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DBA or EdD cheap RA/NA - tomicavols - 01-07-2026

Hi. I hold the MBA but now am a business teacher looking  for a cheap, short DBA or EdD either NA or RA. Any recommendations? I’m willing to do international ones with partnerships as well. Accreditation (national is fine) and affordability is a must. Thanks!

RE: DBA or EdD cheap RA/NA - newdegree - 01-07-2026

Acacia University has both a DBA and an EdD for $12,000. It is NA accredited by DEAC. Takes about 3 years, but it could be quicker with transfer credits.

South College is RA accredited and can be finished in a year to a year and a half, depending on how fast you can go. $7000 per term, and it is competency-based education. They offer both EdD and DBA.

Check out the Degree Forum Wiki for more schools. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Doctoral_studies

RE: DBA or EdD cheap RA/NA - bjcheung77 - 01-07-2026

Basically, you really need to give us a bigger picture and not just a vague request like this, the more info, the better. In order to help others trying to assist you further, you should fill in the addendum and template here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-New-to-DegreeForum-How-this-Area-works

You need to take your time to review posts, threads, and WIKI as this has been asked several times already. Here's a recent example where the person followed a path of UK Level 8 diploma > Westcliff DBA recommendation. https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-International-Student-Chile-seeking-advice-South-College-vs-GGU-UpGrad-for-DBA

RE: DBA or EdD cheap RA/NA - tomicavols - 01-09-2026

Location: Knoxville, TN. Looking for 100% online due to time so location not a factor. National or international is fine but NA or RA a must.
Your Age: 54
What kind of degree do you want?: DBA or EdD, willing to do a Doctorate of another type if in leadership, business, education, etc. even theological as I hold an ordination.  
Current Regional Accredited Credits: BA is RA, no current grad RA. MBA is NA
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: 0
Any certifications or military experience?: OWDS. No military. Licensed teacher in 2 states. Ordained minister
Budget: less than 20k ideal. Cannot exceed 25k
Commitments: full time teacher and part time coach. I’d be doing this part time. 6-9 hrs a semester at most including summer.
Dedicated time to studyConfusedee above.
Timeline: 4-5 years maximum. Otherwise it wouldn’t scale.
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: zilch. I used to be a state employee and they had good reimbursement but my 20 years in business offered no reimbursement so my MBA was a cash degree. Willing to do a student loan but NA would make that unlikely.

Doing this for salary and career advancement. MBA GPA =3.95. Open to non traditional dissertation alternatives. 
(01-07-2026, 10:28 AM)newdegree Wrote: Acacia University has both a DBA and an EdD for $12,000. It is NA accredited by DEAC. Takes about 3 years, but it could be quicker with transfer credits.

South College is RA accredited and can be finished in a year to a year and a half, depending on how fast you can go. $7000 per term, and it is competency-based education. They offer both EdD and DBA.

Check out the Degree Forum Wiki for more schools. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Doctoral_studies
Checking Acacia. South is a bit expensive.

RE: DBA or EdD cheap RA/NA - bjcheung77 - 01-10-2026

Since your MBA is NA, you would have a hard time trying to get into RA Doctorate programs, as most will require RA Masters for entry. Having said that, there are plenty of DEAC/TRACS doctoral programs available. You may get into RA programs with less selective entry or on a case by case basis... Create a shortlist and we'll help you decide to breaking that down to your top 3 choices, 2 to go for, 1 for back up.

RE: DBA or EdD cheap RA/NA - tomicavols - 01-10-2026

(01-10-2026, 09:04 AM)bjcheung77 Wrote: Since your MBA is NA, you would have a hard time trying to get into RA Doctorate programs, as most will require RA Masters for entry.  Having said that, there are plenty of DEAC/TRACS doctoral programs available.  You may get into RA programs with less selective entry or on a case by case basis...  Create a shortlist and we'll help you decide to breaking that down to your top 3 choices, 2 to go for, 1 for back up.
Acacia has a great price but I’m just beginning to learn more about it. Same with Uniathena. Good price.  I’m still researching.

RE: DBA or EdD cheap RA/NA - FireMedic_Philosopher - 01-11-2026

(01-10-2026, 01:21 PM)tomicavols Wrote:
(01-10-2026, 09:04 AM)bjcheung77 Wrote: Since your MBA is NA, you would have a hard time trying to get into RA Doctorate programs, as most will require RA Masters for entry.  Having said that, there are plenty of DEAC/TRACS doctoral programs available.  You may get into RA programs with less selective entry or on a case by case basis...  Create a shortlist and we'll help you decide to breaking that down to your top 3 choices, 2 to go for, 1 for back up.
Acacia has a great price but I’m just beginning to learn more about it. Same with Uniathena. Good price.  I’m still researching.
Given your background, have you looked to see if any online Christian schools would provide you a scholarship?

RE: DBA or EdD cheap RA/NA - SteveFoerster - 01-12-2026

(01-10-2026, 09:04 AM)bjcheung77 Wrote: Since your MBA is NA, you would have a hard time trying to get into RA Doctorate programs, as most will require RA Masters for entry.  Having said that, there are plenty of DEAC/TRACS doctoral programs available.  You may get into RA programs with less selective entry or on a case by case basis...  Create a shortlist and we'll help you decide to breaking that down to your top 3 choices, 2 to go for, 1 for back up.

Moreover, given that the distinction between RA and NA stopped existing officially six years ago now, if one is particularly interested in a school accredited by a former regional accreditor, and runs into resistance for this reason, then one can and should push back hard. Often these sorts of policies stay in place simply because of inertia, and school that are faced with a needless loss of revenue from a prospective paying student may revise them given a reason.

You don't ask, you don't get.

RE: DBA or EdD cheap RA/NA - tomicavols - 01-12-2026

(01-11-2026, 01:56 AM)FireMedic_Philosopher Wrote:
(01-10-2026, 01:21 PM)tomicavols Wrote:
(01-10-2026, 09:04 AM)bjcheung77 Wrote: Since your MBA is NA, you would have a hard time trying to get into RA Doctorate programs, as most will require RA Masters for entry.  Having said that, there are plenty of DEAC/TRACS doctoral programs available.  You may get into RA programs with less selective entry or on a case by case basis...  Create a shortlist and we'll help you decide to breaking that down to your top 3 choices, 2 to go for, 1 for back up.
Acacia has a great price but I’m just beginning to learn more about it. Same with Uniathena. Good price.  I’m still researching.
Given your background, have you looked to see if any online Christian schools would provide you a scholarship?
I’m open to this.

RE: DBA or EdD cheap RA/NA - swlearner71 - 01-30-2026

I like Edgewood’s DBA. At $22,500, it is somewhat above your stated budget, but I still think it is worth a look. It's cheaper than most other RA DBA programs. The degree can potentially be completed in two years and requires only 45 credits, which is relatively efficient for a doctorate. It's in candidacy for ACBSP accreditation, a nice to have.

Based on the admissions language, you may be eligible with your NA master’s degree. Their requirement states, “a master’s degree, or more advanced degree from a United States accredited or equivalent post-secondary institution,” with no explicit requirement for regional accreditation. I saw someone gain admission with an RA counseling master's, which seems far less relevant than your degree. Here's a link in case you wanted to give it a glance.

https://online.edgewood.edu/doctorate-of-business-administration-online/