Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Degrees in New Mexico 2025

If you're thinking about going back to school for your doctoral degree, you may be concerned about the price tag. You're wondering: are there any affordable online doctoral programs available in your home state of New Mexico?

Keep reading as we explore some top schools providing the cheapest online PhD programs and other affordable doctoral degrees. We'll look at both in-state and out-of-state online options and provide answers to a few questions you may have.

Cheapest Online PhD & Doctoral Programs in New Mexico

Completing your higher education with a doctoral degree program can be an important career move for many professionals. Let's look at the most affordable online colleges offering doctoral degrees in New Mexico.

1. University of New Mexico

The University of New Mexico, located in Albuquerque, offers a handful of nursing doctoral degrees. These are as follows:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in nursing
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (post-master's)
• DNP nursing administrative leadership (post-bachelor's)

The PhD program prepares students for high-level nursing and nursing education careers, while the DNP programs prepare learners for careers as nurse practitioners. DNP options are available for students with master's degrees, as well as those holding only bachelor's degrees.

• Average cost per credit hour: $416.64
• Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, assistantships, state and federal aid
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. New Mexico State University

New Mexico State University is a public university in Las Cruces, NM. Students can earn two doctoral degrees at this school: a PhD in curriculum and instruction and a DNP program.

These flexible programs are designed for working professionals hoping to take on leadership roles in their fields. The DNP program requires an in-person residency to gain real-world experience and offers bachelor's and master's entry options. Students in the PhD program conduct original research projects to pursue advancements in curriculum design.

• Average cost per credit hour: $444.40
• Financial aid: Grants, scholarships, loans, assistantships
• Accreditation: HLC

3. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, commonly known as New Mexico Tech, is a public school providing several online degree options. PhD students can pursue a variety of online or hybrid programs in concentrations such as:

• computer science
• geophysics
• materials engineering

These programs may require some on-campus components but also provide flexible coursework that can be completed online. Each specialization enables students to learn about advanced methodologies in their focus area and conduct original research.

• Average cost per credit hour: $377.18 to $544.82
• Financial aid: Scholarships, state aid, loans, assistantships
• Accreditation: HLC

Other Affordable Online PhD & Doctoral Programs

Distance learning makes it possible to get a doctoral degree from the comfort of your own home no matter where your school is located. Let's look at some top out-of-state schools offering affordable online doctoral programs, including some of the highest-paying doctoral degrees.

Wichita State University

Wichita State University is a public school in Kansas. It offers a 100% online DNP program with a concentration in family practice.

This post-master's program is designed to prepare students for a variety of top nursing positions, such as chief nursing officer, advanced practice nurse, and healthcare systems leader. It consists of 29 credit hours and can typically be completed in two to three years.

• Average cost per credit hour: $338.87
• Financial aid: Grants, scholarships, assistantships, loans
• Accreditation: HLC

University of Central Arkansas

The University of Central Arkansas is a public school offering two online doctoral degrees. Students can choose between a DNP program and a PhD in change leadership.

Both programs require students to hold a master's degree and meet strict admission requirements. The change leadership program invites students from many backgrounds, such as business, nonprofit, educational leadership, and more, who hope to contribute research to the body of knowledge regarding leadership studies.

• Average cost per credit hour: $349
• Financial aid: Assistantships, scholarships, grants, loans
• Accreditation: HLC

University of Arkansas Little Rock

The University of Arkansas Little Rock is another public school from Arkansas offering affordable online degrees. Doctoral students can earn a PhD in criminal justice or computer and information sciences (CIS).

Students in the CIS program can choose from various tracks, all of which are available online. The doctoral-level criminal justice program helps students learn to advance research in the fields of criminology and criminal justice.

• Average cost per credit hour: $396
• Financial aid: State and federal aid, scholarships, assistantships, grants, loans
• Accreditation: HLC

University of West Georgia

The University of West Georgia is a public school offering a handful of online Doctor of Education (EdD) programs. Areas of study include:

• professional counseling and supervision
• nursing education
• higher education administration

Students in these programs are prepared for high-level careers in the specific field of their choosing. Strict entry requirements, like minimum GPA, resume, and letters of recommendation, must be met. All programs can be completed entirely online.

• Average cost per credit hour: $405.60
• Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, loans, assistantships
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University is another public school from the state of Kansas. It offers an online DNP program with courses available entirely online.

Both bachelor's and master's entry options are available, though the bachelor's option is only open to students from Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The post-master's program starts during the summer session each year.

• Average cost per credit hour: $453.68
• Financial aid: Scholarships, assistantships, loans, state and federal grants
• Accreditation: HLC

Columbia Southern University

Columbia Southern University is a private, for-profit university offering a wide variety of flexible, transfer-friendly online doctoral degrees. Options include:

• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) - multiple concentrations
• Doctor of Organizational Leadership (DOL)
• Doctor of Emergency Management (DEM)

Students complete flexible online coursework on their own schedule as they pursue the terminal degree of their choice. All online doctoral degrees feature the same affordable tuition rates and provide military discounts for qualifying students.

• Average cost per credit hour: $545
• Financial aid: Loans, scholarships, grants
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

Liberty University

Liberty University is a private school located in Virginia with a large online enrollment. It offers many online degrees and certificate programs at every level, including doctoral programs. Some of the many areas of study include:

• health sciences
• public administration
• applied apologetics

These online doctorate degree programs highly flexible eight-week online courses that prepare students for careers in leadership, academia, and research.

• Average cost per credit hour: $610
• Financial aid: Assistantships, scholarships, grants, state and federal aid
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

How We Rank Schools

We strive to choose only the best online education programs when creating our school rank lists. Let's look at the criteria we used when selecting the online learning opportunities above.

• Accreditation: Each school is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, such as the Higher Learning Commission.
• Affordability: All of the programs feature affordable tuition rates of under $700 per credit hour.
• Program reputation: Each program is known for providing rigorous advanced degrees via high-quality distance education formats.
• Online student resources: The programs offer student support resources such as mentoring services, technical help, and more.

How Much Does an Online Doctoral Degree Cost in New Mexico?

There are four schools in New Mexico offering online doctoral degrees. Most of these schools provide affordable tuition rates for both in-state and out-of-state students studying online.

The schools featured in this article offer per-credit-hour tuition costs ranging from around $377 to $544 per credit hour. The University of the Southwest also offers online doctoral degrees, but at more expensive prices of $875 per credit hour.

Keep in mind that total degree costs depend on more than tuition rates; students will also be subject to various fees. In addition, some doctoral programs require more time and credit hours than others; the longer, more involved programs will generally be more expensive than short-term programs.

Financial Aid for Online Doctoral Programs in New Mexico

Various financial aid opportunities are available for online doctoral students, especially those attending cheap online colleges that accept FAFSA. All students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA each year regardless of their financial standing.

Those who complete the FAFSA may be eligible for various state and federal grants, student loans, and work-study programs. The FAFSA may also be necessary for some scholarships.

Both part-time and full-time graduate students can apply for scholarships through their schools or through outside organizations. Some private grants may also be available.

Finally, graduate students are encouraged to apply for any fellowships or assistantships available through their schools. These programs enable students to gain hands-on experience in their field of interest while earning money to pay for school.

Discover Online Doctoral Degrees

If you're ready to exceed your current level of education and earn a doctoral degree online, explore the schools featured on Learn.org. Reach out to any of the colleges to learn more about their professional doctorate and PhD degrees programs and to choose the right one for you.