Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Degrees in Iowa 2025

For many students, including those at the doctorate level of education, earning a degree online is far more achievable than earning one in person. Online degrees usually allow students to complete their coursework on their own schedule and don't require students to commute to learn on campus.

There are two primary types of doctoral degrees. Professional doctorates are for specific career paths. Research doctorates, the most common of which are Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, are for those interested in pursuing roles in academia or research. These degrees can be in nearly any field or concentration, from science and technology to humanities and social sciences.

Doctorate degrees are terminal degrees, meaning they're the highest degree you can achieve. As a result, they can be pricey. However, there are many cheap online doctoral programs across the U.S. Keep reading to discover affordable online doctoral programs in Iowa.

Cheapest Online PhD & Doctoral Programs in Iowa

While there are quite a few affordable online colleges in Iowa, not all offer doctoral degree programs. Below, we've featured Iowa's cheapest online PhD programs and professional doctorates.

1. University of Northern Iowa

The University of Northern Iowa is a public institution in Cedar Falls, IA. It offers an online Doctor of Education (EdD) degree program with several specializations, including curriculum and instruction, principalship, and special education.

This doctoral-level program requires 48 credits and takes about three years of full-time study to complete. The tuition rate is $569 per credit hour.

• Average cost per credit hour: $569
• Financial aid: UNI accepts aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), offers institutional aid like scholarships and assistantships, and accepts private aid.
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. Briar Cliff University

At Briar Cliff University, students can earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) online. This program is for those who already have their master's degree in nursing and does not lead to licensure but rather allows students to further their careers as nurse practitioners.

This private Catholic institution is located in Sioux City, IA. It charges a tuition rate of $585 per credit for this online program.

• Average cost per credit hour: $585
• Financial aid: Briar Cliff offers institutional financial aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: HLC

3. Iowa State University

Iowa State University offers an EdD and two PhDs through online learning. Iowa State is a public research university in Ames, IA.

The EdD is in community college educational leadership and costs $639 per credit. The PhDs are available in apparel, merchandising, design, and hospitality management and cost $748 per credit hour.

• Average cost per credit hour: $693.50
• Financial aid: Iowa State offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

4. Graceland University

A Doctor of Nursing Practice is available online at Graceland University. This program is for those with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) who want to further their opportunities in clinical, administration, and educational leadership roles.

Graceland University, located in Lamoni, IA, is a private Mormon College. It charges a tuition rate of $730 per credit hour.

• Average cost per credit hour: $730
• Financial aid: Graceland University accepts aid through FAFSA and private programs.
• Accreditation: HLC

5. Morningside University

Morningside University is a private Christian school in Sioux City, IA. It offers two Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees through distance learning.

Students can major in direct care nursing practice or transformative leadership. Tuition costs $795 per credit for these programs.

• Average cost per credit hour: $795
• Financial aid: Morningside accepts FAFSA and private financial aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

6. Allen College

Allen College offers two fully online doctoral degree programs: an EdD in health professions education and a DNP for those with an MSN. It also offers a hybrid DNP for those with a bachelor's degree in nursing.

Allen College, a private health sciences institution, is located in Waterloo, IA. It charges $962 per credit, but students in these programs may be eligible for a 25% discount, which brings the rate to $721.50 per credit.

• Average cost per credit hour: $962
• Financial aid: Allen College offers institutional aid, including discounts. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: HLC

Other Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Programs

Iowa doesn't have a ton of institutions that offer online doctoral degrees at a reasonable price. However, graduate students can complete an online education through many institutions across the U.S. Below, we've highlighted a few other schools with affordable doctorate and PhD degrees.

University of Alabama in Huntsville

The University of Alabama in Huntsville offers an online DNP as well as four online PhDs. UAH is a public research institution in Huntsville, AL.

The DNP is available to both bachelor's and master's degree holders and costs $445 per credit hour. The PhD is available in engineering management, industrial engineering, systems engineering, and civil engineering, and it costs $655 per credit.

• Average cost per credit hour: $613
• Financial aid: UAH offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private financial aid.
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Louisiana Tech University

Two online doctorate degrees are available through Louisiana Tech University. The first is an EdD in educational leadership, and the second is a Doctor of Engineering and Technology Management (DETM) program.

Louisiana Tech, located in Ruston, LA, is a public research university. It charges $475 per credit for both of these advanced degrees.

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

University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota is a public research institution in Grand Forks, ND. It offers three online professional doctorates: an EdD in educational leadership and practice, a DNP with options in family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and a joint Master of Public Health (MPH)/Juris Doctorate (JD).

UND also offers multiple online PhDs in fields like computer science, engineering, and healthcare. Tuition varies by program, with PhDs starting at $533.64 per credit and the DNP going up to $862.39 per credit.

• Average cost per credit hour: $642.45
• Financial aid: UND accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

Kansas State University

Through Kansas State University, doctoral students can find EdDs in a variety of fields, as well as professional doctorates in leadership and academic advising and personal financial planning online. PhDs in fields like education and security studies are also available online.

K-State, a public research institution, is located in Manhattan, KS. Tuition varies by program, with most PhDs and education programs costing $551 per credit, the PhD in security studies costing $574.50 per credit, and the personal financial planning degree costing $676.14 per credit.

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

How We Rank Schools

To choose the affordable doctorate degrees listed above, our methodology focused on:

• Accreditation: All schools listed are accredited through regional accrediting agencies.
• Program reputation: In addition to holding accreditation, we focused on public and private nonprofit schools to ensure high-quality higher education programs.
• Affordability: Once we determined which accredited, nonprofit schools in Iowa offer online doctorate degrees, we determined which were affordable before expanding our search to schools in other states.
• Online student resources: All institutions offer support services for students, like academic advising and mentoring from faculty members.

How Much Does an Online Doctoral Degree Cost in Iowa?

Distance education doctoral degrees in Iowa can range from just under $600 per credit to over $1,000. Your tuition rate depends on several factors, such as which school you choose.

It also depends on your program. 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.

The length of your program will impact your costs as well. Professional doctorates often require fewer credits and take less time to complete. Research doctorates often require conducting a dissertation research project and can take several years.

Financial Aid for Online Doctoral Programs in Iowa

The first thing you should do when looking for financial aid is to fill out the FAFSA from the U.S. Department of Education. There are many cheap online colleges that accept FAFSA.

However, gift aid through FAFSA doesn't always cover graduate programs. In that case, there are other ways to secure financial aid.

Colleges and universities often offer institutional aid. This may include gift aid, like scholarships and grants, or work-study options like assistantships and fellowships. Additionally, some doctorate programs, especially PhDs, are fully funded, meaning the school covers your costs so you can conduct original research.

You can also pursue aid through private sources, like independent organizations. If you're a working professional, your employer may offer tuition assistance programs.

Discover Online Doctoral Degrees

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