Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Degrees in Minnesota 2025

Minnesota is a hub for healthcare, business, and education, and as a result, there are a lot of doctoral degree holders in the state. Doctoral degrees are terminal degrees, meaning they are the highest credential you can earn in your field. Professional doctorates are necessary for some types of licensure, while Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees are more based in research and academia.

Some schools offer doctoral programs online, which provide far more flexibility than face-to-face options and are ideal for working professionals. However, doctoral degrees, even those available online, can be expensive. Keep reading to discover the most affordable online doctoral programs in Minnesota.

Cheapest Online PhD & Doctoral Programs in Minnesota

Multiple colleges and universities in Minnesota offer online doctoral degrees. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Doctor of Education (EdD) are the most common options, but others are available as well. Below, we've highlighted the cheapest online PhD programs and doctoral degrees for students in Minnesota.

1. Herzing University

Herzing University is a private, nonprofit institution based in Milwaukee, but with several campuses across the U.S., including one in Minneapolis. It offers multiple Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees online that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). DNPs are some of the highest-paying doctoral degrees you can earn online.

The tuition rate for all online DNP programs is $755 per credit hour. Students who already have their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) can finish within 32 credits for a total of $24,160.

Those who have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) but not a master's will need 71 credits, which comes to $53,605. Multiple specializations are available, including adult/gerontology, family practice, pediatrics, and nursing leadership.

• Average cost per credit hour: $755
• Financial aid: Accepts aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), offers institutional scholarships, and accepts private aid
• Accreditation:Higher Learning Commission (HLC), CCNE

2. College of St. Scholastica

At the College of St. Scholastica, students will find several affordable doctoral degrees online:

• Doctor of Medical Science: 36 credits at $775 for a total of $27,180
• MSN to DNP: 34 credits at $962 per credit for a total of $32,708
• Doctor of Educational Leadership: 60 credits at $832 per credit for a total of $49,920
• BSN to DNP: 75 to 78 credits at $962 per credit for a total of $72,150 to $75,036

CSS, a private, Catholic institution, is located in Duluth, MN. Note that some programs may require in-person clinical hours or short on-campus residencies.

• Average cost per credit hour: $856.33
• Financial aid: Accepts FAFSA, offers institutional scholarships, and accepts private aid
• Accreditation:HLC, CCNE for nursing programs

3. Capella University

Capella University offers a unique tuition structure for many of its online doctoral degrees. While it does charge a per-credit rate, it also caps the total students will pay for each type of degree. The private, for-profit institution is headquartered in Minneapolis.

Capella offers over a dozen online doctoral degrees. Some of the least expensive options include:

• Doctor of Education: max $32,000
• Doctor of Nursing Practice: max $32,000
• PhD in behavior analysis: 78 credits at $555 per credit for a total of $43,290
• PhD in counselor education and supervision: 60 credits at $730 per credit for a total of $43,800

Additionally, a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and a Doctor of Information Technology (DIT) are available for a maximum price of $45,000.

• Average cost per credit hour: $717.73
• Financial aid: Accepts FAFSA, offers institutional scholarships, and accepts private aid
• Accreditation:HLC, CCNE, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

4. St. Catherine University

The online Doctor of Nursing Practice at St. Catherine University is available to students with a master's degree in nursing and can be completed in as few as 21 months. This program is for those already in nursing practice who want to influence change in healthcare settings and improve patient outcomes.

St. Kate's, based in Saint Paul, MN, is a private Catholic institution. It charges $1,200 per credit for this 34-credit program, for a total of $43,200.

• Average cost per credit hour: $1,200
• Financial aid: Accepts FAFSA, offers institutional scholarships, including some specifically for DNP students, and accepts private aid
• Accreditation:HLC

5. Winona State University

Winona State University is a public institution in Winona, MN. It offers an online Doctor of Education. The program includes core coursework on education trends and policy and also requires students to create an area of emphasis, such as instructional design, organizational leadership, special education, and educational administration.

The tuition rate for this program is $757.06 per credit hour. At 57 credits, that comes to a total of $43,722.42 in tuition costs.

• Average cost per credit hour: $757.06
• Financial aid: Accepts FAFSA, offers institutional scholarships, including some specifically for DNP students, and accepts private aid
• Accreditation:HLC

6. St. Cloud State University

Students at St. Cloud State University can earn a Doctor of Education in higher education and student affairs. This program is designed to sharpen students' skills to lead in a multitude of positions at colleges and universities worldwide.

St. Cloud State, a public institution, is located in St. Cloud, MN. It charges a tuition rate of $787.27 per credit for this 60-credit program, resulting in a tuition cost of about $47,236.20 total.

• Average cost per credit hour: $787.27
• Financial aid: Accepts FAFSA, offers institutional scholarships and assistanceships, and accepts private aid
• Accreditation:HLC

7. Walden University

Walden University offers a number of online doctoral degree programs. The private, for-profit online school is headquartered in Minneapolis.

Some of the least expensive online doctorates at Walden include:

• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Doctor of Social Work: minimum 64 credits at $665 per credit for a minimum total of $42,650
• Doctor of Human Services: 68 credits at $670 per credit for a total of $45,560
• Doctor of Nursing practice: 49 credits for students with an MSW at $925 per credit for a total of $49,025
• Doctor of Public Administration: 73 credits at $685 per credit for a total of $50,005

Walden also offers multiple PhDs online, including PhDs in fields like criminal justice, health sciences, and psychology. These are often more expensive, however, as they require far more credits to complete.

• Average cost per credit hour: $691.12
• Financial aid: Accepts FAFSA, offers institutional scholarships, and accepts private aid
• Accreditation:HLC, CCNE

8. Bethel University

Online Doctor of Education degrees are available in higher education leadership and K-12 administration at Bethel University. The K-12 program takes about two and a half years, while the higher education program takes about three.

Bethel University, located in St. Paul, MN, is a private Christian school. It charges a total of $49,776 for both online EdD programs.

• Average cost per credit hour: $816
• Financial aid: Accepts FAFSA, offers institutional scholarships, and accepts private aid
• Accreditation:HLC

9. Minnesota State University Moorhead

Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public school in Moorhead, MN. It offers a Doctor of Education in educational leadership through online learning with an optional specialization in healthcare.

The three-year program prepares graduate students for leadership roles in education and healthcare settings. It requires 72 total credits; at $746.07 per credit, the total comes out to about $53,717.04.

• Average cost per credit hour: $746.07
• Financial aid: Accepts FAFSA, offers institutional scholarships, and accepts private aid
• Accreditation:HLC

10. University of St. Thomas

Through the University of St. Thomas, students can earn a Doctor of Social Work in three years through online education. The program includes courses on social justice and theory, as well as courses focusing on research and publication.

St. Thomas, a private, Catholic university, is based in St. Paul, MN. It charges $1,236 per credit for this 45-credit degree, which comes to a total of about $55,620.

The university also offers a Doctor of Education in educational leadership and learning online. This program costs less per credit, at $948, but requires 66 credits for a total of $62,620.

• Average cost per credit hour: $1,092
• Financial aid: Accepts FAFSA, offers institutional scholarships, and accepts private aid
• Accreditation:HLC

How We Rank Schools

To choose the cheapest online PhD programs and doctoral degrees listed above, we focused on:

• Accreditation: Every school on this list holds regional institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. Many of these programs, such as the DNPs, also hold programmatic accreditation.
• Location: We looked at online doctoral degrees from in-person and online colleges with campuses in Minnesota.
• Affordability: Once we narrowed down the list of accredited Minnesota schools, we looked at which had the most affordable online doctoral programs.
• Program reputation: All options listed provide high-quality distance education options for working professionals.

How Much Does an Online Doctoral Degree Cost in Minnesota?

The online graduate programs we listed above all have a tuition rate below about $55,000 total. However, these are just the least expensive options.

Other schools in Minnesota offer more expensive options. For example, Augsburg University offers a DNP for $80,000, while the University of Minnesota offers one for about $88,000. However, those who are current nurse practitioners with master's degrees may be able to earn their degree for less.

Financial Aid for Online Doctoral Programs in Minnesota

Even the cheapest online doctoral programs are often too expensive for students to pay for out of their own pockets. Luckily, there are financial aid options that can help students pay for their graduate degrees.

All students should fill out the FAFSA to find out what federal and state aid they qualify for. Many schools also offer scholarships, grants, assistantships, and fellowships to help doctoral students pay for their education.

Discover Online Doctoral Degrees

Meet your career goals by exploring the education programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual programs to learn more about admissions requirements, enrollment, and financial aid.