25 Most Affordable Doctoral Degrees in Management or Leadership Online in 2021

25 Most Affordable Doctoral Degrees in Management or Leadership Online in 2021

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Updated June 29, 2021

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In this article, we profile the top 25 most affordable options for an online doctoral degree in management, business administration with a management concentration or specialty, organizational leadership, or a related discipline.

A doctoral degree in management or leadership is the highest level of academic degree in the field. Employers, whether in academia or the business sector, view someone with a PhD as an expert in the field. Those interested in business and management programs now have online options, and won't have to quit their current career to earn an advanced degree. Today, some of the nation's top accredited institutions offer an online doctoral degree in management, leadership, or a related discipline.

Most Affordable Online Doctoral Degrees in Management or Leadership in 2021

  • Antioch University
    Location

    Yellow Springs, OH

    Tuition

    $23462

    Students in search of affordable online doctoral business and management programs may find the online PhD in leadership and change a good match. The program is designed for working professionals living anywhere in the nation who want to provide leadership and change that betters workplace environments like schools and business organizations. Required courses include case studies of leading change, cultural dimensions of leadership, ethics in leadership and inquiry, nature of leadership, and reflective leadership. A dissertation is also required, and must confirm the student's knowledge while making a contribution to the field. Antioch University and its doctoral programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

  • Baker College
    Location

    Flint, MI

    Tuition

    $11745

    Baker College's online doctoral business and management programs are designed for business professionals who want to acquire advanced skills for solving critical business and management problems facing today's business world. The program is delivered entirely online with required courses, seminars, research papers, and a final dissertation. Professional residencies may also be required. Required courses include corporate and personal ethics, introduction to research design, knowledge management and information systems, managing in a worldwide context, and quality improvement and organizational change. Baker College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, and the business administration program has received additional accreditation.

  • Bellevue University
    Location

    Bellevue, NE

    Tuition

    $9900

    Bellevue University's PhD in management online degree is designed to prepare graduates to be effective leaders in human capital development organizations and programs. Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, the program delivers online curriculum for working professionals. Required coursework includes economics of human capital valuation, human capital development and productivity, human learning and decision making, research in organizations, and strategic management of human-derived sources of capital. In addition to classes, a dissertation must be completed and defended. Bellevue's graduate business programs, excluding the MBA, have earned recognition from U.S. News and World Report as being in the top 100 best online graduate business programs.

  • Capella University
    Location

    Minneapolis, MN

    Tuition

    $14175

    Capella University offers an affordable online doctor of business administration degree with a specialization in project management. The DBA in project management online program is designed to equip students with advanced skills and understanding that allow them to emerge as executives and business thought leaders. The program consists of online discussions, networking sites, and occasional face-to-face weekend residencies. Online courses are ten weeks in length and include advanced concepts of project management methodologies, advanced risk management systems and research, dynamics of program and portfolio management, and projects as complex adaptive systems. Capella is a nationally ranked institution and has been recognized in the past by major publications like U.S. News and World Report.

  • Colorado Technical University
    Location

    Colorado Springs, CO

    Tuition

    $13731

    Colorado Technical University offers an accredited PhD in management online degree program that is designed to be completed in three years. The online doctor of management degree requires the completion of numerous courses, doctoral research, and a dissertation. Three areas of competencies are covered, including leadership and change management, research and writing, and the specific management concentration discipline. Online management courses include management and ethics, management theory, organization innovation and scenario thinking, practice and theory of consulting and intervention, and strategic thinking and organizational alignment. Colorado Tech has earned recognition by major publications like U.S. News and World Report as a best national university.

  • Concordia University Chicago
    Location

    River Forest, IL

    Tuition

    $14688

    Alternatives to online DBA programs include PhDs in management or organizational leadership. Concordia University at Chicago offers an online PhD with specialization in organizational leadership. The program is research-based, with classes delivered entirely online. Required courses include critical issues in leadership, leadership communication and decision-making, leadership development, leadership theories and professional practice, promoting and leading change, and strategic forecasting and planning. A comprehensive exam and dissertation are also required. Concordia University ranks with major publications like U.S. News and World Report. In fact, U.S. News ranks the institution as the 75th best regional university in the Midwest.

  • Eastern University
    Location

    Saint Davids, PA

    Tuition

    $16060

    Eastern University offers an alternative to the PhD in management online degree program. The school's online PhD in organizational leadership combines management theories with competencies required for leadership within a particular sector. In fact, students may choose the business management concentration and take additional classes that emphasize this area of specialty. Required business management courses include consulting practice, leading in the community problem solving and conflict, organizational design, and training and development. Students must also pass a comprehensive examination and complete a required dissertation. Eastern University is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the 83rd best regional university in the North.

  • George Fox University
    Location

    Newberg, OR

    Tuition

    $14592

    George Fox University offers one of the most affordable online DBA programs, which also allows students to pursue a concentration in management. Coursework is delivered entirely online, but students must also attend on-campus residencies near the Portland area twice per year. Core business classes include conceptual foundations in finance, ethics and moral decision-making in business, international business, and research design and methods. Management courses include human resources development, organizational theory and behavior, and strategic management. Comprehensive exams and a dissertation, which includes a proposal, dissertation research, and final defense, are also required. George Fox is ranked by major publications like Forbes magazine, The Princeton Review, and U.S. News and World Report. In fact, U.S. News ranks the school as the 28th best regional university in the West.

  • Grand Canyon University
    Location

    Phoenix, AZ

    Tuition

    $10124

    Grand Canyon University offers one of the most affordable online doctoral business and management programs in the country. The online DBA in management degree is designed for working students who are unable to take traditional day-time courses. While classes are entirely online, two in-person four-day residencies are required. Required courses include designing organizational structures, economics for business decisions, introduction to advanced graduate studies and scholarship, management theory in a global economy, managing stakeholder relationships, and statistics for business research. A dissertation is also required. Grand Canyon is accredited and ranked with major publications like U.S. News and World Report. In fact, the school has received recognition from U.S. News as one of the top regional universities in the West.

  • Hampton University
    Location

    Hampton, VA

    Tuition

    $10298

    Affordable online DBA programs can be difficult to find, but Hampton University's online PhD in business administration is both inexpensive and accredited. Also, the program allows students to design their coursework in a particular area of interest. Those interested in management and marketing can take additional classes that emphasize these business disciplines. Management courses include advanced decision support systems, international management, issues in operations management, managerial economics, marketing management, and organizational change theory. Comprehensive examinations and a dissertation are also required. Hampton is ranked by major publications like U.S. News and World Report. In fact, the 2016 edition of Best Colleges lists the school as the 18th best regional university in the South.

Our Methodology, Explained

Grad School Hub compiles rankings based on public data released from educational, commercial, and government databases. Sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics play a significant role in how we source our educational data. After collecting insight for each institution, we organize information into five weighted categories.
Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 30%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 10%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 30%
Program Offerings Number of program options 20%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 10%
A more comprehensive evaluation of how each category is determined and scored is accessible on our Ranking Methodology page.

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This concludes our ranking of the top 25 most affordable options for an online doctoral degree in management, business administration with a management concentration or specialty, organizational leadership, or a related discipline.

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GradSchoolHub.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

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