Easiest Online PhD Programs With No Dissertation 2025

Not every terminal degree program requires a dissertation, including several Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. There are many online PhD and doctoral programs that only require advanced coursework and clinical projects.

Distance education offers an alternative for working professionals or individuals who prefer not to write a lengthy research paper. Here, we invite you to consider the best doctorate degrees online with no dissertation requirement.

What Is a Dissertation?

A dissertation is a substantial research project that most PhD programs require at the end of a student's program. It can span several hundred pages, must involve new contributions to the academic field, and often sets the course for a new professor's research career. There are, however, a growing number of institutions that do not emphasize this component as much as they once did.

If you desire to skip the lengthy commitment of writing a major research paper (which normally takes at least a year), explore online doctorates that don't require it. You can also check out some of the easiest PhD programs to learn more about the fastest way to complete an online doctoral degree. It may even be possible to enroll in certain 1-year PhD programs online with no dissertation, provided you already have a master's degree or equivalent academic experience.

Do All Doctoral Programs Require a Dissertation?

No, there are career fields, such as healthcare and business administration, that prefer students to demonstrate their academic competency in other ways. Some programs place more weight on clinical work, externships, and other hands-on activities, instead of the traditional dissertation.

The good news is that many non-dissertation PhDs are faster and more accessible through online learning formats. These degrees are among the shortest PhD programs and still confer the highest degree in their academic fields.

What Doctoral Degrees Can You Get Without a Dissertation?

There are several part-time and full-time opportunities for doctoral studies that do not require a dissertation for valuable credentials, such as a Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and other professional doctorates.

Many DNP programs require a different capstone project or applied project rather than focusing on original research. Here are some academic subjects where it is more common to obtain a doctoral degree without enduring a difficult dissertation process or even attending on-campus classes:

• psychology
• education
• organizational leadership
• business administration
• healthcare administration
• social work
• public health
• physical therapy
• occupational therapy
• criminal justice
• public administration
• public policy

Easiest Online Doctoral and PhD Programs With No Dissertation

Below, we've listed accredited universities that offer no-dissertation online PhD options. Although professional doctorates are often expensive, we try to include the most affordable online PhD and doctorate programs for students trying to budget their higher education costs.

1. Walden University

Walden University's education program is one of many that allows students to choose between completing a capstone project or a dissertation. The EdD program is fully online and offers several specializations, designed to prepare graduates for leadership roles in universities, community colleges, nonprofit educational institutions, and other areas of academia.

It also offers various ways to transfer credits from other institutions, making degree completion even swifter.

• Average in-state tuition: $660 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $660 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Walden University offers tuition scholarships, federal aid, and flexible payment plans.
• Accreditation: Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

2. Liberty University

Liberty University's EdD program promises to be a combination of ''praxis and scholarship,'' according to its website. This means graduates can expect a curriculum that teaches research methods and real-world leadership skills together.

Liberty also offers a PhD in education, which can be completed 100% online, similar to the EdD program, but it requires a dissertation.

• Average in-state tuition: $595 per credit hour (full-time)
• Average out-of-state tuition: $650 per credit hour (part-time)
• Financial aid: Military veterans enjoy a low tuition rate of only $275 per credit hour for this program. There are other scholarship and grant opportunities available to all students.
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

3. Boston University

Boston University's online doctoral program in occupational therapy does not require a dissertation, and it's one of the fastest to complete (only 33 credits required).

Many students finish this degree within 18 months while developing advanced research skills in a growing academic field. Boston University requires students to complete a capstone project involving presentation skills and research but not a full dissertation.

• Average in-state tuition: $974 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $974 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Students can reduce the tuition rate by at least $100 by obtaining merit-based scholarships.
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

4. Thomas Jefferson University

Thomas Jefferson University offers a DNP degree, which students can either complete through online or in-person delivery. It prepares graduates for lucrative careers in health sciences fields by teaching practical skills and leadership without involving a dissertation project.

The degree program promises six essential outcomes for its graduates, including the ability to influence policymakers on important matters in the healthcare field.

• Average in-state tuition: $1,129 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $1,129 per credit hour
• Financial aid: The university's financial aid website features many opportunities for grant funding, assistantships, and external scholarships.
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

5. Bradley University

Bradley University offers a DNP program, fully online, and does not require a formal dissertation. Four of its five concentrations only need a bachelor's degree for enrollment, and the nursing school utilizes experienced clinicians to teach all doctoral courses. Although tuition is higher (which is common for DNP degrees), you can offset costs by pursuing scholarships and remote work-study opportunities.

• Average in-state tuition: $1,090 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $1,090 per credit hour
• Financial aid: The school website mentions scholarships for graduate students, including some that cancel out 10% to 100% of the costs.
• Accreditation: CCNE

6. College of St. Scholastica

The College of St. Scholastica's Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree does not require a dissertation and allows students to complete online courses in an asynchronous format. This is also what the school calls a condensed program, with only six courses altogether, making it possible to finish everything within one year.

• Average in-state tuition: $832 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $832 per credit hour
• Financial aid: You can reduce the tuition burden by applying for scholarships, grants, and needs-based discounts.
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

7. Seton Hall University

Seton Hall University gives nurses the chance to advance their careers with its DNP program. This degree opportunity has received praise from U.S. News & World Report, calling it one of the ''best online graduate nursing programs.''

If you already possess a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), then you can complete this dissertation-less doctorate within about 31 credits.

• Average in-state tuition: $1,570 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $1,570 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Seton Hall has a website section for Nursing Scholarships, featuring five awards, such as the Catherine P. Hanley Endowed Nursing Scholarship.
• Accreditation: CCNE

8. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville offers a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) focusing on clinical practice and leadership. This program focuses on clinical social work in various settings, allowing students to hone their real-world skills and demonstrate mastery of the field.

You can pay for this online degree program by participating in the department's research assistant roles.

• Average in-state tuition: $490 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $565 per credit hour
• Financial aid: This university offers grants, scholarships, and low-interest loans. You can also apply for graduate assistantships through the College of Social Work.
• Accreditation: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

9. Frontier Nursing University

Frontier Nursing University offers a DNP degree, available 100% online, requiring about 18 months of study (for 30 credit hours). The primary requirement for finishing this program involves administering ''a rapid cycle quality improvement project,'' consisting of about 500 clinical hours. This DNP practicum experience replaces the need to write a traditional dissertation.

• Average in-state tuition: $705 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $705 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Graduate students can utilize military discounts or apply for unsubsidized student loans.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

10. Maryville University of St. Louis

Maryville University of St. Louis's DNP program takes between 18 to 20 months for degree completion, whereas its DNP-NP concentration requires 36 months of study. Students do not have to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or any other standardized test for admission. There are clinical requirements for this role, but the Nursing School allows you to complete them locally.

• Average in-state tuition: $995 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $995 per credit hour
• Financial aid: The financial aid website mentions federal loans, Stafford loans, employer assistance programs, and student employment to offset tuition expenses.
• Accreditation: CCNE

How We Rank Schools

We rank online doctoral programs based on certain criteria for the list above. Doctoral students should carefully consider these three important criteria before program enrollment: accreditation, affordability, and academic reputation.

• Accreditation: Universities must hold accreditation from an accredited review board, such as the HLC.
• Affordability: Although online PhD programs are not cheap, they must at least be affordable with financial aid options.
• Program reputation and quality: This list only includes reputable programs with experienced faculty members, modern educational technology, and PhD student mentorship. These high-quality programs also do not indicate ''no dissertation'' on your diploma, which means employers won't know whether you completed one.

Explore Online Doctoral Degrees

Learn.org invites you to find out more about online education at every level, from community college degrees and bachelor's degrees to master's programs, online doctorates, professional licensure, and more. This website can help you identify any online academic specialization.