10 Most Affordable Online DBA Programs in 2025

Business professionals wanting to further their career path may want to consider a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree online. These degrees offer an advanced education in business while also providing students with key research skills, and an online program allows you to continue working while earning your degree.

While doctoral degrees can be expensive, many schools offer affordable options to students. Keep reading to discover the cheapest DBA programs available online.

What Is an Online Doctor of Business Administration?

A Doctor of Business Administration is a terminal degree focused on business. This means that it's the highest-level business degree you can earn. These programs help students hone their business and research skills. Many offer areas of concentration so students can tailor their program to their career goals.

Online programs offer classes virtually. Some programs may require students to meet over video at a specific time, on-campus immersions, or internships.

How Much Does an Online DBA Program Cost?

Doctoral programs are notoriously expensive, with many costing over $1,000 per credit. However, there are several schools in the U.S. that offer DBAs online for less than $700 per credit.

The price you pay will depend on factors like what school you choose, how many credits you need, and what financial aid (grants, scholarships, work study programs, etc.) you qualify for. Some schools offer funding options like assistantships to doctoral students.

Cheapest DBA Programs Online

You don't have to go into debt to earn a doctorate. Below, we've featured some of the cheapest Doctor of Business Administration online programs in the U.S.

1. University of the Cumberlands

University of the Cumberlands is a private Christian school in Williamsburg, KY. It offers a 66-credit Doctor of Business Administration online.

In addition to core business courses, students spend 24 credit hours focused on research. Another 24 is spent in the student's chosen area of specialization, with options like blockchain, healthcare administration, and strategic management.

• Estimated tuition cost: $549 per credit
• Financial aid: U Cumberlands accepts aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)

2. Bryan College

At Bryan College, students can earn an online DBA with a Christian worldview. The program includes courses on business history and contemporary business topics as well as research methods.

Bryan College, a Christian school, is located in Dayton, TN. The online DBA here is 60 credits and requires a practicum and dissertation.

• Estimated tuition cost: $600 per credit
• Financial aid: Bryan College accepts FAFSA and private aid. It also offers institutional financial aid.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

3. Liberty University

The DBA at Liberty University is available online through the School of Business. Liberty is a private evangelical university in Lynchburg, VA.

The doctoral degree offers a variety of concentrations, including information systems, nonprofit leadership, healthcare management, and project management. All concentrations take core courses in areas like business management and applied research.

• Estimated tuition cost: $610 per credit
• Financial aid: Liberty offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private student aid.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

4. Ana G. Mendez University

The online DBA at Ana G. Mendez University (AGMU) offers a concentration in management. It covers topics like entrepreneurship management, international business, organizational leadership, and risk management.

AGMU, located in Carolina, PR, with additional campuses in Florida, is a private, nonprofit institution. The doctorate in business administration here requires 60 credit hours and a dissertation.

• Estimated tuition cost: $375 per credit (PR residents); $625 per credit (U.S. residents)
• Financial aid: AGMU offers institutional aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private programs.
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

5. University of West Alabama

The University of West Alabama (UWA) is a public institution in Livingston, AL. It offers a doctoral business administration degree online with a concentration in rural business.

Two tracks are available for this 60-credit program: rural entrepreneurship and innovation and rural and transformational leadership. Both tracks focus on rural business practices and research methods.

• Estimated tuition cost: $630 per credit
• Financial aid: UWA accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private student aid.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

6. Belhaven University

Students at Belhaven University can earn a DBA through distance learning. The program offers five concentrations, including business intelligence, human resource management, project management, and strategic management.

Belhaven, a private Christian school, is located in Jackson, MS. This online degree is 60 credit hours and requires a dissertation research project.

• Estimated tuition cost: $635 per credit
• Financial aid: Belhaven accepts aid through FAFSA and private organizations. It also offers institutional financial aid.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

7. Indiana Wesleyan University

Indiana Wesleyan University offers an online DBA taught with religious principles. IWU is a private Christian school in Marion, IN.

The program offers concentrations in data analytics, healthcare administration, information systems, and management. It requires a total of 60 credit hours.

• Estimated tuition cost: $665 per credit
• Financial aid: IWU offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private financial aid.
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and ACBSP

8. Southern Wesleyan University

The online Doctor of Business Administration at Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) is a great option for working professionals, with seven weeks per course and an average program length of three years.

SWU, located in Central, SC, is a private Christian school. The DBA here requires 54 credit hours and emphasizes applied research and real-world business problems.

• Estimated tuition cost: $665 per credit
• Financial aid: SWU offers institutional aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

9. Trevecca Nazarene University

Trevecca Nazarene University is a private Christian school in Nashville, TN. It offers a DBA through online, distance education.

This degree offers several concentrations, including artificial intelligence leadership, healthcare administration, and organizational intelligence. Students can choose to complete their program with either a traditional dissertation or an applied doctoral project.

• Estimated tuition cost: $699 per credit
• Financial aid: TNU accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private student aid.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

10. Touro University Worldwide

Through Touro University Worldwide (TUW), business students can earn a DBA online. This 48-credit program requires students to complete a research-based doctoral project in a business field, such as finance, global business, or supply chain management.

TUW, the online campus of the private Jewish Touro University, is based in Los Alamitos, CA. Its DBA is specifically designed to be flexible for working business professionals.

• Estimated tuition cost: $700 per credit
• Financial aid: TUW accepts aid through FAFSA and private programs. It also offers institutional aid.
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WASCUC)

How We Rank Schools

To choose the cheapest online Doctor of Business Administration programs, we focused on:

• Accreditation: All schools on this list are regionally accredited, and some business programs are accredited by agencies like the AACSB.
• Affordability: We looked for the cheapest DBA programs; all charge $700 or less per credit hour.
• Program reputation: All schools are nonprofit and offer high-quality degree programs.

What To Expect From an Online DBA Program

Online DBA programs usually have specific admissions requirements. These typically include a master's degree, and some schools may require you to have completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA program. You may also need:

• a minimum GPA
• to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Records Examinations (GRE)
• business work experience
• letters of recommendation

Most online DBA programs require around 60 credit hours. Full-time students can often finish within three to four years, but many programs allow students to study part-time as well.

Your coursework will cover advanced business concepts as well as evidence-based research methods. You may be able to choose electives or concentrations like:

• business management
• data analytics
• entrepreneurship
• healthcare management
• human resource management
• information systems
• international business
• organizational leadership
• project management
• strategic management
• supply chain management

Your program will also likely require either a thesis or dissertation or some other type of final project.

FAQs About the Cheapest Online DBA Programs

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about the cheapest DBA online programs.

Is Doing an Online DBA Program Worth It?

Many DBA graduates find that an online DBA is worth it, as it helps them reach their career goals. It also helps students develop business competencies and skills like decision-making and critical thinking.

What Courses Are Typically in an Online DBA Program?

Every school has its own curriculum for its online DBA. Typically, these programs cover advanced business topics and research methods. Most schools allow students to choose a concentration or electives to focus their studies.

Where Can I Work With an Online DBA Degree?

An online DBA will prepare you for roles in business within fields like retail, technology, and healthcare. Some job titles may include:

• Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• healthcare executive
• human resources manager
• operations manager
• project manager
• supply chain manager

Why Is AACSB Accreditation Important?

When a program is accredited by the AACSB, it means that the program has met rigorous educational standards. However, the AACSB only accredits a small number of institutions in the U.S., and there are other business accreditation agencies as well.

Discover Online Doctoral Programs

Find the perfect online DBA by exploring the programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.