Tuition Free PhD Programs Online

Last Updated on December 15, 2022

Students and young adults looking for online phd programs and 1 year phd programs online will find the following article beneficial. This article provides a list of cheap online phd programs, cheap but quality universities offering 1 year master degree in the uk, cheap but quality online phd programs in the usa and cheap but quality 1 year master degree in australia. 

If you are seeking an affordable best phd in education there is a good chance you will also be looking for the cheapest online phd programs and 1 year phd programs.  

Independent PhD – Tuition Fee Free

For those who are interested in doing a PhD and meet the academic requirements, fit into the research areas at the IT University, and have the financial resources to support themselves during their enrolment.
University of the People Online Degrees That are Tuition-Free in 2021

If you are interested in doing a PhD, meet the academic requirements, fit into the research areas at the IT University, and have the financial resources to support yourself during the period of enrolment, ITU has the option to offer you enrolment as an independent student with a Tuition Free Fee stipend.

This model means that you’ll support yourself financially during the period of enrolment and are able to document your ability to do so or provide a solid financial plan prior to enrolment. The Tuition Free Fee stipend is not paid to you as a PhD student, but it will be used to finance the ITU’s expenses in connection with the PhD programme, such as supervision, administration, office space, computer etc.

Tuition Free PhD Programs Online

In this list we have compiled the Top 5 fully funded PhD programs found across the nation in the field. Fully funded means students have the chance to get a variety of aid options from grants, scholarships, residencies and more to fund their education while pursuing their PhD in Education.

1. THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

The University of Michigan School of Education encourages all PhD students to think rigorously and demonstrate an ability to make a difference in education. The fully funded PhD program produces leaders, policymakers, and researchers dedicated to improving the state of education country and worldwide. The School of Education offers a PhD in Educational Studies in a number of areas of focus: Educational Policy, Leadership and Innovation, Literacy, Language, and Culture, or Mathematics Education to name a few. There are also three additional PhD degrees in English and Education, Education and Psychology or Higher Education.

Funding packages with the Michigan School of Education are flexible and plenty. Doctoral students receive a minimum of four years of financial support which covers items like tuition, a stipend for living expenses, and health insurance. This insurance will even cover health and dental benefits for students’ family members, an invaluable benefit for many students when considering the rising costs of healthcare. All students who participate in the fully funded PhD program are assigned a 20-hour-per-week assignment. This might include filling roles as a research or staff assistant, or as an instructor.

2. Vanderbilt Peabody College

Vanderbilt University has long been a mecca for students striving to become the ‘best of the best’ in their fields, and located in Nashville, Tennessee, a thriving city and center for industries like healthcare and higher education, it’s easy to see why so many students excel through the university’s world-class programs. The Vanderbilt Peabody College offers a couple of fully funded PhD programs in Education through the Leadership, Policy and Organizations department. Two concentrations can be selected: K-12 Educational Leadership and Policy (ELP), and Higher Education Leadership and Policy (HELP).

The PhD program is for students and educators who wish to build an academic career focused on the study of education and policy, and with the university’s unique mentor-apprentice model, students gain knowledge through researched based assistantships alongside esteemed faculty. All Peabody College PhD students receive full tuition funding. The funding is achieved through merit awards or University Tuition Scholarships. Typically, students will also benefit from health insurance coverage and may participate in University Fellowships, Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Graduate Research Assistantships, Traineeships, and Teacher Training Awards.

3. THE STEINHARDT SCHOOL AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

Students at Steinhardt School at New York University can earn a free Ph.D. in education through the use of scholarships and tuition programs at the school. Those in the Ed. in leadership and innovation take 24 weeks to complete the program. They focus on coursework in applied research methods, change and innovation, and management and data ethics. Admission to the program requires that students answer why they want to attend Steinhardt, how their work experiences prepare them for a cohort learning environment, and what experience, if any, they have with online learning. Prospective students also need to include a resume, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts from previously attended postsecondary institutions.

4. BARCLAY COLLEGE

TUITION-FREE

LOCATION: Haviland, Kansas

Barclay College was established in 1917 as the Kansas Central Bible Training School, and from 1925-1990 was known as the Friends Bible College. Now Barclay College, this free Christian college was established by Quakers, yet it is a welcoming home to students of all evangelical faiths. The mission is largely focused on preparing students for Christian service and leadership. Some undergraduate degrees include Bachelor’s in Worship Arts, Pastoral Ministry, and Youth Ministry. There are also prominent Master’s programs in which students can take advantage. The free tuition is made possible through the Full-Tuition Scholarship, with which all resident students receive a $15,000 scholarship when they are accepted into Barclay. This scholarship is available thanks to supporters of the school who believe in giving Christian students access to a fantastic education without being overwhelmed with debt.

The tuition free online university is well-known for its online business management program, which is geared toward individuals who want to finish their bachelor’s degree anywhere in the country. Students attend in four six-week courses every semester, which means the program can be completed in as little as two years.

5. BEREA COLLEGE

TUITION-FREE

LOCATION: Berea, Kentucky

This free Christian college supplies students with programs that are shaped by fairness, peace, love, and equality, and students are only required to pay an average price of $1,000 for meals, housing, and fees. Otherwise, the entirety of an individual’s education is completely free!

In fact, Berea College takes pride in its status as the only one of top colleges in the United States with a no-tuition promise! You can get a free online bachelor degree in your field of choice, too, thanks to Berea’s comprehensive degree programs. Its academic departments include African and African American studies, agriculture and natural studies, biology, business, sociology and religion, to name a few.

Over a four-year degree, students receive an education that is worth approximately $100,000. Located in the Southern United States, Berea College was founded by reformers and abolitionists with the mission to purvey the teachings and principles of Jesus Christ. Students are actively engaged on campus through the Student Labor Program, through which they serve the community and learn invaluable lessons, and which also helps keep their programs tuition-free. Berea College has been recognized many times over for their dedication to students with limited resources, by resources such as Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and USA Today, as well as many others

cheapest online phd programs

Young hispanic female graduate raised ... | Stock image | Colourbox

Deciding to pursue a graduate degree historically is not what a student would deal with trying to finance, especially without financial aid. For years, graduate students won scholarships or received tuition help from the school they achieved a graduate candidacy in since affordability was a big issue.

Texas Tech University

  • Lubbock, Texas
  • Graduation Rate: 60%

Since 1923 Texas Tech has been an institution in Lubbock, Texas. It was originally established as an institution to study and assist advancement in agriculture. Since then, the university has grown to offer multiple academic programs, among them well-established doctorate programs. Texas Tech has been well-engaged with building and offering online Ph.D. programs as well. Specifically, Texas Tech currently offers the following:

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Agriculture Education
Doctor of Education in Higher Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Systems and Engineering Management
Doctor of Philosophy in Technical Communication and Rhetoric

Among these programs, the Ph.D. in Education is the lowest cost, charging close to a community college price with a rate of $166.50 per credit. However, you do need to be an in-state resident. Otherwise, the cost jumps to a still affordable value of $274 per credit. The program, however, isn’t entirely online. Doctoral students do have to spend at least one week on campus a year and take an intensive phase in the program. Overall, the Ph.D. program takes 60 credits total and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Cost: $274/creditIn-Person Requirement: Yes, one week annuallyProgram length: 60 credit hours

New Mexico State University

  • Las Cruces, New Mexico
  • Graduation Rate: 44%

One of the oldtimers in terms of institutions created before 1900, New Mexico University has been a longtime resident of Las Cruces in the state, and it joins the modern world of digital education programs with at least four different online Ph.D. programs:

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership
Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership
Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

In terms of cost, New Mexico State offers affordable degree programs, only charging $278.60/credit as its state tuition for graduate classes. However, only state residents get the benefit of this low cost. Out of state students will have to be pay close to three times the resident cost. Regional residents who may qualify for multi-state education agreements might realize different prices as well, depending on their location.

Similar to other schools, the doctorate programs at New Mexico State are either in the education field or in nursing. The length of the programs varies with a standard near 63 units while the Education Leadership degree is much longer totaling 78 credits. Each of the programs has some kind of in-person requirement, typically associated with the dissertation defense or orientation. New Mexico State University in general is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of College and Schools, but their education degree programs vary a bit. The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education is the basis for the Education Ph.D. program’s validity.

SCHOOL OVERVIEW

texas tech university

Cost: $278.60/creditIn-Person Requirement: Varies per programProgram Length: Varies, 63 to 78 credit hours

California Coast University

  • Santa Ana, California

An outlier among universities, California Coast University is a far younger institution that started in 1973. Operating its physical campus in Orange County, Southern California, the school offers three distinct online doctorate programs with a low cost of $290/credit. These programs include:

Doctor of Education in Educational Administration
Doctor of Education in Educational Psychology
Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership

All of these California Coast University Ed.D. programs focus on leadership as a common theme, whether the coursework centers on management or the organization of the educational institution. As part of this training, doctoral students will gain competency in and detailed exposure to educational thinking, measurement tools, scientific research interpretation, and analytical practice in how society and life impact education. The school’s distance learning programs are verified and accredited to graduate standards via the Distance Education Accreditation Commission.

SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Cost: $290/creditIn-Person Requirement: NoProgram Length: 66 Units

Valdosta State University

  • Valdosta, Georgia
  • Graduation Rate: 36%

Situated in, aptly named, Valdosta, Georgia, the same-named State University has been teaching students since it opened in 1906. In a different path than the usual education-oriented programs, Valdosta provides a Ph.D. in Public Administration instead. This program will run a student $293/credit for attending and completion. The program itself uses coursework to train graduates on four core areas of public policy administration: analysis, leadership, communication, and management. Much of the program assumes the candidate already has a significant amount of experience in public administration and focuses on the specialization and enhancement of that experience with graduate-level training. Overall, students will spend 54 credit hours before completing the program, which includes a capstone project. There are residency seminars for in-person training which involve a one-week period each semester on campus.

Enrollment requires prospective students to have a master’s degree from a prior university and is the baseline requirement for acceptance into the doctorate program.  GRE scores and an acceptable GPA are also necessary. Applicants can also expect to need to show their work experience on a robust resume, provide a statement of why the program is chosen and what will be done with the training in terms of goals, and three recommendation letters. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), including the online doctorate.

SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Cost: $293/creditIn-Person Requirement: Yes, one week per semesterProgram Length: 54 credit hours

The American College of Education

  • Indianapolis, Indiana

The American College has been an aggressive player in distance learning higher education for quite a few years now, even though the institution was only established in 2005. With a restricted focus to just education programs, the American College offers both master’s degree and doctorate level training for students, providing multiple paths for advancement in education leadership roles. The cost of attendance in the Ph.D. program is currently $336/credit.

Similar to other schools, the online doctoral degree in Education assumes a working experience and knowledge of the field. An ideal applicant already has a master’s degree of some type in organizational strategy, preferably education but an MBA or a master’s of science are viable. In addition, work at other schools can be transferred in, up to 18 credit hours. The program itself is entirely online with the use of virtual training and collaboration tools. Students are geared towards being on the frontline of pushing radical shifts in education with the newest and latest research. The entire doctorate path and program for the American College of Education is reviewed regularly and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Cost: $306/creditIn-Person Requirement: NoProgram Length: 64 credit hours

1 year phd programs online

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.

how much do online phd programs cost

The average tuition for such a PhD is about $19,500. Online psychology doctorates are another popular program, with programs averaging around $15,000. An online PhD in Education tends to be the most expensive of doctoral programs. The average price of is over $21,000.

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