Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Degrees in Tennessee 2025

Online doctoral degrees are popular among working professionals who want to advance their careers without disrupting their busy schedules. In Tennessee, students can find affordable online doctoral programs with flexible schedules and accelerated learning options.

Below, we'll highlight some of the cheapest online doctoral programs in the state for learners ready to take their careers to new heights.

Cheapest Online PhD & Doctoral Programs in Tennessee

An affordable degree program helps you reach your career goals without hurting your wallet. Keep reading to discover some of Tennessee's cheapest online PhD programs and additional low-cost doctoral degrees in the state.

1. Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University in Clarksville offers Doctor of Education (EdD) in educational leadership programs with higher education administration, K-12 leadership, nurse educator, and socioscientific studies concentrations. These 60-credit online EdD programs take about three years to complete.

Program requirements include completing a five-chapter applied dissertation study. Doctoral students also have the opportunity to participate in presentations and work on publications with faculty.

• Average cost per credit hour: $488 (in-state)
• Financial aid: Funding opportunities for graduate students include graduate assistantships, the Phi Kappa Phi fellowship program, and the Hoppe Leadership Endowment.
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

2. Tennessee Tech University

At Tennessee Tech University, learners can choose from Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs with adult-gerontology acute care, family nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner, and other concentrations. These hybrid programs prepare current registered nurses for nurse practitioner and leadership roles.

The university also offers an online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in higher education program that helps master's degree holders use data science knowledge to improve student success and lead change in higher education.

• Average cost per credit hour: $550 (in-state)
• Financial aid: Graduate students can qualify for work-study roles and student loans. Some academic departments offer graduate assistantships that cover full tuition and fees and provide a monthly stipend.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

3. University of Memphis

Students looking to earn doctoral degrees can find online programs through the University of Memphis's online college (University of Memphis Global). Online EdD programs are available in higher and adult education, instructional design and technology, and leadership and policy studies. A Doctor of Liberal Studies (DLS) and a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) are also offered online.

Learners interested in a terminal nursing degree can pursue a PhD in nursing with a flexible hybrid format from the Loewenberg College of Nursing (LCON).

• Average cost per credit hour: $553 (resident graduate tuition); $646 (U of M Global for all graduate students)
• Financial aid: The university offers graduate assistantships, fellowships, and student loans to help learners reduce the cost of attendance.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

4. Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University offers two doctoral degree programs (EdDs) in assessment, learning, and student success with distance education options. The concentration in higher education is a 100% online program, and the concentration in school improvement has online and on-ground options. These programs are designed for learners seeking leadership roles in higher education.

Tuition for these programs is affordable, and with help from the Academic Common Market program, students residing in Alabama could receive in-state tuition (learners in other states like Kentucky, Texas, and Florida can save on other programs).

• Average cost per credit hour: $565 (in-state)
• Financial aid: Graduate students can access assistantships, scholarships, employment opportunities, and FAFSA financial aid.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

5. Tennessee State University

The PhD in public policy from Tennessee State University (TSU) in Nashville is an online program for students who want to continue full-time work while pursuing their graduate degree. Enrollees explore synchronous and asynchronous doctoral coursework as they prepare to advance their careers as nonprofit administrators, faculty members (in public administration, criminal justice, social work, etc.), and professional researchers.

Enrollment is open to students with master's degrees in related fields. TSU offers opportunities to waive the GRE to applicants who meet minimum GPA requirements.

• Average cost per credit hour: $575 (in-state)
• Financial aid: Assistantships, federal work-study opportunities, and student loans can help graduate students reduce costs.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

6. Bryan College

Students attending Bryan College can pursue a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with eight-week online accelerated classes and affordable tuition. This 60-credit program of study is designed for learners who want to gain advanced skills and credentials beyond a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Bryan College allows students to transfer in as many as 15 graduate business credits and requires 45 credits to be taken at the school. Learners who want to graduate quickly can finish in as little as three years.

• Average cost per credit hour: $600
• Financial aid: Graduate students can apply for outside scholarships like the Foster G. McGaw Graduate Scholarship.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

7. East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State University provides online and hybrid online education options for learners interested in doctoral degrees. Programs include early childhood education (PhD), educational leadership (EdD), global sport leadership (EdD), and nursing (DNP and PhD).

Each degree has unique admission requirements, some of which include submitting transcripts that show a minimum GPA and delivering a personal statement, resume, and letters of recommendation. Concentrations are also available to help learners specialize in their areas of interest.

• Average cost per credit hour: $646 (in-state)
• Financial aid: Learners enrolled in graduate programs can save with federal financial aid, graduate assistantships, scholarships, and more.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

8. Johnson University

The online PhD in leadership studies from Johnson University is a 60-credit interdisciplinary program teaching students the biblical, theological, and philosophical foundations of leadership. Coursework focuses on ethics, leadership, and research, and the program culminates in a dissertation.

Learners can choose from concentrations in missional leadership, ministry leadership, theology of leadership, philosophy of leadership, educational leadership, and organizational leadership. The program starts each August and January.

• Average cost per credit hour: $675
• Financial aid: The university offers competitive scholarships that are limited in number to students exhibiting leadership, scholarship potential, and financial need.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

9. University of Tennessee

The University of Tennessee in Knoxville offers multiple online doctoral degrees for students interested in nursing, education, engineering, and social work. PhDs are available in agricultural leadership, adult and continuing education, and industrial engineering. Students can also pursue a DSW and Doctor of Industrial Engineering.

Individuals interested in nursing can find a PhD program and several DNP programs for learners with a master's or bachelor's degree in the field. An EdD is available for learners seeking educational leadership programs.

• Average cost per credit hour: starting at $744 (in-state)
• Financial aid: Graduate learners can access departmental, organizational, and corporate scholarships.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

10. Union University

At Union University, students can pursue an EdD in educational leadership with a specialization in P-12 school administration that can be completed in three years. Learners are prepared to grow as leaders in their schools or teach education in college.

In this fully online program, students can choose from concentrations in instructional leadership (licensure), teacher leadership (non-licensure), and leadership in school reform (non-licensure). The university allows students to transfer up to 27 hours from previous master's (12) and education specialist (15) work.

• Average cost per credit hour: $750
• Financial aid: Union University graduate students can reduce costs with federal student loans and student employment.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

How We Rank Schools

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

• Accreditation: Each institution has accreditation from the SACSCOC, a nationally recognized organization.
• Affordability: These colleges and universities make learning more affordable by offering lower tuition rates or financial aid.
• Program reputation: We verified that these schools offer quality on-campus and online academic experiences.
• Online student resources: Online schools in this list often provide student resources like academic advising, tutoring, and library access to help learners excel.

How Much Does an Online Doctoral Degree Cost in Tennessee?

The cost of an online doctoral degree varies based on factors such as degree type, enrollment status, and residency. Rates might differ for students earning PhDs, EdDs, DNPs, DSWs, etc. Attending part-time vs. full-time and in-state vs. out-of-state can also impact tuition costs.

The program of study is another factor that can affect rates. For instance, an online doctoral degree in computer science might have a different tuition rate than one in healthcare administration or human resource management.

You can find online doctoral degree costs in Tennessee by checking with your school of choice. However, if you want to pursue one of the cheapest programs in the state, consider Austin Peay State University's online EdD, which costs just $488 per credit in-state.

Financial Aid for Online Doctoral Programs in Tennessee

Online doctoral students often qualify for financial aid opportunities for graduate students. Here are some options you might encounter:

• Scholarships: Scholarships are funds students often receive based on merit, talent, or financial need that don't require repayment.
• Assistantships: These paid academic appointments typically offer full tuition in exchange for part-time teaching, on-campus work, or research.
• Fellowships: Fellowships generally fully fund students' pursuit of graduate study or research.

Graduate students can also take out student loans; however, they must be repaid. Fortunately, high-paying doctoral degrees can make repayment easier. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), doctoral degrees brought in the second-highest median weekly earnings behind professional degrees, making them a worthy investment.

Discover Online Doctoral Degrees

Take steps toward a quality experience in higher education by exploring the accredited degree programs on Learn.org. Contact schools today to find out how they can help you reach your academic goals.