Are There Free PhD Programs Online in Tennessee?

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 funding opportunities. 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.

Tennessee students may be able to complete free PhD programs online with the help of financial aid and other strategies. Fully funded online PhD programs are usually the result of fellowships, assistantships, or other forms of financial support. Choosing a university that has lower tuition and more funding opportunities helps to improve your ability to earn a free doctorate degree online.

Continue reading to learn how to gain funding and earn a doctoral degree for as little cost as possible, through some of Tennessee's best schools for online doctoral degrees.

Can I Get a PhD Degree Online for Free in Tennessee?

There are no doctoral degree programs that are entirely free, but students are able to pursue free PhD programs online with the use of financial aid, discounts, and other strategies. The cost of an online doctoral degree is typically made up of tuition and various program and school fees. Students seeking tuition-free online colleges should still consider additional fees, which vary by school and program.

Tuition for online doctoral degrees can range from around $500 per credit to nearly $2,000 per credit, and students may be required to complete 60 to 80 credits (depending on their program). Choosing a school with lower tuition means that students would need less financial aid to cover the costs of their program.

Affordable online PhD programs are available in nearly every field of study, including business administration, computer science, health sciences, and nursing. Regardless of the field selected, students can fund part or all of their online doctoral degree by taking advantage of institutional, private, and public financing resources.

What Does PhD Funding Cover?

Funding that you secure for your online doctoral degree can be used to cover most of the costs that you have during your program. The potential uses of your program funding are ultimately dependent on the source of the funding (and whether or not there are restrictions).

Federal, institutional, and most other financial aid funding is sent to the financial aid office of your college or university. The institution will apply the funding to your balance at the school, including the costs for tuition and other fees. You may also be able to purchase books for your courses or other materials from the expected or received funding.

If there is an excess of financial aid funds after covering your costs, you may be able to receive a refund from the financial aid office. You should speak with your financial aid office to find out if there will be an excess of funds, and whether you want to receive a refund or apply it to the next term. Many students use their financial aid refunds to cover other related costs, like notebooks, computer expenses, and even living expenses.

How Do I Receive PhD Funding?

The first step that you should take toward finding funding for your program is filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Many accredited online schools that accept FAFSA offer lower tuition rates. Choosing a school with cheap tuition means you need less funding to cover your program.

After submitting your FAFSA, look for financial aid and other tools that you can apply toward your program. In addition to in-house awards from your school, you can apply for a variety of financial aid through state, federal and private groups. Scholarships and grants do not require repayment, while loans (private or public) do. You may also find applicable fellowships, assistantships, or internships to fund your program, which usually involve putting some amount of hours into a specific activity or role.

The majority of scholarships are offered by private groups. There are thousands and thousands of scholarships, and you can search for them on scholarship search sites. Unfortunately, there is no one site that lists all of them. You can find scholarships that are offered based on merit, residency, field of study, and other criteria.

Low-Cost Online PhD Programs in Tennessee

Online doctoral programs are offered by several schools across Tennessee, through which students can earn degrees in healthcare, social sciences, humanities, and other fields without the need for on-campus attendance. Whether students have a master's degree, a bachelor's degree, or some other academic background, the wide array of doctoral options is accessible for millions of students. Explore the top affordable online doctoral programs in Tennessee below to get started.

1. South College

South College offers multiple online doctoral programs, with options in business administration, education, ministry, nursing, and physician assistant studies. Full-time online graduate students have a flat tuition rate of $5,500 to $6,000 per semester, making the per-credit tuition cost between $400 and $611, depending on enrollment. Several financial aid awards are available to students, including some that are specifically offered to online students of the education program.

Average in-state tuition: $400 to $611 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $400 to $611 per credit

Financial aid: Students can apply for a variety of in-house and state awards, including grants and scholarships.

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

2. Omega Graduate School

Omega Graduate School is a non-profit, independent institution that delivers online learning through Zoom class meetings with flexible coursework. Here, students can choose between two online doctoral degree programs:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in social research
• Doctor of Social Leadership (DSL)

Tuition is $500 per credit hour, but students can enroll in a sliding scale tuition payment based on income or opt for a flat rate of $250 per month (part-time) or $500 per month (full-time). On top of the flexible tuition rates, students can apply for both in-house and external financial aid.

Average in-state tuition: $500 per credit, $250 to $500 per month, or sliding scale

Average out-of-state tuition: $500 per credit, $250 to $500 per month, or sliding scale

Financial aid: Students can apply for a few in-house scholarships, limited-time awards, and other discounts, as well as use external aid.

Accreditation: Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS)

3. The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) has three online doctoral programs:

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in nursing administrative systems
• Doctor of Philosophy in leadership and decision making
• Doctor of Education (EdD) in leadership and professional practice

UTC offers a variety of scholarship opportunities to students, including merit-based graduate awards, scholarships for divorced students and single parents, and multiple other financial support opportunities.

Average in-state tuition: $507 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $554 per credit

Financial aid: Students can apply for a variety of in-house and external financial aid awards, with options based on program, merit, and other criteria.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

4. Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) has a fully online EdD in assessment, learning, and student success. Students do not need to have completed a GRE or master's degree for entry to the program, and can choose a specialization in higher education or school improvement. MTSU offers some discounts and tuition waivers for qualifying students, such as state employees and teachers, as well as their dependents.

Average in-state tuition: $565 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $1,564 per credit ($565 for Alabama residents)

Financial aid: Qualifying students may be eligible for one of MTSU's tuition waivers or discount programs, and students can also utilize various external aid.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

5. Bryan College

Bryan College has an online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program that can be completed entirely online through eight-week classes. The program can be completed in three years, and allows students to transfer in up to 15 credit hours of qualifying coursework. There are multiple financial aid options offered through the school, and students can opt for an interest-free payment plan for any remaining program costs.

Average in-state tuition: $600 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $600 per credit

Financial aid: Bryan College offers multiple in-house financial aid award options, including scholarships and grants with varying eligibility criteria.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

6. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT Knoxville) has online doctoral programs in fields like:

• agricultural leadership
• education and educational leadership
• industrial engineering
• nursing
• social work

Students can choose from both professional doctorate degrees and those catered toward academia. Online doctoral students have access to 24-hour support and can study at their own pace, whether through part-time or full-time enrollment. Students can work with the financial aid office to identify and apply for various financial aid resources.

Average in-state tuition: $639 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $714 per credit

Financial aid: UT Knoxville offers some scholarship awards and can assist students with applying for state, federal, and outside private awards.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

Explore Online PhD Programs

Explore more programs on Learn.org to discover the most affordable and high-quality doctoral degree programs, and call the schools with programs that fit what you're looking for.