Last Updated on December 24, 2022
There are many reasons to pursue your doctorate at an older age. Not only do you get the benefit of additional experience, but the wisdom that goes along with it. For many seniors, there is not enough time in college to get all the classes they would like to take because they are working full-time jobs to support their families. Working part-time or not at all throughout school can cause significant loss of time and therefore money—both in tuition and foregone income.
Ph.D., or Doctor of Philosophy, programs are available in a variety of subject areas. Institutions that offer the best programs typically have exceptional funding, top-of-the-line research facilities, and abundant academic resources. When selecting one of the shortest doctoral programs or easiest Ph.D. programs, request information from each school for more details.
The easiest isn’t always the shortest nor the shortest the easiest.
PhD programs for older adults
While most doctoral degree programs last 2 or more years, we’ve found one university that offers an accelerated 12-month online doctoral program.
BREYER STATE UNIVERSITY – ethereal accelerated doctor of psychology in grief counseling. This online program is also one of the most affordable online doctoral programs on our list, offering tuition at $3,500.
More 1-year virtual doctoral programs will be added to this ranking as they are found. This list was last updated on April 1, 2019.
Shortest free PhD programs online and On-campus
Obtaining a Ph.D. is a long-term commitment. Most doctoral programs can take well beyond five years to complete. Several universities across the country offer accredited accelerated Ph.D. programs.
For busy working professionals looking to jumpstart their careers, this list serves as a simple reference guide, comprising some of the shortest doctoral programs in the country. These online degree programs operate in either a full-time, part-time, fully-online, or hybrid format.
- FRONTIER NURSING UNIVERSITY – Doctor of Nursing Practice, MSN with DNP, 85 credit hours
- BOSTON UNIVERSITY – Online Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy, PP-OTD, 33 credits
- GWYNEDD MERCY UNIVERSITY – Accelerated Executive Doctorate of Education ABD (All But Dissertation) Completion Program, online EdD, 27 credit hours (18 months)
- DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY – Online Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP, 35 credit hours
- THE COLLEGE OF ST. SCHOLASTICA – Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy, online DPT, 16 credits
- LIBERTY UNIVERSITY – Doctor of Ministry, online DMin, 30 credit hours
- UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA – Doctor of Nursing Practice, MSN to DNP, 35 credits (5 semesters)
- UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA – Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice, online DNP, 36 credit hours (5 semesters)
- SETON HALL UNIVERSITY – Doctor of Nursing Practice, online DNP, 31+ credits for post-MSN students, 73-79 credits for post-BSN students
- REGIS UNIVERSITY – Doctor of Nursing Practice, online DNP, 31-36 credit hours
- GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY – Curriculum and Instruction EdD, Educational Leadership EdD, on-campus EdD, 54 credit hours
- BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY – Technology Management, web-based PhD, 66 credit hours
- HAMPTON UNIVERSITY – Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management, online PhD, 60 credit hours
- INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA – Safety Sciences, online PhD, 54 credit hours
- EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY – Doctor of Nursing Practice, hybrid online DNP
fully funded PhD programs 2021 Online and On-campus
To be sure, no PhD program could be considered “easy,” but there are certain programs designed to be simpler than others.
Typically, education, humanities, and the social sciences are considered the easiest fields in which to pursue degrees. With that in mind, our list of the easiest PhD programs includes schools and programs that offer significantly reduced residency requirements, accelerated courses, credit transfers, and integrated dissertation colloquia.
The rankings below display schools with accreditation from at least one of the six regional accrediting agencies, and all offer at least one virtual PhD. Online PhD programs were also organized according to the U.S. News and World Report and Forbes Magazine rankings.
Easiest PhD Programs Online
- UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA – 7 online doctoral degree programs; Tuition: $129.18 per credit (in-state), $552.62 per credit (out-of-state)
- UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – 24 online and partially-online doctorate programs; Tuition: varies by program
- COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY – 4 online PhD programs; Tuition: $926-$1,085 per credit
- UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA – 10 online PhD programs; Tuition: $460.85-$784.13 per credit
- NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY – 18 online doctorate degree programs; Tuition: $967-$1,420 per credit
free-phd-programs-for-senior-citizens
Easiest PhD and Shortest Doctoral Programs Online
Ph.D., or Doctor of Philosophy, online degree programs are available in a variety of subject areas. Institutions that offer the best programs typically have exceptional funding, top-of-the-line research facilities, and abundant academic resources. When selecting one of the shortest doctoral programs or easiest Ph.D. programs, request info from each school for more details.
The easiest isn’t always the shortest nor the shortest the easiest.
1-year Online Doctoral Programs | Shortest Doctoral Programs Online and On-campus | Easiest PhD Online and On-campus
Doctorate Degree vs PhD
The difference between PhD and doctorate programs is that the PhD programs are more theoretical while doctorate programs is more practical. Doctoral degrees are usually offered in fields such as engineering, mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.
Doctorate programs are made up of advanced coursework, research projects or thesis work. This degree will get you ready to teach at the university level or get a higher-level management position in some companies.
PhD programs are oriented towards research and knowledge acquisition while doctoral degrees are oriented more towards teaching and application of knowledge.
1 Year PhD Programs Online
While most online doctoral degree programs last 2 or more years, we’ve found one university that offers an accelerated 12-month online doctoral program.
BREYER STATE UNIVERSITY – ethereal accelerated doctor of psychology in grief counseling. This shortest doctoral program online is also one of the most affordable online doctoral programs on our list, offering tuition at $3,500.
More 1-year online doctoral programs will be added to this ranking as they are found. This list was last updated on June 7, 2021.
Online Doctorate Programs for You
Shortest Doctoral Programs Online and On-campus
Obtaining a Ph.D. is a long-term commitment. Most doctoral programs can take well beyond five years to complete. Several universities across the country offer accredited accelerated Ph.D. programs.
For busy working professionals looking to jumpstart their careers, this list serves as a simple reference guide, comprising some of the shortest doctoral programs in the country. These online degree programs operate in either a full-time, part-time, fully-online, or hybrid format.
- FRONTIER NURSING UNIVERSITY – Doctor of Nursing Practice, MSN with DNP, 85 credit hours
- BOSTON UNIVERSITY – Online Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy, PP-OTD, 33 credits
- GWYNEDD MERCY UNIVERSITY – Accelerated Executive Doctorate of Education ABD (All But Dissertation) Completion Program, online EdD, 27 credit hours (18 months)
- DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY – Online Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP, 35 credit hours
- THE COLLEGE OF ST. SCHOLASTICA – Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy, online DPT, 16 credits
- LIBERTY UNIVERSITY – Doctor of Ministry, online DMin, 30 credit hours
- UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA – Doctor of Nursing Practice, MSN to DNP, 35 credits (5 semesters)
- UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA – Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice, online DNP, 36 credit hours (5 semesters)
- SETON HALL UNIVERSITY – Doctor of Nursing Practice, online DNP, 31+ credits for post-MSN students, 73-79 credits for post-BSN students
- REGIS UNIVERSITY – Doctor of Nursing Practice, online DNP, 31-36 credit hours
- GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY – Curriculum and Instruction EdD, Educational Leadership EdD, on-campus EdD, 54 credit hours
- BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY – Technology Management, web-based PhD, 66 credit hours
- HAMPTON UNIVERSITY – Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management, online PhD, 60 credit hours
- INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA – Safety Sciences, online PhD, 54 credit hours
- EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY – Doctor of Nursing Practice, hybrid online DNP
Easiest PhD Programs Online and On-campus
To be sure, no online PhD program could be considered “easy,” but there are certain programs designed to be “easier” than others.
Typically, education, humanities, and the social sciences are considered the easiest fields in which to pursue degrees. With that in mind, our list of the easiest PhD programs includes schools and programs that offer significantly reduced residency requirements, accelerated courses, credit transfers, and integrated dissertation colloquia.
The rankings below display schools with accreditation from at least one of the six regional accrediting agencies, and all offer at least one virtual PhD degree. Accredited online PhD programs are also organized according to the U.S. News and World Report and Forbes Magazine rankings.
Easiest Online PhD Programs & Online Doctoral
Programs
- WALDEN UNIVERSITY< – 170 Online Doctoral Programs
- REGENT UNIVERSITY – 83 online doctorate degrees, 3 PhD programs online
- HAMPTON UNIVERSITY – 5 online doctoral degree programs
- UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA – 7 online doctoral degree programs; Tuition: $129.18 per credit (in-state), $552.62 per credit (out-of-state)
- UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – 24 online and partially-online doctorate programs; Tuition: varies by program
- COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY – 4 online PhD programs; Tuition: $926-$1,085 per credit
- UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA – 10 online PhD programs; Tuition: $460.85-$784.13 per credit
- NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY – 18 online doctorate degree programs; Tuition: $967-$1,420 per credit hour
- LIBERTY UNIVERSITY – 34 online PhD, DBA, DPA, DWS, DME, ThM, DNP, EdS, DMin, and EdD programs; Tuition: $300 per credit hour
If you’re not looking for an accelerated program, the list below displays some of the best traditional PhD programs in the country, according to Study.com.
Best PhD Programs in the U.S.
| College/University Name | Distinction | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Cornell University | Conducts interdisciplinary research through at least 100 centers, institutes, and on-campus laboratories | Ithaca, NY |
| Northwestern University | Interdisciplinary clusters give students the option to collaborate with peers and faculty outside of their respective programs | Evanston, IL |
| Stanford University | Hosts a faculty comprised of 19 Nobel Laureates and 4 Pulitzer Prize Winners | Stanford, CA |
| University of California in Berkeley | Allows a doctoral student to participate in customized interdisciplinary degree programs | Berkeley, CA |
| University of Michigan in Ann Arbor | Offers over 160 PhD programs | Ann Arbor, MI |
| University of Pennsylvania | Home to 142 research centers and institutes | Philadelphia, PA |
| University of Texas at Austin | Maintains 19 libraries stocked with over 10 million total volumes | Austin, TX |
| University of Washington in Seattle | Provides $11 million in graduate fellowships and other awards yearly, according to 2013 data | Seattle, WA |
| University of Wisconsin in Madison | Offers over 120 doctoral programs | Madison, WI |
Guide to Online Doctorate Degrees
In most fields, doctorate degrees are considered the highest level of education one can achieve. These degrees are meant for students who are committed to advance their knowledge in specific areas of study.
Unfortunately, many people do not go up to this advanced educational level. Fewer positions requiring this advanced level qualification and reduced competition for such job opportunities among job seekers are some of the reasons behind few doctoral graduates.
With technological advancements in almost all areas of life, acquiring education, significantly advanced level education has become more accessible. Graduate students now do not have to attend physical classes to pursue their dreams of developing and advancing their skills.
You can pursue your doctorate at the comfort of your home or even your office. There has been a substantive growth in students pursuing doctorate degrees between 2000/2001 and 2015/2016 academic years, according to NCES. This growth of about 49% has been attributed to the availability of online PhD programs. If you are a student intending to pursue an online doctorate degree, the guide below is meant to ease your decision-making process.
Types of Online Doctorate Degrees
As students, you have many advanced degree programs to choose from. A ph.D or the Doctor of Philosophy is the most common and recognized doctoral degree but certainly not the only one. Ph.D. is a research degree whose curriculum includes conducting and designing research through the dissertation process. It prepares you as a student to work as professors in academia, conduct research to add your base knowledge, and serve as consultants in different settings.
Professional doctorate degrees are for fields like business (D.B.A), pharmacy (Pharm.D), nursing (D.N.P), and education (Ed.D). These online PhD programs prepare you to apply what you have learned in the work environment. Like Ph. D students are required to conduct research and, in addition, develop a unique project or a portfolio.
However, there are no clear distinctions between professional doctorate and PhD graduates, only that Ph. D graduates work in industries and the other graduates teaching at the college level. Therefore, before choosing an area of specialization, you should understand all that is entailed in that specific area regarding working environments, learning period, qualifications, and even fees charged.
Period of Learning
Most Ph. D programs will take 4 to 6 years with 2-3 of course work followed by supervised teaching and research leading to completing the dissertation or the original research project. Time taken to complete these programs may, however, depend on several factors, which may include:
- The research project and topic
- Whether online or campus-based learning
- Relevant working experience and related master’s level degrees.
Online Ph. D programs and professional doctoral degrees like Ed. D are both available online. However, they take a shorter period to complete than campus-based learning. It is even shorter if you have related degrees at the master’s level and an advanced relevant working experience.
If you are interested in an online doctorate degree program, it is essential that you closely consider the requirements of the curriculum:
- On-site fieldwork and clinical experience
- What you should expect
- How the program will help you achieve your goals
Choosing between campus-based and online doctoral degrees
It may be hard to decide whether to go on-campus learning or online PhD courses. If you are such a student, stuck between options, not knowing what to settle for, here is a guide to help you make the most informed decisions. Considering the benefits and the drawbacks of both programs will help you decide.
Campus-based Learning
Benefits
- The opportunities to study across departments are increased.
- Provide opportunities for immersion in faculty mentorship and research projects
- Increased networking opportunities and participated in collaborative projects with other students, supervisors, lecturers, and faculty.
- Instance clarification and response to questions.
Disadvantages
- Restrictions on your schedule, especially for students who are also working at the same time studying. Most doctorate students are part-time students doing other activities asides from learning. Going to class will automatically affect your schedule if you are such a student, in which case you may consider online or hybrid learning or evening and weekend classes.
Online Ph. D Programs
Benefits
- Flexible with your schedule as there is no need to make a physical appearance to class to meet the professors, supervisors, or other students. Attending class does not mean stopping what you are doing. It is easy to combine work and learning.
- You can study anywhere- This learning method allows you to study anywhere in the world. Moreover, you do not have to be physically in that country to learn there because online programs used online platforms and forums to connect with the professors.
- You can also connect with other students from different parts of the world
- Improves your self-discipline and motivation skills as no one will know whether you attended the class or not. It is within the discretion of the students to do so.
- Distance learning is a cheaper learning method because some costs such as transport to and from school and hostel accommodation are avoided.
Disadvantages
- Students require technological know-how and technical equipment such as laptops, computers, smartphones, and the kind. This may be expensive to some extent.
- With this form of learning, it is challenging to create faculty mentorship relations with other faculty members.
Online PhD programs are a relatively newer idea. They can be seen as an extension of the online master’s degree programs, with the exception of the need to complete research and dissertation projects. Online PhDs will usually not take more than five years to complete, compared to more than four years for traditional on-campus PhDs.
PhD programs are an important part of higher education in many countries. Students usually complete these studies for the sake of knowledge and to advance the field of their profession. In this post, we will take a look at online PhD programs and how they may be helpful for students who want to get a PhD but don’t want to relocate from their country or from their current location.
There are currently many online PhD programs available to students who wish to further their education.
Online PhD degrees are convenient for the student, as they allow them to work and study at the same time.
Online PhD programs also provide an alternative for students who cannot afford traditional graduate programs, or the time commitment is too demanding.
Students enrolled in online PhD programs can either enroll as full-time or part-time students.
A PhD is a doctoral degree that requires intense study and original research in order to provide new insight into a given area. Usually, students complete this degree after completing a Master’s degree or other qualification in the same area. As such, it takes about 4-6 years of study before someone can graduate with a PhD in any field.
As a student, you can go through the disadvantages and advantages of each method to find out the most appropriate for you.
