Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Degrees in Maryland 2025

An online doctoral degree is a top choice for busy students who don't have time to attend traditional in-person classes. Learners can advance their careers while still meeting professional and personal obligations.

Are you looking for affordable online doctoral programs? You can find several budget-friendly degrees in Maryland. Read on to discover cheap online doctoral programs with low tuition, assistantships, fellowships, financial aid, and more.

Cheapest Online PhD & Doctoral Programs in Maryland

Online education is a flexible alternative to on-campus learning for students eager to enhance their careers. Review the schools below to discover some of Maryland's cheapest online PhD programs and other affordable online doctoral degrees.

1. Bowie State University

The Doctor of Education (EdD) in educational leadership at Bowie State University is a 60-credit program with on-campus, online, and hybrid learning options. Coursework taught by faculty members with K-12 expertise explores how to direct organizational change and develop a global perspective of school operations.

Admission requirements for this program include a master's degree and at least three years of administrative experience in a pre-collegiate school setting. Learners should also have a satisfactory score on their GRE or MAT.

• Average cost per credit hour: $457 (in-state)
• Financial aid: Learners are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for financial aid at Bowie State.
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

2. Morgan State University

At Morgan State University in Baltimore, students can choose from online doctoral degree programs in education, public health, and social work. The EdD in community college leadership is a 54-credit program preparing students for senior-level leadership roles in community colleges.

The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) generalist specialization boosts students' policymaking, program planning, and cultural knowledge as they prepare to develop and implement health promotion and disease prevention programs. Learners pursuing the Doctor of Social Work (DSW) learn skills needed for advanced social work roles.

• Average cost per credit hour: $485 (in-state)
• Financial aid: Graduate assistantships (teaching and research assistantships), university and external graduate fellowships, and FAFSA funds are available to help students save.
• Accreditation: MSCHE

3. Salisbury University

Students attending Salisbury University can pursue an online EdD in literary studies designed to advance the field of literacy and promote effective practices for all learners. Graduates can find careers in and out of academia (pre-K-12, higher education, and the community).

Salisbury also offers an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Programs include a post-bachelor's degree to DNP and a post-master's to DNP options with family nurse practitioner and leadership tracks or concentrations.

• Average cost per credit hour: Starting at $583 (in-state)
• Financial aid: The literacy studies program offers two graduate assistant positions and three scholarships. Other assistantships and scholarships are available for all graduate learners.
• Accreditation: MSCHE

4. Notre Dame of Maryland University

Notre Dame of Maryland University offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in higher education leadership for changing populations with and without an occupational therapy track. Students enjoy 100% online coursework and no residency requirements (though students must visit the campus for one weekend to take comprehensive exams).

Rolling admissions and multiple start dates offer flexibility for professionals with busy schedules. These high-paying PhD programs could lead students to top roles as university administrators, deans, and nonprofit directors.

• Average cost per credit hour: $635
• Financial aid: Submitting the FAFSA gives graduate students access to financial aid that can be used to lower tuition and fees.
• Accreditation: MSCHE

5. Frostburg State University

Frostburg State University's EdD in educational leadership is a fully online doctoral program designed for individuals seeking roles as administrators, supervisors, and policy specialists. Coursework, which can be completed in as little as three years, explores case studies and problem-based learning activities and includes a dissertation.

Learners can choose from specializations in adult and professional learning facilitation, pre-K-12 leadership, higher education leadership, and leadership in health professions education. Admission to this program requires a master's degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

• Average cost per credit hour: $684 (in-state)
• Financial aid: Learners in graduate programs at Frostburg have access to scholarships, assistantships, military aid, and more.
• Accreditation: MSCHE

6. Towson University

Learners interested in terminal graduate degrees at Towson University can choose from three online doctoral programs. The occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) is designed for licensed occupational therapists who want to pursue leadership roles.

Students enrolled in the PhD in instructional technology program can advance their learning design and performance improvement skills. The PhD in occupational science teaches the complexity of humans as they participate in their daily lives.

• Average cost per credit hour: $739 to $762 (in-state)
• Financial aid: Graduate students can reduce costs with FAFSA financial aid, foundation and department scholarships, assistantships, grants, fellowships, and more.
• Accreditation: MSCHE

7. University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County offers an affordable PhD in public policy with a specialization in emergency and disaster health systems (EDHS) that is partially completed in person and partially online or in a hybrid format. This program's curriculum features core, disciplinary foundation, and specialization courses.

With the EDHS specialization, students can focus their studies on public health disaster management, healthcare emergency management, or emergency and disaster management. Enrollees can also complete a post-baccalaureate certificate (PBC) while pursuing their degrees.

• Average cost per credit hour: $742 (in-state)
• Financial aid: The Gary G. Rupert Scholarship Endowment and other scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships can help learners in this program save.
• Accreditation: MSCHE

8. Coppin State University

At Coppin State University, students seeking online doctoral programs in nursing can choose from the DNP post-master's pathway and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to DNP program. Both pathways help students prepare for family nurse practitioner roles and can be completed in traditional or hybrid formats.

Students in these programs complete 1,000 clinical practice hours. However, learners in the post-master's pathway can transfer up to 700 hours from a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program.

• Average cost per credit hour: $766 (in-state)
• Financial aid: Scholarships, assistantships, internships, and federal financial aid options like grants, loans, and federal work-study help students cover school costs.
• Accreditation: MSCHE

9. University of Maryland

The EdD in school system leadership at the University of Maryland is a practice-based program designed to help students develop the skills to lead collaborative and inclusive system improvement initiatives. Learners grow their knowledge of education policy-making, applied research, school district leadership, and more.

The 3.5-year program has a hybrid learning format with courses offered in all-day Saturday seminars and online modules. Completing this degree can qualify learners for Superintendent II certification from the Maryland State Department of Education.

• Average cost per credit hour: $816.51
• Financial aid: Graduate students in the college of education can pursue fellowships, assistantships, scholarships, and other funding.
• Accreditation: MSCHE

10. University of Maryland, Baltimore

The School of Nursing at the University of Maryland, Baltimore offers two nursing doctoral programs providing a mix of face-to-face and online learning coursework. The PhD program prepares students for research careers with courses exploring qualitative methodologies, advanced statistical analysis, and more.

While the PhD focuses on research roles, the DNP prepares students for leadership in direct patient care. Nurse practitioner specializations include pediatric acute care, psychiatric mental health, and adult-gerontology primary care. A nurse anesthesia specialization is also available.

• Average cost per credit hour: $873 (in-state for DNP programs); $890 (in-state for other graduate programs)
• Financial aid: Enrollees can save with federal financial aid, scholarships, graduate assistantships, and the Maryland Higher Education Commission Nurse Support II Program (for the PhD program).
• Accreditation: MSCHE

How We Rank Schools

Our team thoroughly vetted the colleges and universities in this rank list to ensure they have met the following criteria for delivering a high-quality experience in higher education:

• Accreditation: Each school has received accreditation from the MSCHE, a nationally recognized organization.
• Affordability: The institutions above offer affordable tuition, financial aid, assistantships, and more to make covering school costs easier.
• Program reputation: We confirmed that the schools in this list offer quality academic experiences for online and on-campus students.
• Online student resources: Many colleges and universities offer resources such as academic advising, success coaching, tutoring, and library access to support online learning.

How Much Does an Online Doctoral Degree Cost in Maryland?

The cost of an online doctoral degree in Maryland varies by school, degree type, residency, enrollment status, and other factors. For instance, a student residing in Maryland could pay less than a learner living in another state. Enrolling part-time vs. full-time or choosing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program instead of a PhD in computer science could make a difference.

If you're looking for the most affordable programs in the state, many low-cost doctoral degrees are available in online or hybrid formats. One of the cheapest is the EdD in educational leadership at Bowie State University, which costs $457 per credit for in-state learners.

Financial Aid for Online Doctoral Programs in Maryland

Applying for financial aid is one of the best ways to make your online doctoral degree in Maryland more affordable. Schools across the state offer different types of financial assistance to lower school costs. Some of the most common include:

• scholarships
• assistantships
• fellowships
• federal work-study jobs
• internships

Private and federal student loans can also help doctoral students lower the cost of their degrees; however, these borrowed funds require repayment. If you attend a school that accepts transfer credits or other prior learning credits, you could save by not retaking courses already completed at another institution.

Discover Online Doctoral Degrees

Begin your journey toward a rewarding experience in higher education by exploring the degree programs on Learn.org. Contact schools directly to learn how they can assist you in meeting your academic goals.