ph.D. in business administration is a terminal academic degree for students who want to become business professors or work in other academic or research-focused roles in the field.
How many years is a Ph.D. in business administration?
The best online Ph.D. programs in business administration require between three and a half and five years to complete.
Is a doctorate in business administration worth it?
It depends on your goals. If you want to advance academic scholarship and research in business or work as a professor, a doctoral business administration degree can help you reach your goals.
Which is better, a Ph.D. or a D.B.A.?
It depends on your goals. A D.B.A. focuses more on applied research, while a Ph.D. advances theory in the field.
