Are There Free PhD Programs Online in North Carolina?

Higher education can be expensive at every level: from bachelor's degrees to doctorates. Discover more affordable doctoral degree programs in North Carolina.

Although fully free online PhD programs may not be available in every field of study, students seeking an affordable degree path can significantly reduce costs through various financial aid options. Federal and state aid, scholarships from higher education institutions, and other funding sources can cover a portion of tuition costs for eligible students. However, it is important to note that additional costs beyond tuition may apply.

North Carolina is home to many reputable universities with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs in subjects as diverse as computer science, public health, social work, the humanities, and the social sciences. Now it's possible to enroll in free PhD programs online by researching the best fully funded online PhD programs in the Tarheel State. This article will focus on several ways to reduce tuition costs, find the most affordable colleges, and more. We invite you to explore these important strategies for finding free PhD programs online.

Can I Get a PhD Degree Online for Free in North Carolina?

There may not be a 100% free doctorate degree online in North Carolina but there are at least nine nearly tuition-free online colleges in the state. So, the term ''free'' usually refers to those programs with reasonable tuition rates, which you can offset entirely with generous financial aid packages.

The schools we consider reputable free PhD programs online are the ones you could make free by piecing together the right volume of scholarships, grants, fellowships, and remote assistantship opportunities. You may find those in North Carolina or at other fully funded programs available for all qualified applicants elsewhere in the U.S.

What Does PhD Funding Cover?

PhD funding covers a lot more than just tuition. A strong financial aid package will take care of several expenses, such as student fees, textbooks, and equipment. It will also provide living stipends and even housing allowances for on-campus students.

Even online PhD students should seek as many funding sources as possible through federal grants, North Carolina grants, fellowships, employer tuition assistance, and foundation scholarships. These items allow graduate students to select the cheapest doctorate degree online for all their academic needs.

How Do I Receive PhD Funding?

There are several resources for obtaining PhD funding. The first thing you should do is complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This will help you secure funding at various accredited online schools that accept FAFSA in North Carolina.

Once you've completed the FAFSA, it's time to fully fund your PhD program with a combination of scholarships, fellowships, grants, and research assistantships (including the ones you can fulfill remotely). You can even pursue online teaching assistantships at universities that permit you to teach undergraduate courses via Zoom or other remote technology.

Fully Funded Online PhD Programs in North Carolina

If you'd like to take out fewer student loans, consider some of these reputable online doctoral programs in North Carolina. These schools offer plenty of financial support and funding opportunities for PhD students, international students, and other online learners.

1. University of North Carolina - Charlotte

The University of North Carolina - Charlotte (UNCC) has online doctoral degrees available with tuition rates that are lower than what many private schools charge for undergraduate education. Three of its programs are 100% online: a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and two Doctor of Education (EdD) specializations.

You can reduce the cost of these advanced degrees even further by obtaining one of over a dozen UNCC graduate scholarships, fellowships, or dissertation awards.

Average in-state tuition: $240.94 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $1,026.78 per credit hour

Financial aid: The William F. Kennedy Scholarship awards a generous $25,000 to first-year doctoral students, and you can apply for many other funding sources at the ''NinersScholar'' portal.

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

2. Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University offers an online EdD program in executive educational leadership for working professionals. This affordable enrollment option is most suitable for future university professors, community college administrators, and K-12 principals or superintendents.

You can offset tuition fees even more by gaining experience as a teaching assistant, helping faculty members prepare courses, and other research assistant opportunities. Western Carolina also grants tuition assistance to military dependents who wish to enter academia at various levels.

Average in-state tuition: $253.78 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $849.28 per credit hour

Financial aid: The university grants merit and needs-based scholarships and accepts employer-tuition reimbursements for graduate education.

Accreditation: National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

3. University of North Carolina - Wilmington

The University of North Carolina - Wilmington (UNCW) offers a doctoral degree in community college leadership, along with six DNP concentrations for healthcare leadership. Distance education tuition costs only $293 per credit hour (in-state only), excluding other fees and differential tuition charges. There are several scholarship options, but graduate students must begin their applications no later than June 1.

Average in-state tuition: $293 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $1,186.89 per credit hour

Financial aid: Graduate students are eligible for UNCW scholarships, outside scholarships, North Carolina grants, federal aid, and needs-based funding.

Accreditation:SACSCOC

4. University of North Carolina - Greensboro

The University of North Carolina - Greensboro (UNCG) offers a PhD in business administration for research-minded business professionals. This affordable program lets doctoral students build leadership skills, complete their coursework 100% online, and pursue a substantive research project to finish the degree.

You can pay for this by applying FAFSA grant money to the tuition costs, but it's also important to explore the university's website section on assistantships and fellowships. These offer a chance to pay for graduate school by teaching or assisting with online undergraduate courses, tutoring, grading exams or essays, and much more.

Average in-state tuition: $298.61 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $597.22 per credit hour

Financial aid: Graduate students can also secure stipends based on how many hours they work, which could contribute all the way to a complete tuition remission, according to UNCG's website.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

5. Carolina University

Carolina University's Doctor of Ministry charges $410 per credit hour. It only requires 36 credit hours to graduate, which you can take full-time or part-time as long as you finish within five years and maintain at least a ''B'' average.

You can pay for online learning with tuition waivers (up to 22%), the Bobby Kimbrough Scholarship (up to 40%), Ministry Development Scholarships, scholarships for undergraduate alumni, and even 30% off the tuition rate if you maintain a 3.5 grade point average (GPA).

Average in-state tuition: $410 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $410 per credit hour

Financial aid: Please follow Carolina University's nine-step procedure for obtaining scholarships, grants, fellowships, and other funding.