Earning a doctorate means reaching the pinnacle of your educational journey. These rigorous, research-heavy degrees can take years to complete, but anyone who completes a doctorate program will have earned the highest degree in their field.

People often choose to pursue a doctoral degree to conduct research and make new discoveries, prepare to teach in academia or qualify for highly advanced roles in their field. Today, more people are getting their doctorate online to take advantage of the benefits of virtual education. That being said, many doctorate programs involve some kind of internship or clinical experience—which could make up the majority of the degree itself—that must be completed in person.

Still, completing the rest of your required courses online can make a doctorate program much more manageable for some people. In this guide, you can read about how to choose the right online doctorate program and what to expect so that you can make an informed decision about your online education.

Choosing the right online doctoral program

Most people who are thinking about getting a doctoral degree already have at least a bachelor’s and some experience or graduate-level education in their chosen career field, which means you probably already have a good idea about what kind of doctorate program you may want to pursue. Seek advice from other professionals in the field and academic advisers for certain programs—these knowledgeable people can help steer you in the right direction as you begin your search.

Here are a few factors to consider to help you figure out which online doctorate program is the best for you:

• Career goals and aspirations: Different doctoral programs cater to varied career paths. For instance, in psychology, a PhD focuses on research, while a PsyD emphasizes practical application. Choose a program that aligns with your professional aspirations.
• Program accreditation: Ensure your chosen online doctoral program is accredited at both institutional and programmatic levels, as this is crucial for licensure in fields like physical therapy, psychology, and nursing.
• Curriculum and specialization options: Review the program’s curriculum and available specializations to understand the coursework and final projects. Specializations can provide in-depth knowledge in specific areas, like curriculum development or educational leadership in an EdD program.
• Admission requirements and prerequisites: Doctoral programs vary in their prerequisites. Some might require a master’s degree or field experience, while others accept a relevant bachelor’s degree. Verify that you meet the admission requirements or consider gaining additional experience or education if necessary.

Popular online doctorates

There’s a doctorate out there for just about every career field you can think of. Doctorates for health professions and related programs make up the largest share of doctoral degrees conferred in 2021, but there are many other programs to consider. Keep in mind that some online doctoral programs may still require some in-person work.

Take a look at some of the most popular online doctorates:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): The PhD is the most popular type of doctorate degree out there. It’s a general research degree that is always concentrated in a particular field. You can get a PhD in astrophysics, biology or economics for example—the possibilities are practically endless. Although there are many people who go on to practice in their field with a PhD, these programs tend to be better for people who want to focus on research or teaching in academia.
• Doctor of Psychology (PsyD): These degrees are designed for prospective psychologists and almost always offer a specialization in an area such as clinical psychology, counseling psychology or school psychology. Since psychologists must have a doctorate to get licensed, the PsyD or PhD in psychology are the two primary types of programs available to them. PsyD program curriculums tend to put more emphasis on applications and clinical practice rather than theory and research.
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA): If the Master of Business Administration (MBA) is designed to prepare more competent business managers, then the DBA degree is designed to create experts in the field that have even more advanced management skills. A DBA degree could help take you to the top of the corporate world in a variety of business niches such as finance, marketing, human resources and more. DBA holders may also choose to pursue careers in academia or even the government.
• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT): Anyone who wishes to become a physical therapist in the United States must have a DPT degree accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). These programs are typically three years long and require only a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject to qualify. All accredited DPT programs require a hands-on learning component that must be completed in person, but there are many programs that offer some of the courses online.
• Doctor of Computer Science (DCS): A DCS degree is for computer science professionals, academics and consultants and teaches students highly advanced topics in the field of computer science. DCS degrees are typically completed in about three years which is one difference between a PhD in computer science, which usually takes at least four years to finish.
• Doctor of Education (EdD): EdD degrees are for educators that wish to advance to the top of their field. An EdD is similar to a PsyD in that it focuses a bit more on applications than its PhD counterpart, which is more about research and theory. Because of this, EdD degrees may be better for educators that wish to work as a professor, superintendent, in government or something similar.
• Doctor of Public Health (DrPH): The DrPH is the highest degree people can earn in the field of public health. In DrPH programs, students practice and research topics in leadership and governance, policies and programs, data analysis, education and workforce development. As such, they are prepared for advanced leadership roles in public health policy.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): DNP degrees are for advanced practice nurses (APRNs) that wish to expand their clinical skills, particularly within a nursing specialty. Whereas PhDs in nursing are more for nurses that want to conduct research or teach at the postsecondary level, a DNP is for nursing professionals that want to continue practicing and delivering patient care or who wish to move into a high-level administrative role.
• Doctor of Social Work (DSW): Master of Social Work (MSW) degrees may be more common as the standard degree needed to become a social worker in most places, but a DSW degree could take a social work career to new heights. Although many DSW degree holders may simply want to improve their skills and continue to practice, a DSW degree is also great for social workers that want to take on leadership roles at social service organizations, work as policy advocates or advisers or teach as a social work professor. 

Preparing for online doctoral degree programs

If you have never taken an online college course, it can be a much different experience than a traditional, in-person degree. There are a few things that are important understand before embarking on your online doctoral degree so that you are prepared on day one.

The application process

The process of applying to doctorate programs varies from school to school. Individual programs can also have very different application requirements and prerequisites to be admitted, so be sure to check each program’s website and research exactly what you need to apply for their program. Most programs have an annual application window, so start your search early to make sure you don’t miss any essential deadlines.

Common admissions requirements for online doctorate programs

Every online doctorate program has its own unique requirements and prerequisites. That said, these are the application components you can expect from most programs:

• Minimum education level: In order to be admitted to a doctorate program, you must already have a bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to the program you’re applying for. Some doctorate programs may require that you have a master’s degree as well.
• GPA requirements: Most doctorate programs require that you have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in your undergraduate coursework (and any graduate coursework, if applicable). Tougher, more rigorous programs may even want you to have at least a 3.5 GPA.
• Writing sample: Doctoral candidates must submit a personal essay, statement of purpose or some other writing sample as part of their application. Most programs provide a specific prompt, but in general, you should expect to write about who you are, your personal and professional goals, why you want to attend the school’s program and why you think you’d be a good fit.
• Entrance exams: Some schools require all their graduate students to submit scores from the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) as part of their application, but this is not always the case. For other programs, the GRE is not required but the program may encourage students to submit GRE scores anyway to strengthen their application.
• Letters of recommendation: Doctorate programs typically require two or three strong letters of recommendation from former professors, supervisors or other professional colleagues.
• Admissions interview: Doctoral candidates often have to do an admissions interview after they submit their application online. The purpose of the interview is to allow the admissions team to learn more about you than what your application alone can convey.
• Additional materials: It’s common for graduate programs to ask applicants to submit their resume or curriculum vitae (CV) with their application. Applicants for whom English is not their native language may also have to submit passing scores from an English language proficiency exam.

Tips for a strong doctorate program application

Each component of a college application is meant to highlight an important facet of who you are and your potential as a student. It’s important, therefore, that you make every part count! Consider the following strategies to strengthen your application and improve your chances of success.

The personal essay: Craft a unique narrative that addresses the program’s prompt, showcasing your educational and professional achievements, reasons for choosing the program, and the research questions you aim to explore. Avoid generic essays; tailor each one to the specific program and institution.

The letters of recommendation: Obtain letters from former professors, professional supervisors, or colleagues who can vouch for your accomplishments and work ethic. If the program specifies, choose recommenders accordingly. Discuss your goals with them for more personalized letters.

The interview: Treat the admissions interview like a job interview. Display professionalism, be yourself, and research the program thoroughly to ask insightful questions. Prepare by reviewing common interview questions and planning your responses.

Tracking the progress of your application

Once you’ve submitted your application online, the school should provide you with detailed instructions about your next steps and when you can expect to hear back from them about a response. You should also be able to log in to the portal used to submit your application to check its status at any time.

Paying for your online doctorate degree

Pursuing a PhD, often extending beyond four years, can be costly. Online doctorates differ in funding from undergraduate studies. Many institutions offer “fully-funded” or “partially-funded” PhD programs, which generally include tuition waivers in exchange for teaching responsibilities. While these programs might offer a stipend, it is often insufficient for living expenses.

Funded programs are beneficial for financing your education but balancing research and teaching can be challenging.

For those not in funded programs, funding tuition and research expenses is a concern. Fortunately, numerous doctoral fellowships are available. These competitive awards, provided by departments, academic institutions, governments, or private agencies, support academic research. Each fellowship has unique conditions, so thorough research is essential to understand their offerings.

Other financial aid options

If you don’t attend a funded program or receive any fellowships (or if you do and there are still costs left over, which is common), consider the following financial aid options which are used to pay for other types of degrees as well:

• Federal funding through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can also connect you with federal grants and loans.
• Scholarships and grants offered by the university or private agencies such as nonprofits, companies and other organizations, such as the government.
• Employer tuition assistance which may be offered by your job, as many large companies nowadays offer some level of tuition reimbursement for their employees.
• Student loans should be your last resort, but they can still be very useful. You can get federal loans through the FAFSA, but there are plenty of private companies which offer student loans as well. These loans should be sought out only after you’ve looked for federal funding first.

The online learning experience

Online students receive access to their courses and assignments through a learning management system (LMS), a software program that schools and universities use to manage the online learning experience. Some of the most common LMS programs include Canvas, Moodle or edX. Your school will issue you login credentials which allow you to access the program.

Although every LMS (and the way each school utilizes an LMS) can be slightly different, the overall functionality is usually pretty similar. When you log in, for example, you should be able to view all your classes for that term on your homepage or dashboard. When you click on a course and/or use the navigation bar, you should be able to access the following:

Utilizing online resources

Online students have access to just about all of the other resources you’d expect from an in-person degree program. Whether or not you feel like you need some kind of assistance on your academic journey, be sure to take advantage of as many resources that your school offers as you can.   

Finding research materials

Research is the most important part of many doctorates. Although some individual programs may involve more research than others, you’ll probably spend most of your degree working on lengthy research projects, writing academic papers, conducting studies or anything else related to your dissertation or other culminating assignment. Successful research requires drawing upon a diverse array of sources found in digital libraries, research databases and academic journals. Many of these, such as the popular database JSTOR, are not free to the public. Your school can most likely grant you login credentials to access them.

That said, there are still a lot of free resources out there that a doctoral student may find useful in their research efforts. Here are a few places to start:

• Digital Public Library of America (DPLA)
• New York Public Library’s Digital Collections
• Getty Publications Virtual Library
• National Library of Medicine’s Digital Collections

Academic support services

Practically everyone needs some academic help from time to time, even those pursuing a degree at the very top of their field. Any tutoring services that your school offers should be offered online. After all, it’s easy to interface with a tutor on a video call and get that one-on-one support without needing to meet in a physical location. Plus, screen-sharing capabilities can make the online tutoring experience easier than ever.

Many schools also have some kind of writing center that is devoted specifically to helping students with their writing skills, either in general or pertaining to a particular assignment. Just like tutoring, these services are easily accessed online and simply require setting up a virtual appointment with a staff member.

If you need additional academic support, consider reaching out to the academic adviser for your program and/or department. They can usually help connect you with the right resources.

Career services

There’s a good chance you may already be well into an established career if you’re a doctoral student, but that doesn’t mean career support services can’t still be helpful. Speaking with a career counselor through your school’s career center can help you figure out how to apply your degree to the workforce if you don’t already have a plan, or they may be able to help you figure out what kind of post-doctoral educational opportunities you might be a good fit for.

Professional organizations and communities

Joining a professional organization can be a fantastic way to advance your career. Professional organizations often provide members several benefits for joining—though at a cost—such as access to conferences and networking events, discounted certifications (if they offer any), industry-relevant resources and more. Simply put, joining an organization puts you into a community of other professionals with whom to network and learn from. Many organizations can also connect members with continuing education courses which are necessary for many licensed professions.

A lot of schools also have community groups for students in the same career field such as business, health sciences or education. Members meet (virtually) to network among themselves, or they may host career or alumni events as well.

Dissertation and research requirements

Doctoral students must complete a substantial culminating project in order to graduate. Working on this project usually makes up a large portion (if not most) of the degree itself. The culminating project for most doctorates is a dissertation, which is a lengthy research paper. Every program’s research requirements can differ, however, so students must check with their program directly to determine everything they must do to complete the requirements. Doctorates that are more clinical in nature (such as a Doctor of Physical Therapy) may have an entirely different project to complete.

Dissertations are typically between 100 and 300 pages in length, and are often meant to be submitted for publication in an academic journal. They generally fall into one of two categories: empirical dissertations or nonempirical dissertations. Empirical dissertations require collecting original data and drawing conclusions based on that new data—therefore, they are most common in the sciences. Nonempirical dissertations analyze and draw new conclusions from existing data.

Transitioning to the workforce and postdoctoral opportunities

Once you’ve earned your doctorate, you deserve to bask in your accomplishments—getting a doctoral degree is no easy feat!

Some people may return to their existing jobs or leverage their degree to begin applying for new roles they are more qualified for. The kinds of roles that become available to you with a doctorate are highly dependent on the field you’re in and the experience you already have. Tap into your school’s career services if you aren’t sure where to begin and how to make the most of your new credentials.

Many doctoral graduates also choose to seek out postdoctoral research opportunities. There are several different type of postdocs which can vary depending on the field you’re in. In general, a postdoc is simply a research position for someone that has already completed their doctorate degree. Postdoc positions may be offered by universities and other academic research institutions, the government, healthcare facilities and more. You may not have your sights set on a postdoc for your particular career goals, but if you’re someone that wants to continue to conduct research and make new discoveries, a postdoc may be right for you. Doctorate programs usually have the connections and resources to help you find further research opportunities after graduation.

Final thoughts

When the internet emerged on the public stage thirty years ago, it would have been hard to imagine that someday you could get a doctorate entirely online. Today, more and more schools are offering hybrid and fully online doctoral degree programs which provide students with more flexibility and convenience than ever before. With online programs tending to cost less than their in-person counterparts, getting a doctorate online can be much more financially feasible for students.

If you think a doctorate-level education could boost your career, start your research today using our Find Schools feature to discover a wide range of online doctoral programs for every type of professional.

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