Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Degrees in Utah 2025

Utah scholars now have the chance to earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from any remote location, granting a terrific advantage for working graduate students. This means you can continue your job, take graduate courses, and do so affordably without too many student loans. This article will explain how this works, referencing 10 institutions, which are among the cheapest online PhD programs for degree seekers in Utah.

Cheapest Online PhD & Doctoral Programs in Utah

While there's no such thing as a ''cheap PhD,'' you can identify affordable online doctoral programs in Utah, such as those listed below. The following distance-learning and hybrid programs are offered by the cheapest online colleges in Utah, granting PhD degrees without compromising higher-education quality. These accredited schools offer diverse academic specializations in career fields such as computer science, criminal justice, education administration, the humanities, public health, and more.

1. Weber State University

Weber State University grants a Doctor of Nurse Practitioner (DNP) degree to healthcare professionals seeking new leadership roles that require research expertise. This program emphasizes executive leadership in healthcare and is available only to candidates who possess a master's degree. Weber State requires only one campus visit to determine how you will proceed with the DNP project.

• Average cost per credit hour: $308
• Financial aid: Weber State provides financial aid targeted at Utah residents, home-school students, international students, and other demographic categories.
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

2. Southern Utah University

Southern Utah University offers a Doctor of Psychology in clinical psychology (PsyD), which involves a hybrid delivery format. The university promotes this as a viable option for psychology professionals who seek licensure and career advancement. This may be suitable for those who wish to assist Utah's under-served communities, such as Hispanics, military veterans, Native Americans, and rural citizens.

• Average cost per credit hour: $363
• Financial aid: Graduate students may be eligible for tuition waivers, scholarships, assistantships, and federal grants.
• Accreditation: NWCCU

3. Utah State University

You can attend courses online to complete a PhD in career and technical education from Utah State University. This degree requires 60 credit hours and costs only $518 per credit hour for online study. Previous recipients have applauded the program for its emphasis on ''teaching methodologies, incorporating evidence-based approaches and staying at the forefront of technological advancements in design education.''

• Average cost per credit hour: $518
• Financial aid: Scholarships are available through the state of Utah for residents, international students, and Native Americans
• Accreditation: NWCCU

4. University of Utah

The University of Utah furnishes its online degree programs through its UOnline system. This includes its Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, featuring a hybrid of in-person and online learning. The school promises the opportunity to enroll full-time or part-time and obtain the degree without needing to relocate.

• Average cost per credit hour: $519
• Financial aid: The university offers merit scholarships upon completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Accreditation: NWCCU

5. Webster University Utah

Webster University Utah grants a Doctor of Education (EdD) through a fully online delivery. This EdD program focuses on transformative educational leadership by preparing Utah teachers to become university faculty members, higher education administrators, nonprofit leaders, and various other areas of organizational leadership. The program accomplishes this by training graduate students to conduct scholarly research, lead education initiatives, and prepare for challenging administrative roles.

• Average cost per credit hour: $775
• Financial aid: Webster University participates in corporate and military discounts, along with scholarship offerings.
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Other Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Programs

We'd also like to introduce some other reputable online PhD programs from other locations. These schools accept graduate students for many academic concentrations from anywhere in the country.

Liberty University

You can attend Liberty University to earn an affordable online PhD in at least a dozen subjects, such as aeronautics, nursing, divinity, law, government, and music. The school also offers a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), the terminal degree for business and market researchers. Liberty does not require standardized tests, like the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) for admissions.

• Average cost per credit hour: $595
• Financial aid: Liberty offers students generous military discounts, scholarships, and fellowships.
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Capella University

Capella University has multiple online PhD offerings for fields like psychology, clinical psychology, and educational leadership. It administers these degrees through its FlexPath program, which is not only cost-effective but convenient for working professionals. These graduate programs grant students the opportunity to train for further professional development or create original research while attending remotely.

• Average cost per credit hour: $510 and $995
• Financial aid: Capella awards scholarships and helps students obtain grants and loans.
• Accreditation: HLC

University of Colorado - Denver

Utah residents may consider the nearby University of Colorado - Denver for its EdD program, which is focused on leadership and educational equity. This is a hybrid program, consisting of mostly eight-week online sessions, along with two on-campus sessions each year. It also promises EdD students ''executive coaching'' for post-graduation support for finding leadership roles across every level of education.

• Average cost per credit hour: $844 (non-residents)
• Financial aid: Several scholarships and fellowship opportunities after completing the FAFSA
• Accreditation: HLC

Arizona State University

Arizona State University (ASU) grants online doctoral degrees in education and nursing. Its DNP program is fully online, featuring numerous concentrations, including adult gerontology, nurse anesthesiology, family practice, midwifery, and pediatrics. Although some programs are a bit more expensive, ASU charges no additional fees for out-of-state students.

• Average cost per credit hour: $650 to $1,332
• Financial aid: ASU helps graduate students offset tuition costs with institutional scholarships.
• Accreditation: HLC

Walden University

Walden University has a large library of online PhD options. It offers doctoral learning online in disciplines like criminal justice, social work, management, education, information technology, and several of the health sciences. Walden even includes a trademarked ''Doctoral Degree Coach,'' an electronic system that helps students with coursework, producing research, and tracking program benchmarks.

• Average cost per credit hour: $660
• Financial aid: Walden has opportunities for tuition reduction, grants, scholarships, and federal aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

How We Rank Schools

Here's an overview of Learn.org's ranking methodology for the advanced degree programs mentioned above. The list goes in order of affordability, but rankings also consider accreditation, program reputation, and online learning resources.

• Accreditation: Online education programs must receive accreditation from a reputable review board, like NWCCU.
• Affordability: We list the most affordable options first, focusing on public universities with lower tuition costs and generous financial aid options.
• Program reputation: These programs have strong reputations throughout academia for competent faculty who serve as mentors for online students and on-campus students alike.
• Online student resources: This list considers professional doctorate degrees in either a 100% online or hybrid learning format.

How Much Does an Online Doctoral Degree Cost in Utah?

The cost of a doctoral-level education depends on where you go to school, your academic specialization, and whether you pursue funding through scholarships and grants. The cheapest online PhD programs offer affordable tuition rates at around $700 per credit hour or less. There are also ways to reduce costs if you qualify for military discounts, hardship discounts, and so forth.

It's always important to remember the payoff for obtaining a doctorate. Online doctoral students can expect a strong return on investment after they graduate with one of many high-paying doctoral degrees.

Financial Aid for Online Doctoral Programs in Utah

Online PhD students may not participate in teaching assistantships and graduate assistantships as often because they already work or choose to attend school remotely. This doesn't eliminate the chance of receiving financial aid while completing your doctoral degree program, however.

Full-time students can still receive funding through Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, merit scholarships, and needs-based scholarships just like in-person students. We encourage prospective doctoral students to investigate the cheapest online colleges that accept FAFSA. Most universities require you to begin by completing the FAFSA before receiving any consideration for grants and other aid.

Discover Online Doctoral Degrees

Learn.org can help you find effective distance education programs to complete your PhD, master's degree, bachelor's degree, or any other academic credential. Please use all of our online resources to find high-quality and affordable degree options faster than ever.