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PhD under 15k after grad level credits transfer and flexible CBE?
#11
(11-12-2025, 02:59 AM)Jonathan Whatley Wrote: My understanding is that Liberty is specific that transfer credits must be at the same academic level as the destination degree, and Liberty distinguishes the master’s academic level and the doctoral academic level as two different levels. Thus you typically would not be able to transfer master’s-level credits to a doctorate at Liberty. In the DBA with the Non-Profit Leadership & Management cognate, 48 credits are at the 700 and 800 level. That’s certainly doctoral level. Now, the cognate does have 9 credits at the 600 level and 3 at the 500 level. Maybe Liberty would accept those courses in transfer from the master’s level, if the course content also matched. In the PhD in Business Administration with the Entrepreneurship or Executive Coaching cognate, all credits are 700 level or above.
I see what you mean, and that makes sense. I may be able to take some doctoral-level graduate courses elsewhere, but I’m wondering if it’s really worth finishing at Liberty or if there might be a faster or more practical option.

Hypothetically, if I had around 30 doctoral credits to transfer, would it make sense to continue with Liberty, or would another program be more efficient? I’m open to paying around $23K for two degrees if the structure makes sense. I know William Woods is around that same range for military students when transfer credits are maximized.

The University of the Cumberlands also has an EdD to PhD bridge, which is interesting, but their dissertation process can take years since it follows a set timeline. That’s why I keep coming back to Liberty. I can only do an online program with no residency requirements, and while I’m not pursuing this for career advancement necessarily, I still want to complete a doctorate, ideally something that’s both affordable and regionally accredited.

Having both a doctorate and a PhD, even from different schools, would be a great personal milestone for me, as long as the process stays manageable.
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#12
(11-12-2025, 12:44 AM)Docu Wrote: Do you think doing both is worth it?

Honestly? I doubt that even doing one is worth it.

(11-12-2025, 12:44 AM)Docu Wrote: Will it hold weight with investors or in the business and nonprofit world or would just a PhD be enough?

I suppose we can't know for sure because you didn't say what sort of business, but I doubt that investors in almost any business will care whether you even have one doctorate, and two will beget the question why you didn't just do the second one.

It's great that your benefits cover tuition, but even one doctoral program still incurs enormous opportunity cost in terms of the time it takes. Surely there are many things you can do with that time that will more directly help you reach your goals.
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#13
(11-12-2025, 02:59 AM)Jonathan Whatley Wrote: My understanding is that Liberty is specific that transfer credits must be at the same academic level as the destination degree, and Liberty distinguishes the master’s academic level and the doctoral academic level as two different levels. Thus you typically would not be able to transfer master’s-level credits to a doctorate at Liberty. In the DBA with the Non-Profit Leadership & Management cognate, 48 credits are at the 700 and 800 level. That’s certainly doctoral level. Now, the cognate does have 9 credits at the 600 level and 3 at the 500 level. Maybe Liberty would accept those courses in transfer from the master’s level, if the course content also matched. In the PhD in Business Administration with the Entrepreneurship or Executive Coaching cognate, all credits are 700 level or above.
I know Westcliff University is based here in California where I currently live, but I’m looking at the DBA option offered through Capital College in the UAE, which also includes the UK Level 8 Diploma.

I’m wondering how that route compares to doing a DBA with Liberty University or the University of the Cumberlands, mainly in terms of reputation, credibility, and career recognition.

Does anyone know if Westcliff offers scholarships or discounts, either directly or through Capital College?

Also, can someone do an EdD and DBA, or a PhD after a DBA, and save credits if some coursework overlaps apart from the dissertation?

I’d really like to hear what you all think. Which route makes the most sense and offers the best long term value?
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#14
Hmm, just curious, why not just do the UK Level 8, and then finish at Westcliff instead of Cumberlands or Liberty?
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#15
(11-13-2025, 11:36 AM)bjcheung77 Wrote: Hmm, just curious, why not just do the UK Level 8, and then finish at Westcliff instead of Cumberlands or Liberty?




Yes I was wondering if that could be a good option Is there any kind of crossover or shortcut to do both the DBA and EdD through the Westcliff route

I noticed that UCLan offers the top up Level 8 pathway to complete the last two years of a DBA I’m looking for something similar that can be done faster while allowing me to earn both a DBA and a PhD or EdD

My budget is under 20K if I plan to do two or three programs

At Cumberlands if I transfer the maximum 30 credits I would have 54 credits left which totals about 22,140 This would cover two programs but might take around two years each with the dissertation included

At Liberty with a 50 percent transfer I would have 30 credits remaining at 375 each I also noticed some similarities between the DBA in Nonprofit Leadership and the PhD in Entrepreneurship courses so that might help save time and cost too

I’m curious if there is any legitimate degree hack to make this process more efficient I know the degree itself may not hold much career value but I still want to pursue it only if the schools I mentioned Cumberlands Liberty or Westcliff are respected and not viewed like ENEB or other global online programs

Basically I’m looking for a legitimate and accelerated route something competency based or flexible that can help me finish quickly or possibly earn two credentials at once

I’ve seen others online do similar paths so I’m curious if anyone knows a smarter or faster plan for this

Westcliff also seems affordable since you can finish with a DBA after the Level 8 top up but I’m curious what you all think
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#16
Westcliff is just like any other university in the country, if it's not in the top 25 or 50 in the US, no one will know much about them. Here's the thing, Westcliff has ACBSP, so they've at least gone through some sort of quality assurance to make it... Link: https://acbspsearch.org/Home/Details?instId=Inst4415 so, it's somewhat of a "tie" with Liberty as they've got ACBSP as well: https://acbspsearch.org/Home/Details?instId=Inst2427 - In short, I'd go for Westcliff DBA if you can get it cheaper than Liberty
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#17
You aren't the first person on this forum to talk about doing top-ups at UClan, but I have not been able to find UCLan offering these as an online program. Is this being sold through a third party like UpGrad? Or are you talking about doing this in person?
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#18
(11-13-2025, 04:25 PM)wow Wrote: You aren't the first person on this forum to talk about doing top-ups at UClan, but I have not been able to find UCLan offering these as an online program. Is this being sold through a third party like UpGrad? Or are you talking about doing this in person?

Upgrad I just saw it and inquired

(11-13-2025, 03:38 PM)bjcheung77 Wrote: Westcliff is just like any other university in the country, if it's not in the top 25 or 50 in the US, no one will know much about them.  Here's the thing, Westcliff has ACBSP, so they've at least gone through some sort of quality assurance to make it...  Link: https://acbspsearch.org/Home/Details?instId=Inst4415 so, it's somewhat of a "tie" with Liberty as they've got ACBSP as well: https://acbspsearch.org/Home/Details?instId=Inst2427 - In short, I'd go for Westcliff DBA if you can get it cheaper than Liberty

Do you think the San Miguel PhD  is a good option as well just to have a PhD? It’s like an ENEB style if I’m not mistaken.
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#19
(11-12-2025, 12:44 AM)Docu Wrote: Hey everyone

I’m thinking about doing a DBA in Nonprofit Leadership at Liberty University and then a PhD in Entrepreneurship or Executive Coaching also at Liberty. I’m not looking to teach, I just want the credentials to boost credibility with clients, investors, and in my own business. I might also look at a DHCA through Orion but what I really want is the DBA. South College is out since it would take too long even for twelve thousand dollars. Liberty seems like a good option since I could potentially do both DBA and PhD there with the military discount rate.

I already have an MBA, some ENEB graduate level credits, and an MAOL. I can transfer about 30 to 50 percent of credits into the DBA, leaving maybe 30 credits to finish. Then I could transfer some of that into the PhD to cut down the load.
Only doctoral level courses completed as part of a doctorate or post doc at another school will be accepted for transfer towards a Liberty doctorate or post doc (they call them executive certificates)
Courses completed as part of a Masters program will not even be considered for transfer into a doctorate program. Similarly, only masters classes would be considered for transfer into a Liberty Masters program.

Finally, Liberty does not accept classes from a "completed" degree or certificate as transfer credits... your program has to be "incomplete" for them to count.
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