Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Degrees in Missouri 2025

Scholars and medical professionals have a terrific opportunity to deepen their academic expertise by enrolling part-time or full-time in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or other higher education programs in Missouri. It's also possible to budget better for education programs by identifying and applying to the cheapest online PhD programs. This guide will review 10 of the best options for distance education in or near Missouri.

Cheapest Online PhD & Doctoral Programs in Missouri

Here are 10 Missouri universities for your consideration. These affordable online doctoral programs rate highly for the following important criteria: average cost per credit hour, financial aid benefits, and accreditation status. Many of these are also among the highest paying PhD programs.

1. Missouri University of Science and Technology

The Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) offers several online doctoral programs in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This includes PhD programs in electrical engineering, explosives engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, and computer engineering.

These courses prepare future engineers with real-world applications for several scientific concepts. Each engineering course costs $950 per credit hour, but if you have a military background, you will receive a substantial discount ($750 per credit hour).

• Average cost per credit hour: $950
• Financial aid: Students can find financial aid through graduate-level scholarships and international scholarships.
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. University of Missouri at Kansas City

The Doctor of Nursing (DNP) program at the University of Missouri at Kansas City (KC) prepares nurses for the toughest challenges in healthcare delivery in the midwestern United States. You can complete almost the entire degree online except for occasional on-campus visits. It takes 73 credit hours to complete with just a bachelor's degree in hand, whereas master's degree holders can finish in 61 credit hours.

UMKC's dedicated faculty helps their graduates secure employment in many settings, such as hospital administration, academia, and nonprofit medical research.

• Average cost per credit hour: $512.40
• Financial aid: Assistance comes from grants, fellowships, and private loans.
• Accreditation: HLC

3. University of Missouri

University of Missouri has 13 doctoral programs available through online delivery, including a Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DOT), and doctoral degrees in agriculture, health sciences, leadership, and nursing. The university promises 'powerful flexibility' to accommodate full-time working professionals and other busy lifestyles. They seek to do so without compromising educational quality and by providing reasonable tuition and fees for Missouri residents.

• Average cost per credit hour: $561.80
• Financial aid: They offer a 10% discount for military service members and veterans, along with other graduate student scholarships.
• Accreditation:HLC

4. University of Central Missouri

The University of Central Missouri offers an online Doctorate in Technology Management that focuses on analyzing digital communications, manufacturing systems, information systems, and quality systems. It follows either an online or hybrid format and partners with a consortium of other institutions, like Indiana State University and Bowling Green University.

Tech-savvy researchers can learn more or request information about coursework by contacting faculty at either the University of Central Missouri (UCM) or Indiana State University.

• Average cost per credit hour: $366.50
• Financial aid: This university offers grants and helps students find additional funding through its 'Scholarship Finder' tool.
• Accreditation: HLC

5. University of Missouri at St. Louis

The University of Missouri at St. Louis has two online doctoral programs: a nursing PhD degree and a DNP degree. Online learning is the delivery method for both.

The DNP option has courses such as Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. The PhD program allows students to master advanced concepts like nursing science, quantitative methods, qualitative methods, and advanced nursing theory.

• Average cost per credit hour: $933
• Financial aid: Students can reduce costs by applying for teaching assistantships and graduate assistantships.
• Accreditation: HLC

6. Webster University

Webster University has an EdD program with 100% online delivery. They designed the program to help their students achieve their goals of becoming university professors, higher education administrators, researchers, and government agency administrators. They also emphasize publishing scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals on topics such as educational leadership.

Webster University's online EdD degree may be a good fit for working professionals, part-time students, international students, or anyone looking to climb the career ladder in education.

• Average cost per credit hour: $752
• Financial aid: Webster University welcomes students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or reduce costs by finding grants, scholarships, corporate discounts, and military discounts.
• Accreditation: HLC

7. Missouri State University

Missouri State University (MSU) has two nursing doctoral programs with online resources: a comprehensive DNP degree and another DNP focusing on anesthesia. Both have the potential to open career doors into an in-demand healthcare field. To further your expertise, you can choose between specializations such as adult gerontology, family nursing, and psychiatric mental health.

• Average cost per credit hour: $379
• Financial aid: You can reduce or eliminate costs through Pell grants. MSU also participates in the 'MoState Access Award,' which entails $0 tuition or fees.
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

8. Maryville University

Maryville University offers three doctoral degrees online: an EdD, DNP, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). The DPT degree carries a lower tuition rate of $897, which is competitive among advanced health science degrees. The other two degrees cost $922 per credit hour.

This university also has a detailed website section for financial aid. It covers everything from Stafford Loans and college work study to Pell grants and scholarships.

• Average cost per credit hour: $922 or $897
• Financial aid: Marvyille University assists students with obtaining federal funding through Pell Grants, Stafford Direct Loans, and other low-interest loans.
• Accreditation: HLC

Other Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Programs

If you have not found a program that meets your educational goals, Missouri residents may also find affordable online PhD programs in other states. Below are a few featured doctoral programs available fully online in the U.S.

Liberty University

Future historians can pursue Liberty University's Doctor of Philosophy in History to complete their training online. Liberty also has online doctoral degrees in other social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, theology, and more.

Liberty receives high marks for its military- and Christian-friendly approach to distance education. This prepares students for productive careers as researchers, publishers, and leaders.

• Average cost per credit hour: $595
• Financial aid: Liberty offers several financial aid opportunities, including a low $300 per credit hour rate for military veterans.
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

University of Illinois

Here is the chance for internationally minded educators to receive top-notch specialized instruction at an affordable rate. The University of Illinois offers a Doctor of Education in Global Studies, which trains new scholars to approach research topics and education administration to address emerging global changes, social justice, and diverse academic environments.

This is one of multiple EdD degrees they confer through either online or hybrid instruction. There is a similar program for international education administration, which overlaps with the global studies' focus as well.

• Average cost per credit hour: $520
• Financial aid: Financial aid is available for fall and spring months, but not for self-paced students.
• Accreditation: HLC

How We Rank Schools

Our team ranks programs based on the following important criteria. You can select high-quality, affordable doctoral programs using these factors:

• Accreditation: Each institution's online courses and degrees in the list above have received approval from a relevant accreditation board.
• Affordability: Doctoral programs were selected for a lower cost per credit hour or based on the availability of financial aid for distance learners.
• Program reputation: These rankings correspond with top online education degrees from the Open Education Database.
• Online student resources: All degrees are offered either 100% online or in a hybrid program of online and on-campus instruction.

How Much Does an Online Doctoral Degree Cost in Missouri?

Most of the graduate programs and concentrations on this list cost less than $1,000 per credit hour, making them competitive in terms of cost-effectiveness.

How much would an entire doctoral degree program cost? It depends on the degree type. The average cost of the programs we've listed is $649.17. This considers all programs together, but remember that some academic fields cost more than others.

Financial Aid for Online Doctoral Programs in Missouri

Fortunately, most high-quality Missouri degree programs are affordable, but it's even better if you leverage financial aid resources before enrollment. StudentAid.gov provides resources on several opportunities for financial aid, including private funding, fellowships, affordable loans, and more. It explains the eligibility requirements, how to apply, types of federal aid, where to find additional funding, and how to qualify for loan forgiveness.

Flexible financial aid offerings make these doctoral programs most accessible to in-state residents, but they can also support nearby Kansas or Illinois residents, who may face higher out-of-state costs.

Discover Online Doctoral Degrees

Explore Learn.org to learn about affordable distance education, paying for college degrees, admissions requirements, and other essential tools for college preparation. Contact one of the institutions featured on our site today to learn how you can start on the path toward earning your doctoral degree.