Help me choose a Doctoral program

[ArielB74]

I'm currently doing my MS in Organizational Leadership at Johns Hopkins. I have two semesters left to go and will graduate in August of next year. Right now I have a 3.8 GPA. I'd like to pursue a PhD (or possibly a DBA - I put one on this list). I'm doing it for personal reasons and because I have some genuine research interests that I'd like to pursue. I'd also enjoy doing some part time teaching (online) and maybe move to full time (non-tenure track) when I retire. (My dad had a PhD, worked in industry for 37 years, and then spent the last 17 years of his life at a large state school). My research interests are more on the Leadership side of things, but they are still very related to business, so could work with a PhD in Bus Admin as well.

Here are the programs I've narrowed it down to:

Gonzaga, PhD in Leadership.
https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-leadership-studies/academics/ph-d-leadership-studies
The main negative about this one is the really high cost. I could do it, but the other ones are half as much or less. School is more well known than others on the list, which is a plus.

Indiana Tech, PhD in Global Leadership
https://phd.indianatech.edu/program/

University of Southern Maine, PhD in Leadership
https://usm.maine.edu/academics/academic_programs/leadership-phd/
I'm kind of leaning towards this one.

Tiffin University, PhD in Global Leadership and Change
https://go.tiffin.edu/doctorate-programs/ph-d-in-global-leadership-and-change/

UNC Greensboro, PhD in Business Administration
https://www.uncg.edu/degrees/business-administration-ph-d/
Maybe a more useful degree than leadership? However, it takes 5 years to complete.

Touro University Worldwide, Doctor of Business Administration
https://www.tuw.edu/academics/business/doctor-of-business-administration/
I put this on here because it only takes 1.5-2 years to complete. Requires a research project instead of a dissertation. Probably a big negative for academia. School is Jewish-aligned which appeals to me as a Jewish person.

I should also add that I have over 25 years of experience in the software industry (non-technical) leading teams, so tons of real-world experience in leadership and business in general (currently at the VP level).

[newdegree]

I would lean towards the University of Southern Maine, too. Have you considered the University of the Cumberlands PhD in Leadership Studies? It accepts 18 transfer credits and costs $415 per credit. Classes are 7/8 weeks long each, and textbooks are included. They also have a DBA program, but it costs $549 per credit. Both programs require 66 credits, but you can transfer 18 credits.

https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/g...ip-studies
https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/g...ration-dba

[ArielB74]

I would lean towards the University of Southern Maine, too. Have you considered the University of the Cumberlands PhD in Leadership Studies? It accepts 18 transfer credits and costs $415 per credit. Classes are 7/8 weeks long each, and textbooks are included. They also have a DBA program, but it costs $549 per credit. Both programs require 66 credits, but you can transfer 18 credits.

https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/g...ip-studies
https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/g...ration-dba

The cost is definitely attractive, however, not sure about the quality or reputation of the school.  I've read mixed things on here and the sister forum about it. Some positives and some negatives.  Several people over there who started at this school but didn't finish, as well.

[newdegree]

I would lean towards the University of Southern Maine, too. Have you considered the University of the Cumberlands PhD in Leadership Studies? It accepts 18 transfer credits and costs $415 per credit. Classes are 7/8 weeks long each, and textbooks are included. They also have a DBA program, but it costs $549 per credit. Both programs require 66 credits, but you can transfer 18 credits.

https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/g...ip-studies
https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/g...ration-dba

The cost is definitely attractive, however, not sure about the quality or reputation of the school.  I've read mixed things on here and the sister forum about it. Some positives and some negatives.  Several people over there who started at this school but didn't finish, as well.

Most people back out during the dissertation phase. Overall, the school is pretty good and has a good reputation. It is private but does offer low tuition, which can be compared to a state school. I don't see any issues like some of the for-profit colleges and universities. I follow the Facebook page for this school's doctoral program, and I read a lot of good things.

[ArielB74]

I would lean towards the University of Southern Maine, too. Have you considered the University of the Cumberlands PhD in Leadership Studies? It accepts 18 transfer credits and costs $415 per credit. Classes are 7/8 weeks long each, and textbooks are included. They also have a DBA program, but it costs $549 per credit. Both programs require 66 credits, but you can transfer 18 credits.

https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/g...ip-studies
https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/g...ration-dba

The cost is definitely attractive, however, not sure about the quality or reputation of the school.  I've read mixed things on here and the sister forum about it. Some positives and some negatives.  Several people over there who started at this school but didn't finish, as well.

Most people back out during the dissertation phase. Overall, the school is pretty good and has a good reputation. It is private but does offer low tuition, which can be compared to a state school. I don't see any issues like some of the for-profit colleges and universities. I follow the Facebook page for this school's doctoral program, and I read a lot of good things.

The other problem with it is that it's a Christian college, which is an issue for me.  Same issue with Liberty, which is unfortunate because they have a lot of good online programs.

[newdegree]

I do not think the University of the Cumberlands requires you to incorporate a Christian or religious context in your doctoral program, but I could be wrong. I am not currently a student there.

[xspect]

Have you considered the University of the Cumberlands PhD in Leadership Studies? It accepts 18 transfer credits and costs $415 per credit. Classes are 7/8 weeks long each, and textbooks are included. They also have a DBA program, but it costs $549 per credit. Both programs require 66 credits, but you can transfer 18 credits.

https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/g...ip-studies
https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/g...ration-dba

The cost is definitely attractive, however, not sure about the quality or reputation of the school.  I've read mixed things on here and the sister forum about it. Some positives and some negatives.  Several people over there who started at this school but didn't finish, as well.

I will be completing my PhD in Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands in January. The process has been relatively straightforward and a very positive experience overall. I believe the challenge for many lies in understanding that a PhD is fundamentally different from other graduate degrees or even a professional doctorate. The level of rigor and the standards for work products are significantly higher. You are required to produce expert-level, publishable research that adheres to APA 7 guidelines.

Also, they took my second master's (MBA) to satisfy the requirement for the 18 credits of the specialty area. (business)

BTW, Cumberland did not incorporate a Christian or religious context in the doctoral program in any way.

[newdegree]

Have you considered the University of the Cumberlands PhD in Leadership Studies? It accepts 18 transfer credits and costs $415 per credit. Classes are 7/8 weeks long each, and textbooks are included. They also have a DBA program, but it costs $549 per credit. Both programs require 66 credits, but you can transfer 18 credits.

https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/g...ip-studies
https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/g...ration-dba

The cost is definitely attractive, however, not sure about the quality or reputation of the school.  I've read mixed things on here and the sister forum about it. Some positives and some negatives.  Several people over there who started at this school but didn't finish, as well.

I will be completing my PhD in Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands in January. The process has been relatively straightforward and a very positive experience overall. I believe the challenge for many lies in understanding that a PhD is fundamentally different from other graduate degrees or even a professional doctorate. The level of rigor and the standards for work products are significantly higher. You are required to produce expert-level, publishable research that adheres to APA 7 guidelines.

Also, they took my second master's (MBA) to satisfy the requirement for the 18 credits of the specialty area. (business)

BTW, Cumberland did not incorporate a Christian or religious context in the doctoral program in any way.

Congratulations. It's good to hear feedback from someone who is almost done with the program. I wish you the best in your dissertation defense.

[spohara]

Gonzaga is Catholic. It is also the most well known name on the list. I'm not 100% sure what "personal reasons" means. As far as research, you can do that inside or outside of a degree program. A PhD is a big undertaking and I wouldn't recommend it for trivial reasons. If you want to teach, you will be able to do adjunct with a masters, and your CV is going to look great since you're a VP and have an impressive academic pedigree. If I were in your shoes, I personally would think twice about attending a "B tier" school for my PhD since you've gone to great schools in the past. I'd also be hesitant to listen too much to advice from this forum which focuses on people trying to hack degrees because they have constraints on their time, money, or have a less than stellar academic history (my example, includes poor graduate GPA so I went for earned admissions to get back into grad school and weird time constraints, so I needed a very flexible program).

All of this is to say, 1. I would look at funded options if you want a program that matches the rest of your academic history, and your CV should be good enough to get one. 2. If you must have a PhD, but can't manage a funded/full time option because of work demands, go with the cheapest you can find. 3. Take my opinion or anyone else's with a tiny grain of salt, make sure the degree does what you want it to do for you.

[Stonybeach]

I have my eye on this one, although it is a Doctor of Education, not a "PhD." Secular school, state university, big name, the right price, and a doctoral project versus a dissertation from a "research university."
https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-...-education