15 Best Online Ph.D. Programs in Business in 2024

Ranked highly for being one of the most affordable accredited programs in the nation, the online graduate Business Administration program at Oklahoma State University allows students to learn at their own pace. The entire program is taught by faculty members at the Spears School of Business who also teach the on-campus version of this degree to ensure students receive the same education, whether they prefer in-person learning or online. It is a 33-credit hour, part-time program that will allow students to further their education while working.

Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, Johnson University is a private, Christian institution with small class sizes and more than 70 degree programs to choose from. The School of Business and Public Leadership offers an online Ph.D. program in Leadership with concentrations in educational leadership, organizational leadership, philosophy and theology of leadership, and missional leadership. This is a 60-credit hour program that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

To become a Doctor of Business Administration at the private, Christian institution of Gardner-Webb University, students are expected to complete 60-credit hours in 9 consecutive semesters. They will be able to choose from five concentrations, including Marketing, Accounting, Finance, International Business, and Management. This program is designed to help students reach their career goals in government, education, or business positions.

The Doctorate in Business Administration program at Creighton University is not an entirely online program but does combine both online and on-campus learning by using a hybrid model. This accredited program will educate students on the four synergistic business disciplines, allows students to continue working while learning, and includes mentorship from the experienced faculty on campus. The program will take approximately three years to complete at a part-time level.

George Fox University has been nationally recognized for being among the top 10 “Best Religiously Affiliated Colleges” by Forbes, a “Best National University” by U.S. News & World Report, and one of the “Best Colleges for Your Money” by Money magazine. The online Doctor of Business Administration can be completed online with two in-person sessions in Newberg, Oregon each year. The program is accredited by the Council for Business Schools & Programs.

The School of Business, Graduate College, and the Hampton University Online Program collaborate to offer a hybrid online doctoral program in business which includes two mandatory summer residencies of four weeks each. The Business Administration track includes courses in accounting/ finance or marketing/ management. The Hampton University doctoral program in business includes 60 credit hours with a concentration in Business Administration. The program culminates with a published article and a dissertation with a final dissertation defense held on campus.

The University of Missouri in St. Louis has been nationally recognized as having the Best Online Programs in Missouri and being included in the top 15% in the United States. This institution has two doctorate-level programs to choose from: Doctor of Business Administration and Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration. Students will learn how to use applied research by enhancing their current methodological and analytical skills.

Another private, Christian university to make our list is the Riverside, California-based institution of California Baptist University. One of the online doctorate programs offered is one in Business Administration that takes approximately three years to complete and requires the completion of 56 credit hours and a dissertation. Students will also learn how to synthesize their theoretical foundation, conduct relevant applied research, and create actionable plans to meet business goals.

Located in the vacation destination of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University has been ranked as the 9th Best Online Colleges out of 308 institutions. The Ph.D. program in Business Administration will give students the leadership, organizational, analytical, and communication skills needed to be successful in businesses in every industry. One of three specializations are available to choose from and requires 60 credits to be completed. Each course lasts eight weeks and students will only be given one or two courses at a time.

The Business Administration program at Indiana Wesleyan University has four specialized areas: Accounting, Healthcare Administration, Information Systems, and Management. This three-year program provides several networking opportunities with peers and mentors and will assign a mentor to each student that will stay with them from the beginning of the program to the end. This program will prepare students for careers as consultants, professors, business leaders, and non-profit leaders.

Bellevue University offers a 100% online Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) that can be completed in only three years^* when you transfer in your MBA or equivalent master’s-level credits and finish each course with satisfactory grades. The Bellevue University DBA degree does not require you to write a dissertation at the end of the program. Instead, you will complete a research-based doctoral project that prepares you to be an expert and a thought leader on a topic. The Bellevue University applied Doctor of Business Administration degree will prepare you to solve current problems in your industry, lead in top executive positions, and address the complexities of today’s business landscape with vision, knowledge, and clarity. Each course is 10 weeks and students are given a two-week break in between classes to recharge and focus on other responsibilities. (*Students must receive satisfactory grades and complete all terms sequentially to complete the program in as few as three years.)

Sprawling across 1,000 acres, the University of Dallas has been providing continued education to undergraduates and graduates since 1956. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, this Christian university has graduate students from more than 40 states and 24 countries. The research-based Doctor of Business Administration program has been ranked as one of the Top 50 Business Management Doctorate Programs.

Pace University is a private institution that educates almost 8,000 undergraduates. Not only does this New York City campus offer a wide range of on-campus degrees, but plenty of online degree programs are also available, including a Doctor of Professional Studies in Business. This program was designed for business professionals who want to grow their understanding of theory and research while continuing to work. This program was ranked as the 6th overall in the world and 1st overall in the entire United States.

The online Business Administration Ph.D. program at Baker College combines residencies, seminars, classes, research papers, and a final dissertation to achieve a well-rounded education in the field of business. This 3 and a half year, 60-credit degree will give students the freedom to choose one of the six specialized areas or design one that fits their own interests and career goals. This institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Founded in 1895, Our Lady of the Lake University is a private, Catholic college that has several campuses available throughout Texas, including San Antonio, Houston, and Rio Grande Valley. The School of Business and Leadership at this institution offers a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies, which is ideal for those who dream of achieving a leadership position in their current or future company. This program is a cohort program, meaning 15 to 25 participants will take the courses together as a way to collaborate and learn from one another, as well as the instructors.