Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Degrees in Alaska 2025

Many students across the U.S. choose to go beyond their bachelor's degree and earn a master's or even a doctorate degree. Doctorates are terminal degrees, meaning they're the highest level degree you can earn.

Doctorates can be divided into two categories. The first is professional doctorates, meant to lead to licensure or leadership roles in a specific career path. The second is research doctorates, the most common of which are Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. These are for those wanting roles in academia or research and can be focused on various specializations, from engineering and information technology to humanities and social sciences.

Many working professionals earn their degrees online rather than in person, as this option provides more flexibility. To help lower costs, students often look for cheap online doctoral programs. Keep reading to discover affordable online doctoral programs in Alaska.

Cheapest Online PhD & Doctoral Programs in Alaska

Alaska is a big state with a small population, so while it has a few affordable online colleges, only two offer doctoral degrees. We've highlighted the cheapest online PhD programs and professional doctorates below.

1. University of Alaska Anchorage

The University of Alaska Anchorage is a public institution in Anchorage, AK. It offers an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) for nurse practitioners who want to further their education or pursue leadership roles.

The DNP is for students who already have their master's degree in nursing and requires the completion of a capstone project. The tuition rate is $528 per credit for in-state residents and $1,128 for out-of-state residents.

• Average cost per credit hour: $528
• Financial aid: UAA accepts aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), offers institutional aid, and accepts private aid.
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

2. Alaska Pacific University

At Alaska Pacific University, students can earn a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in counseling psychology online. Courses are primarily synchronous, and students will need to periodically attend intensive learning experiences on campus.

This private Christian school is located in Anchorage, AK. It charges a tuition rate of $848 per credit for this distance learning program.

• Average cost per credit hour: $848
• Financial aid: APU offers institutional aid, like scholarships. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: NWCCU

Cheapest Online PhD & Doctoral Programs in Alaska

Doctoral students in Alaska can find a greater variety of program options through schools across the U.S. Below, we've featured a few more affordable online doctoral degree programs from schools in other states.

University of Alabama in Huntsville

The University of Alabama in Huntsville offers multiple doctoral-level programs online. UAH is a public research university in Huntsville, AL.

Online doctoral degrees include a DNP, which is $445 per credit hour. Graduate students can also earn PhDs in engineering management, industrial engineering, systems engineering, and civil engineering online for $655 per credit.

• Average cost per credit hour: $550
• Financial aid: UAH offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private financial aid.
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Southern Illinois University

Two online doctoral degrees are available at Southern Illinois University. The first is a Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) for physician assistants, and the other is a Doctor of Education (EdD) in educational administration.

SIU, located in Carbondale, IL, is a public research institution. It charges $469.50 per credit for the EdD and $631 for the DMSc.

• Average cost per credit hour: $550.25
• Financial aid: SIU accepts aid through FAFSA and private programs. It also offers institutional aid.
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

University of South Dakota

The University of South Dakota is a public research institution in Vermillion, SD. It offers four doctorate degrees through online learning:

• Doctor of Education (EdD) in educational administration
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in organizational and system leadership
• PhD in health sciences
• PhD in human development and educational psychology

Tuition for online graduate degrees at USD is $470.45 per credit. This rate is the same for all four doctoral programs.

• Average cost per credit hour: $470.45
• Financial aid: USD accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

Louisiana Tech University

Students at Louisiana Tech University can earn two doctoral degrees through distance education. One is an EdD in educational leadership, and the other is a Doctor of Engineering and Technology Management (DETM).

This public research university is located in Ruston, LA. The tuition cost here is $475 for both online doctoral degree programs.

• Average cost per credit hour: $475
• Financial aid: Louisiana Tech offers institutional aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

Boise State University

Boise State University offers two online doctoral degrees: a Doctor of Education (EdD) in educational technology and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in leadership. BSU is a public research university in Boise, ID.

Tuition varies by program and course level. The EdD is $478 per credit for the 500-level courses and $599 per credit for the 600-level courses, and the DNP ranges from $820 to $895 per credit.

• Average cost per credit hour: $698
• Financial aid: BSU offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private financial aid.
• Accreditation: NWCCU

University of North Dakota

Several online doctorate degrees are available at the University of North Dakota. This includes an EdD in educational leadership, a few DNPs, and multiple PhD degrees in concentrations like engineering, computer science, environmental studies, and healthcare.

UND, located in Grand Forks, ND, is a public research university. Tuition rates here vary by program, ranging from $528.36 per credit for the PhD in Indigenous health to $826.39 for the DNP programs.

• Average cost per credit hour: $677.37
• Financial aid: UND accepts aid through FAFSA and private programs. It also offers institutional aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

Kansas State University

Kansas State University is a public research institution in Manhattan, KS. It offers several online doctorates, including various EdDs, professional doctorates in leadership, academic advising, and personal financial planning, and PhDs in concentrations like education and security studies.

K-State charges a tuition rate of $551 per credit for most of its online doctoral degree programs. However, the PhD in security studies is $574.50 per credit, and the degree in personal financial planning is $676.14.

• Average cost per credit hour: $569.69
• Financial aid: K-State accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

National University

A number of online doctorates are available through National University. Some of the most affordable options include:

• EdD in organizational innovation: $650 per credit
• Juris Doctor (JD): $690 per credit
• DNP in executive leadership: $714 per credit
• PhD in instructional design: $887 per credit

The university also offers a Doctor of Business Administration, Doctor of Healthcare Administration, and multiple other PhDs online. National University, located in San Diego, is a private, nonprofit institution.

• Average cost per credit hour: $945
• Financial aid: National University offers institutional aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WASCUC)

How We Rank Schools

To choose the online education programs listed above, we focused on:

• Accreditation: All schools on this list hold regional accreditation.
• Program reputation: In addition to being accredited, we only chose schools that are public or private nonprofit to ensure high-quality advanced degree programs.
• Affordability: After we found which accredited, nonprofit schools in Alaska offer online doctoral degree programs, we looked at which are most affordable before expanding to other schools across the U.S.
• Online student resources: Each school offers support services for online students, including academic advisement and mentoring from faculty members.

How Much Does an Online Doctoral Degree Cost in Alaska?

The cost of an online doctoral degree depends on which school you choose. In Alaska, tuition can range from $528 to $848 for in-state students.

At some schools, the program you choose will affect your tuition as well. For example, DNPs are some of the highest-paying doctoral degrees but also tend to be some of the most expensive. Other expensive doctoral programs include Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degrees, while EdD degrees are sometimes less expensive. However, many schools, like those in Alaska, charge the same price for all programs.

The length of your program and the number of credits required can also affect your tuition costs. Professional doctorates usually require fewer credits and take three or four years to complete. Research doctorates often require completing a dissertation research project and can take six to eight years of full-time study.

Financial Aid for Online Doctoral Programs in Alaska

Your financial aid will also impact your costs. All students should fill out the FAFSA through the Department of Education every academic year. There are many cheap online colleges that accept FAFSA.

FAFSA is important because it determines your eligibility for federal and state financial aid, as well as some institutional financial aid. However, FAFSA doesn't always offer gift aid, like scholarships and grants, to graduate students.

To help cover the cost of higher education, many colleges and universities offer their own aid programs. This may include gift aid or work-study options like assistantships and fellowships. Additionally, some doctorate programs, notably PhDs, are fully funded. In this case, the school covers tuition and living expenses for PhD students so they can conduct original research for the school.

Explore Online Doctoral Degrees

Work toward reaching your career goals by exploring the online doctoral degree programs featured on Learn.org. Contact individual schools for more information on admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.