Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Degrees in Illinois 2025

Chicago is the heart of the Midwest, and as a result, the state of Illinois is a busy place for professionals and scholars. Students who want to earn their doctoral degree in Illinois have the option to learn online instead of in person.

Doctoral degrees include professional doctorates as well as Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs. Multiple cheap online doctoral programs are available across the country, allowing students to develop their competencies without breaking the bank. Keep reading to discover affordable online doctoral programs in Illinois.

Cheapest Online PhD & Doctoral Programs in Illinois

Over a dozen Illinois colleges and universities offer doctoral programs through online learning, but some are far more affordable than others. Below, we've highlighted the cheapest online PhD programs and doctoral degrees.

1. McKendree University

McKendree University is a private Christian institution in Lebanon, IL. It offers a Doctor of Education (EdD) and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) online, which is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Both programs are 30 credits, and both cost $605 per credit for a total of $18,150. However, the DNP requires students to hold a master's degree, while the EdD requires students to first complete a 30-credit specialist in education degree.

• Average cost per credit hour: $605
• Financial aid: Financial aid through the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), institutional aid, and private financial aid
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC), CCNE

2. University of Illinois Springfield

At the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS), students can earn a Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) through distance learning. This program equips students with the advanced analytical skills and knowledge of public management and public policy necessary to thrive in leadership roles.

UIS, a public university, is located in Springfield, IL. It charges $365.75 per credit hour for this 52-credit program, for a total cost of $19,019. Most students finish within five years.

• Average cost per credit hour: $365.75
• Financial aid: FAFSA, institutional aid, and private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

3. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville offers an online DNP for students who already have their master's degree in nursing. This is a two-year, 30-credit program. Tuition for the program is $676 per credit or a total of $20,280. The university also offers an online post-graduate psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certificate, which requires 19 credits at $360.50 per credit.

• Average cost per credit hour: $676
• Financial aid: FAFSA, institutional aid, and private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC, CCNE

4. Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Two online doctoral degrees are available through Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The first is a Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) for students who want to become physician assistants, and the second is an EdD in educational administration.

SIU, located in Carbondale, IL, charges $631 for the 37-credit DMSc, totaling $23,347. The EdD requires 54 credits, but tuition is lower at $469.50 per credit for a total of $25,353.

• Average cost per credit hour: $550.25
• Financial aid: FAFSA, institutional aid, and private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

5. Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University is a public research institution in DeKalb, IL. It offers three online doctoral degree programs:

• EdD in community college leadership: 54 credits at $598.32 per credit for a total of $25,129.44
• DNP: 33 to 73 credits at $773.32 per credit for a total of at least $25,519.56
• PhD in instructional technology: 63 credits at $573.32 per credit for a total of $36,119.16

Note that the DNP offers two tracks. The master's degree to DNP program requires 33 to 51 credits and offers specializations in educational leadership and healthcare leadership. The bachelor's degree to DNP requires 64 to 73 credits and offers the same concentrations as well as a concentration in family nursing practice.

• Average cost per credit hour: $648.32
• Financial aid: FAFSA, institutional aid, and private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC, CCNE

6. North Park University

Students at North Park University can earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree online. This program is for students who already have their master's in nursing and includes courses on biostatistics, epidemiology, healthcare ethics, and a doctoral project.

This private Christian school in Chicago charges $850 for the 33-credit program, which comes out to roughly $28,050 in total.

• Average cost per credit hour: $850
• Financial aid: FAFSA, institutional aid, and private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC, CCNE

7. Governors State University

Governors State University offers an online Doctor of Education in interdisciplinary leadership that requires 60 credits. This EdD program offers three concentrations: higher education administration, superintendent, and nonprofit/social entrepreneurship leadership. Tuition is $507 per credit hour or $30,420 in total.

• Average cost per credit hour: $507
• Financial aid: FAFSA, institutional aid, and private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

8. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The online Doctor of Education program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers five concentrations. These are:

• diversity and equity in education
• global studies in education
• human resource development
• international education administration and leadership
• learning design and leadership

Each of the above 64-credit programs cost $520 per credit, for a total of $33,280 each.

• Average cost per credit hour: $520
• Financial aid: FAFSA, institutional aid, and private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

9. Dominican University

Dominican University is a private Catholic institution in River Forest, IL offering two online PhDs: one in applied social justice and one in information studies. These programs are geared toward students who want to work in research or academia.

Both programs cost $850 per credit for the online courses and $500 per credit for the dissertation credits. The PhD in information studies requires 36 credit hours of coursework and six credits of dissertation work for a total of $33,600. The degree in applied social justice requires 51 credits of coursework and six credits of dissertation work, for a total of $46,350.

• Average cost per credit hour: $850
• Financial aid: FAFSA, institutional aid, and private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

10. Concordia University Chicago

Through Concordia University Chicago, students can earn several doctoral degrees online:

• EdD in educational leadership: 61 credits at $753 per credit for a total of $45,933
• PhD in educational technology: 67 credits at $753 per credit for a total of $50,451
• PhD in special education leadership: 67 credits at $753 per credit for a total of $50,451
• PhD in exercise science: 67 credits at $775 per credit for a total of $51,925
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA): 60 credits at $963 per credit for a total of $57,780

Concordia University Chicago, a private Christian school, is located in River Forest, IL. It allows learners in the DBA program to choose from two concentrations: innovation in healthcare management and strategic innovation and leadership.

• Average cost per credit hour: $799.40
• Financial aid: Accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

How We Rank Schools

Our team considered several important criteria when selecting the most affordable online doctoral programs in Illinois. The above were selected based on the following:

• Location: We focused on finding schools in Illinois with distance education doctoral degrees.
• Accreditation: All schools listed are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and many, like the nursing programs, hold programmatic accreditation as well.
• Affordability: Once we narrowed down the accredited online doctoral degrees in Illinois, we looked at which had the most affordable tuition costs.
• Program reputation: All programs listed above are accredited, nonprofit, and offer high-quality online education programs to graduate students.

How Much Does an Online Doctoral Degree Cost in Illinois?

Most of the online doctoral degrees we listed above are less than $50,000 in total, with many being less than $25,000. However, there are other schools in the state with higher tuition rates.

For example, the doctorate degrees at Loyola University Chicago are between $70,000 and $80,000 in total. At Adler University, three PhDs are available online, all priced over $100,000 before aid or funding.

Financial Aid for Online Doctoral Programs in Illinois

Although there are many high-paying doctoral degrees on this list, such as the DNP options, many students still have a hard time paying for their degrees before they've established a career. Luckily, there are financial aid options available to help online students cover the cost of their graduate programs.

All students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine the federal and state aid for which they qualify. In addition to government aid, many schools offer scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships to help doctoral students fund their programs. Private financial aid options are also available.

Discover Online Doctoral Degrees

Start your path toward reaching your career goals by exploring the online grad programs featured on Learn.org. Contact individual schools to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid, and start earning your degree online today.