Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Degrees in South Dakota 2025

Doctoral degrees are terminal degrees, meaning they are the highest level of education you can receive. Most require at least a bachelor's degree, if not a master's degree, and take several years to complete.

There are two types of doctorates. Professional doctorates are for specific careers and can lead to leadership roles or licensure. Research doctorates, like Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, can be in nearly any field and lead to roles in academia or research.

Many students, especially working professionals, look for cheap online doctoral programs to save money and provide flexibility. Keep reading to discover affordable online doctoral programs in South Dakota.

Cheapest Online PhD & Doctoral Programs in South Dakota

There are a handful of affordable online colleges in South Dakota, a few of which offer doctoral programs. We've highlighted South Dakota's cheapest online PhD programs and professional doctorates below.

1. University of South Dakota

The University of South Dakota is a public research institution in Vermillion, SD. It offers four doctoral degrees online:

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in organizational and system leadership
• Doctor of Education (EdD) in educational administration
• PhD in human development and educational psychology
• PhD in health sciences

Tuition for online graduate programs at USD is $470.45 per credit. This rate is the same for both in-state and out-of-state online students.

• Average cost per credit hour: $470.45
• Financial aid: USD accepts aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It also offers institutional aid and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. South Dakota State University

At South Dakota State University, students can earn a DNP online with specializations in clinical nurse leader, family nurse practitioner, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. An online PhD in nursing is also available.

SDSU, a public research university, is located in Brookings, SD. It charges a tuition rate of $484.10 for both types of online nursing programs.

• Average cost per credit hour: $484.10
• Financial aid: SDSU offers institutional financial aid, like scholarships. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: HLC

3. Dakota State University

Dakota State University offers three PhD degree programs through distance learning. DSU is a public university in Madison, SD.

These PhDs are available in cyber defense, cyber operations, and information systems. The tuition rate for online PhD students is $508.10 per credit for those living in-state and $623.75 for out-of-state students.

• Average cost per credit hour: $508.10
• Financial aid: DSU offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private financial aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

4. Kairos University

Kairos University offers a Doctor of Ministry (DMin), Doctor of Professional Counseling (DPC), Doctor of Theology (ThD), and PhD through online learning. Students can choose a specialization for the PhD, such as humanities or social studies.

Kairos University, a private Christian school, is located in Sioux Falls, SD. Rather than charging per credit, it charges per month, as most programs at the school are self-paced. Tuition ranges from $300 to $600 per month, depending on the program.

• Average cost per month: $475
• Financial aid: Kairos accepts aid through FAFSA and private programs.
• Accreditation: HLC

Other Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Programs

The upside to pursuing your higher education online is that you can learn from colleges and universities anywhere in the country. While there are only a few affordable online doctorates in South Dakota, there are several more across the U.S. We've highlighted a few of these below.

University of Alabama in Huntsville

The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a public research institution in Huntsville, AL. It offers an online DNP and online PhDs in engineering management, industrial engineering, systems engineering, and civil engineering.

The tuition rate at UAH varies by program. The DNP is $445 per credit hour, while the PhDs in engineering come in at $655 per credit hour.

• Average cost per credit hour: $550
• Financial aid: UAH accepts aid from FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private aid.
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Southern Illinois University

Students at Southern Illinois University will find two doctoral degrees online. The first is a Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) for physician assistants, and the other is an EdD in educational administration.

SIU, a public research institution, is located in Carbondale, IL. The tuition cost here is $469.50 per credit for the EdD and $631 per credit for the DMSc.

• Average cost per credit hour: $550.25
• Financial aid: SIU offers institutional aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: HLC

Boise State University

Boise State University also offers two online doctoral degrees: a Doctor of Education (EdD) in educational technology and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in leadership. BSU is a public research university in Boise, ID.

Tuition varies by program and level of course. The EdD is $478 per credit for the 500-level courses and $599 per credit for the 600-level courses, and the DNP ranges from $820 to $895 per credit.

• Average cost per credit hour: $698
• Financial aid: BSU offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private aid.
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

Louisiana Tech University

Two professional doctorates are available online through Louisiana Tech University. One, an EdD in educational leadership, and the other, a Doctor of Engineering and Technology Management (DETM).

Louisiana Tech, located in Ruston, LA, is a public research university. It charges a tuition rate of $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 multiple online doctorates, including an EdD program in educational leadership, a few DNPs, and several PhD degrees in fields like engineering, computer science, environmental studies, and healthcare.

Tuition is program-based. Rates range from $528.36 per credit for the PhD in Indigenous health to $826.39 per credit for the DNP programs.

• Average cost per credit hour: $677.37
• Financial aid: UND accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

Kansas State University

Through Kansas State University, students can choose from several online doctoral degrees. These include various EdDs, professional doctorates in leadership and academic advising and in personal financial planning, and PhDs in concentrations like education and security studies.

K-State, a public research institution, is located in Manhattan, KS. It charges a tuition rate of $551 per credit for most of its online doctoral degree programs. However, the PhD in security studies is $574.50 per credit, and the degree in personal financial planning is $676.14 per credit.

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

How We Rank Schools

To choose the affordable online doctoral-level programs listed above, we focused on:

• Accreditation: All schools are accredited through regional accrediting agencies.
• Program reputation: In addition to only choosing regionally accredited schools, we also chose only public or private nonprofit schools in order to ensure the highest quality online and distance education programs.
• Affordability: Once we determined which accredited, nonprofit South Dakota schools offer online doctoral degree programs, we looked at which have the most affordable tuition rates before branching out to schools in other states.
• Online student resources: All schools offer support services for online graduate students, including academic advising and mentoring from faculty members.

How Much Does an Online Doctoral Degree Cost in South Dakota?

Online doctoral degrees in South Dakota range from $450 to $550 per credit for in-state students. The amount you pay will depend on which school you choose.

The program you choose may also influence your costs. 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, while EdD degrees are sometimes less expensive. However, some schools charge the same price for all programs.

The length of your program and the number of credits it requires will affect your costs as well. Professional doctorates often require fewer credits and take three or four years to complete. Research doctorates often require completing a dissertation research project, and can take six to eight years of full-time study.

Financial Aid for Online Doctoral Programs in South Dakota

The financial aid you qualify for can also affect your costs. All students should fill out the FAFSA through the U.S. Department of Education each academic year. There are many cheap online colleges that accept FAFSA.

The FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal and state financial aid, as well as some institutional financial aid. However, FAFSA doesn't always offer gift aid, like scholarships and grants, to doctoral students.

Many colleges and universities often offer their own aid programs to help students cover the cost of their online education. This may include gift aid or work-study options like assistantships and fellowships. Additionally, some doctoral programs, notably PhDs, are fully funded. This means the school covers tuition and living expenses for PhD students so they can conduct original research for the school.

Explore Online Doctoral Degrees

Find the perfect doctoral degree by exploring the affordable online programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.