Best PhD in Distance learning Programs [2023]

PhD in Distance Learning

It is common knowledge that Ph.D. holders are highly valued across the globe. The highest degree awarded in a particular academic discipline is a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.). It is typically given following careful evaluation by other esteemed academics and serves to demonstrate proficiency in your field of study.

Doctorate holders generally earn more money than people with less education. This is because they are thought to have more expertise in academia and research.

PhDs are really exciting, but they can also be expensive and take up to 6 years to complete. In a society as fast-paced as the one we live in today, Ph.D. candidates are constantly looking for one-year PhD programs, as the easiest PhDs.

No matter where you are in the world, thanks to the development of online education, you can acquire a Ph.D. through distance learning. In fact, in today’s world, you can obtain a Ph.D. in various disciplines, including psychology, leadership, business administration, nursing, history, and even more complex ones like engineering and artificial intelligence, to mention a few.

Although earning a Ph.D. via distance learning is simple, you should exercise caution because diploma mills have seized upon this opportunity to sell degrees of a low caliber that may not be accredited or may not contribute much to your CV or portfolio.

Therefore, before enrolling in a distance learning Ph.D. program, caution must be taken. Before registering for a distance learning Ph.D. program, you should take into account the following factors.

How To Choose a Distance Learning PhD Program

Given that they frequently have attractive websites, a brochure, and a call center where you can make inquiries, it might be challenging to tell fake schools apart from reliable institutions. It becomes worse since accreditation mills, which are set up to give the impression of validity, frequently promote diploma mills.

To reduce the possibility of being taken advantage of by diploma mills, the following things should be considered before enrolling in an online degree program.

• Accreditation. Educational accreditation is a quality assurance procedure in which an external agency evaluates and verifies the services and operations of educational institutions or programs to determine whether applicable and accepted criteria are satisfied. These organizations assess the ongoing quality of educational institutions, colleges, and programs. In other words, accreditation serves as a mark of approval for institutions of higher learning from employers and, most significantly, students.
• Entry Requirements. How easy is it for you to get admitted? If the admittance standards are not stringent and require you to submit academic transcripts, motivation letters, and a research proposal, it is worthwhile to delve deeper into the institution’s routes.
• Quality of Education. Will you be required to undertake actual research, work under a supervisor, submit a thesis, and defend it at the end of your Ph.D., or will you merely be required to watch a few pre-recorded videos or submit some ungraded work?
• Faculty members. Who are the academic team members? Have they released any research papers that you can read? Are they knowledgeable about the subject? All good universities have fairly open staff registrations, so you may read their publications and even email them to discuss your Ph.D. research.

Although we have highlighted some of the things you should be looking out for before enrolling in any distance learning PhDs, you should also consider other factors before spending your money on online PhD programs, such as reviews, duration, cost, career path, job outlook, and salary.

PhD in Distance Learning

Northcentral University

With its main campus in San Diego, California, Northcentral Institution is a private online university. The institution, founded in 1996 and categorized as a “D/PU: Doctoral/Professional University,” confers bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.

North Central is accredited by a host of bodies which includes, WASC Senior College and University Commission, Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), International Accreditation Commission for Systemic Therapy Education (IACSTE) and more

By earning your degree at NCU, you can be confident that the quality of education will meet the standards of these commissions and accrediting bodies.

Below are the study areas that NCU offers distance learning PhD programs  and Applied doctorate programs:

• Doctor of Education (EdD) Degree
• Online Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Technology Management (PhD-TM)
• Online Doctor of Business Administration
• Doctor of Criminal Justice
• Doctor of Philosophy in Cybersecurity
• Juris Doctor
• Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership
• Doctor of Philosophy in Human Resource Management
• Doctor of Public Administration
• Doctor of Philosophy in Instructional Design
• Doctor of Education in Instructional Design
• Doctor of Health Administration
• Education Specialist in Educational Leadership
• Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
• Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership
• Doctor of Philosophy in Data Science
• Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
• Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology
• Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership
• Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Doctor of Philosophy in Education
• Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration
• Education Specialist Degree
• Doctorate of Marriage and Family Therapy

Johns Hopkins University

• Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, DNP Advanced Practice Track
• Adult-Gerontological Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, DNP Advanced Practice Track
• Adult-Gerontological Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, DNP Advanced Practice Track
• Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, DNP Advanced Practice Track
• Doctor of Nursing Practice: Executive Track
• Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
• Education (Online), EdD
• Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, DNP Advanced Practice Track
• Pediatric Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, DNP Advanced Practice Track
• Pediatric Dual Primary/Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, DNP Advanced Practice Track
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, DNP Advanced Practice Track
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, DNP Advanced Practice Track

Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University is a private Christian for-profit university in Phoenix, Arizona. Grand Canyon University was the largest Christian university in the world by student enrollment in 2018, with 20,000 on campus and 70,000 online.

They provide a diverse choice of undergraduate and graduate programs that can be completed both on campus and online. Their devoted teachers and staff will be there for you every step of the way to guarantee you achieve your objectives.

Since 1968, Grand Canyon University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The HLC is accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education (ED) (CHEA).

GCU maintains programmatic accreditations for some of its programs in addition to its Higher Learning Commission accreditation. Programmatic accreditation indicates that a program has met a certain set of criteria or standards (professional counseling, nursing, business, and so on) as established by the specialist certifying authority.

Grand Canyon University offers over 38 distance learning PhD Programs in the concentrations

• Doctor of Business Administration: Data Analytics (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Business Administration: Data Analytics (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Business Administration: Management (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Business Administration: Management (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Business Administration: Marketing (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Business Administration: Marketing (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Behavioral Health (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Behavioral Health (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Christian Ministry (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Christian Ministry (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Health Care Administration (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Health Care Administration (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Higher Education Leadership (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Higher Education Leadership (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: K-12 Leadership (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: K-12 Leadership (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Organizational Development (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Organizational Development (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Special Education (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Special Education (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Teaching and Learning: Adult Learning (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Education in Teaching and Learning: Adult Learning (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Health Administration: Operational Leadership (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Health Administration: Operational Leadership (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Doctor of Nursing Practice with an Emphasis in Educational Leadership
• Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Cognition and Instruction (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Cognition and Instruction (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Integrating Technology, Learning, and Psychology (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Integrating Technology, Learning, and Psychology (Quantitative Research)
• Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Qualitative Research)
• Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Quantitative Research)
• Education Specialist in K-12 Leadership
• Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning

Atlantic International University

Atlantic International University, Inc. is a for-profit private distance learning university headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. Atlantic University, Inc. was created in December 1998. It offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees.

Atlantic University provides Associate Degrees, Certificate Programs, Bachelor’s Degree Programs, Master’s Degree Programs, Doctoral Degree Programs, and Post Doctorate in a variety of subjects such as Business & Economics, Science & Engineering, and Social & Human Studies.

Atlantic International University is accredited by the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ASIC). ASIC has awarded the university Premier certification for its excellent areas of operation.

Atlantic International University offers distance learning PhD Programs under 3 majors; Doctor of Arts, Doctor of Business Administration, and Doctor of Science

Liberty University

Liberty University, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, is a private evangelical university. Liberty University, founded in 1971 by Jerry Falwell Sr. and Elmer L. Towns, is one of the world’s largest Christian institutions and the largest private non-profit university in the United States in terms of total student enrolment.

Liberty University is a liberal arts college with 15 colleges and institutions that provide programs in education, counseling, theology, law, aviation, cinematic arts, business, and other subjects.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has accredited Liberty University to grant associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialty, and doctorate degrees. Many of Liberty’s programs are accredited or otherwise recognized by specialized professional and accrediting authorities in addition to institutional accreditation.

The table below tries to illustrate the different distance learning PhD programs offered by Liberty University

University of North Dakota

Founded six years before the state, in 1883, UND gave North Dakota its moniker when the erstwhile Dakota territories split into two independent states. They’ve established themselves as industry leaders in engineering, medical, aviation, space, and unmanned aircraft systems.

Their academic programs have received national prominence. They also have the most exclusive online students of any nonprofit, flagship university in the eight-state region.

The Higher Learning Commission has fully accredited UND (HLC).
A degree from a nationally acknowledged university, such as UND, attests to the quality of your education. Other accrediting organizations have approved UND components at the college or school level.

The University of North Dakota offers distance learning doctorate programs in the fields listed below:

• Aerospace Sciences (Ph.D.)
• Biomedical Engineering (Ph.D.)
• Communication (Ph.D.)
• Computer Science (Ph.D.)
• Earth System Science and Policy (Ph.D.)
• Educational Practice and Leadership (Ed.D.)
• Electrical Engineering (Ph.D.)
• Energy Engineering (Ph.D.)
• Environmental Engineering (Ph.D.)
• Geological Engineering (Ph.D.)
• Indigenous Health (Ph.D.)
• Petroleum Engineering (Ph.D.)
• Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Public Health (JD/MPH)

Conclusion

These universities’ reputations vary among them. Some are non-profit organizations, while others are for-profit and may have more lenient admission requirements. However, all of them are authorized, so you will be able to earn an online doctorate that is regarded as authentic.

There are numerous authorized universities and organizations that provide online PhD programs; you can start here and graduate with your next doctorate in only a few years! This list of universities and distance learning PhD programs is far from exhaustive.