Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Degrees in Louisiana 2025

Doctoral degrees are terminal degrees, meaning they're the highest level you can obtain. There are two types. Professional doctorates are career-specific, for roles like nurse practitioners or educational administrators. Research degrees, most commonly Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, are for those who want to work in academia or research. They can be in any specialization, like healthcare, computer science, or social sciences.

As online degrees become more popular, many colleges are offering doctoral programs online. These are often more convenient than in-person programs, especially for working professionals. Just like on-campus programs, online options can be expensive. However, there are several cheap online doctoral programs. Keep reading to discover the most affordable online doctoral programs in Louisiana.

Cheapest Online PhD & Doctoral Programs in Louisiana

While there are multiple affordable online colleges in Louisiana, not all of them offer online doctorates. Below, we've highlighted Louisiana's cheapest online PhD programs and doctoral degrees.

1. Southeastern Louisiana University

Southeastern Louisiana University is a public institution in Hammond, LA. It offers an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program.

This program prepares graduates at the highest level of nursing practice and offers tracks for bachelor's degree and master's degree holders. Tuition is $286 per credit for in-state residents and $1,326 for out-of-state residents.

• Average cost per credit hour: $286
• Financial aid: Southeastern accepts aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), offers institutional aid, and accepts private aid.
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

2. Louisiana State University Shreveport

At Louisiana State University Shreveport, students can earn a Doctor of Education (EdD) in leadership studies online. This program offers concentrations in leadership studies, disaster preparedness and emergency management, and health communication and leadership.

LSUS, located in Shreveport, LA, is a public university. It charges $411 per credit hour for this program for both in-state and out-of-state students.

• Average cost per credit hour: $411
• Financial aid: LSUS offers institutional aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

3. Louisiana Tech University

Louisiana Tech University offers two online degrees for doctoral students. Louisiana Tech is a private research institution in Ruston, LA.

The first is an EdD in educational leadership, while the second is a Doctor of Engineering and Technology Management degree. Both programs cost $475 per credit hour, no matter where the student lives.

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

4. Northwestern State University

Two doctoral degrees are available online through Northwestern State University. The first is an EdD in adult learning and development, and the second is a DNP.

NSULA, located in Natchitoches, LA, is a public university. It charges all online graduate students $475 per credit hour.

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

5. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a public research institution in Lafayette, LA. It offers an online Doctor of Nursing Practice.

This program requires 39 credit hours and trains students to become healthcare leaders. Tuition is $18,720 for the entire program, which breaks down to $475 per credit.

• Average cost per credit hour: $475
• Financial aid: ULL accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

6. University of Louisiana at Monroe

Students at the University of Louisiana at Monroe will find two doctoral degrees available through online education. One is an EdD in curriculum and instruction, and the other is a PhD in marriage and family therapy.

This public university is located in Monroe, LA. It charges $500 per credit hour for both online doctorate degree programs.

• Average cost per credit hour: $500
• Financial aid: ULM offers institutional aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

7. Grambling State University

Grambling State University offers an online EdD program in developmental education. GSU is a public historically Black university (HBCU) in Grambling, LA.

This distance education program prepares students for research and leadership roles within education. Tuition is $582.67 per credit for in-state students and $693.59 for out-of-state students.

• Average cost per credit hour: $582.67
• Financial aid: GSU offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private financial aid.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

8. University of Holy Cross

Two doctoral degrees are available through online and distance learning at the University of Holy Cross. Students can earn an EdD in executive leadership or a PhD in counselor education and supervision.

UHC, located in New Orleans, is a private Catholic liberal arts institution. It charges $685 per credit for the executive leadership degree and $735 per credit for the PhD.

• Average cost per credit hour: $710
• Financial aid: UHC accepts aid through FAFSA and private programs.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

Other Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Programs

Louisiana has a handful of affordable online programs at the doctoral level of education, but students can also find programs at many other schools in the U.S.

University of Alabama in Huntsville

The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a public research institution in Huntsville, AL. It offers an online Doctor of Nursing Practice as well as online PhDs in fields like engineering management, industrial engineering, systems engineering, and civil engineering.

Tuition at UAH varies by program. The DNP is $445 per credit, while the PhDs in engineering cost $655 per credit.

• Average cost per credit hour: $550
• Financial aid: UAH accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

Kansas State University

Through Kansas State University, doctoral and PhD students can find several online degrees. These include:

• EdD in educational leadership
• PhD in counselor education and supervision
• PhD in security studies
• PhD in student affairs in higher education

This public research university is located in Manhattan, KS. The tuition cost varies from $551 per credit to $574.50 per credit, depending on the program.

• Average cost per credit hour: $562.75
• Financial aid: K-State offers institutional aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

How We Rank Schools

To choose the online learning programs listed above, our methodology focused on:

• Accreditation: All schools hold accreditation through regional accrediting agencies.
• Affordability: Once we determined which accredited institutions in Louisiana offer online doctorate and PhD degrees, we looked at which are the most affordable.
• Program reputation: We selected only public or private nonprofit schools to ensure high-quality advanced degree programs.
• Online student resources: These schools offer resources to online students, such as academic advising and mentoring from faculty members.

How Much Does an Online Doctoral Degree Cost in Louisiana?

The cost of an online doctoral degree in Louisiana depends primarily on two factors: the school you choose and the program you choose. All the schools above offer programs for less than $700 per credit, but there are other schools in the state that charge more than $850 per credit.

As you may have noticed above, some schools charge different tuition rates for different doctoral degrees. For example, DNPs, some of the highest-paying doctoral degrees, are often among the most expensive.

Financial Aid for Online Doctoral Programs in Louisiana

Your financial aid will also affect how much you pay for your degree. All students should fill out the FAFSA, as this determines the federal and state aid you qualify for. There are many cheap online colleges that accept FAFSA.

Often, schools provide financial aid to students to help them cover the costs of their coursework. These may include grants, scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships. Additionally, some graduate programs are fully funded, meaning they pay student tuition to allow graduate students to pursue original research. This is most common in PhD programs.

Discover Online Doctoral Degrees

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