Cheapest Christian College Doctorate?

Title pretty well says it all. I am NOT looking for a degree to become a pastor myself, or anything of the sort.
I am looking for any sort of general leadership or management degree or a similar.
I am merely operating on the notion that Christian colleges are (some of) the cheapest... $800 per semester DMin degrees for example from another thread.

So my criteria are:
1) Accredited (either RA or NA)
2) An online doctorate program
3) Currently under $25,000, preferably under 20,000 for the TOTAL program.
4) degree does not require a M.Div or any other church credential prerequisite.
5) not a DMin, DDiv, or any other explicitly religious program.

Example: Liberty University DPA, up until 2022 (but is now over $ 25,000)

 

Your best choice would be the University of the Cumberlands, Ph.D. in Leadership at $415.00 per credit x 66 credits equals about $27,390.00. If you have any transfer would bring down the cost to $19,920.00. I believe UC allows up to 18 credits transfer.

URL: https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/graduate/phd-leadership-studies

 

Sometimes, religious schools are only cheaper when it comes to their seminary degrees. So, it's best to just look for the cheapest program you can find anywhere.

Look through all the doctoral programs here and see what you can find.

https://www.geteducated.com/online-college-ratings-and-rankings/#/

 

I made a post a few months ago about new offerings from Trinity Bible College & Graduate School. One of them meets your criteria*:

Doctor of Contextual Leadership: https://trinitybiblecollege.edu/academics/dcl/

*The one caveat is that the total cost exceeds your budget unless you receive a waiver: https://trinitybiblecollege.edu/academics/graduate-school/graduate-school-costs/

They offered a 55% tuition waiver for the first cohort (Fall '24), but who knows, maybe you can get something similar for a future cohort.

 

I don't know of one quite that inexpensive. Bakke Graduate University offers a DTL (Doctor of Transformational Leadership) for approximately $28k all in. I actually love this program and will definitely enroll at some point. They offer interest free loans if that helps the total tuition tolerance at all.

 

But that is over the maximum figure of 25,000.

 

Geteducated.com is sometimes a little outdated, but they list multiple EdD programs for under $25k.

 

Not necessarily.

Middle Georgia has a DSc for 17,000

Valdosta is under 20 for the DPA, Jacksonville State has a Dsc for 22.

It stands to reason there is a general leadership program out there for under 25.

 

Liberty University's Doctor of Strategic Leadership should be under $25k with the first responder discount.

 

Very true. That's why I added the interest free payment plan info. If you're borrowing money to pay for school, or pulling your own money out of investments to pay for school, the effective tuition is much more than the advertised face value.

 

FYI, even though there is no perfect PhD program, I'm very satisfied with the program. I attributed my careful choice of chair and committee to my needs and style.

 

$25k would be the tuition only, after discount. That number wouldn't include books and fees. Don't get me wrong, I love Liberty and would definitely consider this degree, especially since it's RA. But it will be more than $25k all in, even with the 25% discount.

 

Liberty University requires First Responders and Military graduates from its school (i.e., Master's degree) before you can get a Doctorate tuition discount. If you have not graduated from Liberty University, you must take the Executive Certificate program before starting the Doctorate program. Not all credits earned from the Executive Certificate program are transferable to the Doctorate program.

 

Do you have a link to that policy?

 

Here it is. I did not see this until I applied for the admission.

"
Doctoral Students
We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want — at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour. Here’s how:

• If you’re earning or have earned a master’s degree through Liberty, you automatically qualify for the low price (when you begin within 2 years of your master’s completion).
• If you haven’t earned a master’s degree through Liberty, our Executive Certificate program allows you to pay only $300/credit hour for a post-graduate certificate that can stand alone or potentially count as the first 21 hours of a related doctoral degree. Then pay just $300/credit hour for the remainder of your doctorate. Learn more."

https://www.liberty.edu/online/luo-military-tuition-discount/

 

This is the doctoral military discount, which is different from the first responder discount. Military can get both the military and first responder discount, but if they get the $300 per credit hour discount for the doctorate, there are extra restrictions. First responders who are not military only qualify for the first responder discount, which can be used for any online degree program. The military doctoral discount for alumni is also different from the general military discount.

 

International American University lists its Doctor or Management program cost at $18,900. TRACS accredited.

 

$19,072.50 tuition and fees.

 

This is the military discount. The first responder discount is a flat 25 percent off the base tuition rate (before fees). Importantly the first responder discount explicitly CANNOT be applied to any certificate or executive certificate program.