6 Most Affordable Online PhDs in Project Management 2025

Several schools offer online and hybrid doctoral programs in project management, which enable students to develop deeper skills and knowledge for project management roles. Doctoral programs include Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs, as well as other types of doctoral degrees.

A PhD in project management online program can be completed in a few years, depending on a student's academic background. Continue reading to explore the cheapest online PhD in project management programs.

What Is a PhD in Project Management?

A PhD in project management is a doctoral, or terminal degree, meaning it is one of the highest academic degrees in the field of project management. PhDs are more academia-focused than other types of doctoral degrees, which are usually more practice-oriented.

A project management doctoral degree typically prepares students for leadership roles in project management across different industries. Students learn about decision-making, leadership, budgets, time constraints, quality management, and related concepts.

Graduate programs in project management have broader application across different industries � but some programs enable students to focus on one industry or field. Doctoral programs in related fields, such as engineering or construction management, encompass project management concepts that are specific to that field or industry.

Can I Earn a Project Management PhD Online?

While some schools offer online project management doctoral programs, only a few of them have PhD programs that are fully online. Most PhD programs in project management are in-person programs that require regular campus attendance. Online project management students can find other programs more easily, such as a business or education program that focuses on project management concepts.

How Much Do Online PhD Programs in Project Management Cost?

Project management PhD and doctoral program costs are comprised of tuition and fees. Fees typically vary but can add up to several thousand dollars. Students can ask for estimates from their candidate school's financial office.

Tuition also varies by school, but can cost between $250 and $2,000 per credit hour. A 60-credit program, using this tuition range, could cost between $15,000 and $200,000 in total tuition.

Cheapest Online PhD in Project Management Programs

Although online project management programs are not as common as on-campus options, some schools offer flexible options for online learners. Below, we discuss six of the most affordable online doctoral programs in project management.

1. Liberty University

Liberty University offers an online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with a concentration in project management. Students learn to strategically evaluate and implement projects while considering factors like client restraints and quality.

The 60-credit program can be completed in three years (nine semesters) and includes courses in supply chain management and organizational design.

• Estimated tuition cost: $610 per credit; $375 per credit (military)
• Financial aid: Students may qualify for one of Liberty University's in-house scholarship awards.
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

2. National University

National University has an online PhD in Business Administration (PhD-BA) that offers a project management concentration. The 20-course program offers weekly start dates and explores resource optimization, customer satisfaction, and cost reduction across managed projects. Students take courses in project control, project procurement, and budgets in project management.

• Estimated tuition cost: $705 per credit
• Financial aid: National University offers multiple in-house and donor-funded scholarship opportunities.
• Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

3. Capitol Technology University

Capitol Technology University offers an online PhD in project management that consists of 60 credits and is delivered by experienced faculty. Students improve skills such as time and resource management, leadership, and technology utilization.

Students take coursework in managerial strategies and research methods, as well as strengthen their own skills through doctoral research.

• Estimated tuition cost: $975 per credit
• Financial aid: Students can apply for in-house tuition discounts and use external scholarships and other aid.
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

4. Atlantic International University

Atlantic International University (AIU) offers a PhD in project management, open to students with relevant work experience and a master's degree. The project management degree emphasizes ethics and management through a program that is customized to fit each student's interests and professional goals.

Students may take coursework in risk management, project law, statistical analysis, and information technology management.

• Estimated tuition cost: $250 per credit
• Financial aid: AIU has various institutional scholarship awards, including options based on merit and financial need.
• Accreditation: Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ASIC)

5. University of West Georgia

The University of West Georgia (UWG) offers an online Doctor of Education (EdD) in school improvement, which includes project management concepts within the education industry. Doctoral students can further focus their program by choosing an area of specialization, such as instructional technology or early childhood education.

Classes include policy analysis, school finance, organizational change, and ethical leadership.

• Estimated tuition cost: $247 per credit
• Financial aid: Students can browse and apply for various institutional scholarships through the UWG scholarship portal.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

6. Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University has an online PhD in engineering management and systems engineering that focuses on project management within an engineering context. The 48-credit program matches students with an advisor, based on the student's desired area of research. The online degree coursework includes topics in risk analysis, fundamentals of big data, and multivariate statistics for engineering.

• Estimated tuition cost: $486 per credit (in-state); $649 per credit (out-of-state)
• Financial aid: Students can apply for different types of in-house aid, including grants, scholarships, and assistantships.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

How We Rank Schools

Our team searches through dozens of schools and reviews specific criteria to find the best programs to feature in our rankings. The schools featured are affordable, flexible, and can be completed through fully online coursework.

• Accreditation: All of the programs are offered by accredited institutions, which means that the schools meet or exceed various standards of academic quality and outcomes.
• Affordability: While doctoral programs can cost as much as $2,000 per credit, our featured schools offer more affordable tuition rates.
• Program reputation: The programs listed integrate flexibility with quality, utilizing experienced faculty as well as up-to-date theories and practices in project management.

What To Expect From an Online PhD in Project Management

Online project management PhD programs usually take three to five years to complete, although program time is impacted by each student's prior coursework. Within project management PhD programs, students dive into topics like personnel management, strategic thinking, budgeting, and quality control.

PhD programs are designed to prepare students for roles such as college instructors or researchers, while other doctoral programs are more for those who plan to work within a field and apply the skills in practice. Students of PhD programs spend a lot of their program exploring and conducting research, while students of practice-oriented programs take more didactic coursework and explore a broader range of relevant concepts.

FAQs About the Cheapest Online PhDs in Project Management

If you are considering an online project management doctoral program, ask yourself some questions and determine what features are the most important. Whether you are looking for a fully funded PhD in project management, or the quickest doctoral option in general, the FAQs answered below may shed some light on the criteria that meet your needs.

Is an Online PhD in Project Management Worth It?

The short answer is yes, a project management doctoral degree can be worth it. If you plan to teach at the college level or pursue something related to research, a PhD can be essential. Other project management doctoral degrees can give you invaluable insight and skills for project management roles across industries.

Are Online Project Management PhDs Respected?

Yes, an online PhD in project management is respected. Doctoral degrees are the highest level that you can obtain, and they are respected across academic and professional communities. Earning your degree online is no different than completing one on campus, other than how you attend class. They are respected equally.

How Long Does It Take to Get a PhD in Project Management?

The time that it takes you to complete your degree depends on your academic and professional background. Most programs take three to five years of full-time enrollment to complete, but you can reduce the length of your program by transferring in qualifying coursework and work experience. Ask your candidate school about their policy on transfer credits.

Is There a Fully Funded PhD in Project Management?

While there is no project management PhD program that is entirely free by default, you could earn your degree at no cost or at a reduced cost. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and search through reputable scholarship sites to find awards to apply for. You may be able to have part or all of your costs covered through financial aid.

Discover Online Doctoral Programs

Explore more project management and related degree programs on Learn.org. Contact the schools that you like to find out more.