Improve your professional value and sharpen your executive mindset at one of these Top DBA Programs. If you are interested in pursuing either a Ph.D. or a DBA you should confirm the orientation of the program on a school-by-school basis, as institutions may have different approaches to each degree.

Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) is a post-graduate degree offered by a business school or business faculty at a university. The DBA is designed to provide business executives with competencies needed to pursue business/public administration careers that require more advanced research skills and qualifications.

Many universities around the world offer DBA programs. The variety of different DBA programs can be overwhelming – don’t let it stop you! Start your search by looking at the most popular DBAs listed in our list of the ‘Top DBA Programs’ below.

Sound like a place for you? Keep scrolling.

Harvard University – Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School (HBS) of Harvard University is well known for its prestige and top caliber instruction, and students from all over the world apply to this Ivy League member in the hopes of securing unparalleled management training. The doctoral program boasts eight specializations – Marketing, Strategy, Management, Business Economics, Health Policy, Accounting & Management, Organizational Behavior, and Technology & Operations Management. At Harvard Business School, students are challenged to ponder the most critical issues in business management and to form new insights.

HBS Doctoral Programs reflect the changing world of business, society, and education. HBS doctoral students are challenged to ponder the most critical issues in business management. Business scholars at HBS investigate a wide range of topics and pursue questions relating to management, markets, finance, and organizations. All incoming students, regardless of need and background, are awarded a fellowship which includes tuition, single-person health fees, and a living stipend ($41,700 for 2018-2019).

Ranking: 1st
Tuition Approximately: $41,700
Contact information: 1.617.495.6101, doctoralprograms@hbs.edu
Apply Now: https://www.hbs.edu/doctoral/Pages/default.aspx

Washington University in St. Louis Olin Business School

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Finance program at Washington University in St. Louis prepares you to do applied research in a number of business disciplines and to pursue an advanced career in corporations, banks, government agencies, and research-oriented consulting positions. The Olin DBA is a 72-credit-hour doctoral degree designed for individuals with a serious interest in research who wish to pursue graduate study either on a part-time or full-time basis.

The Olin Business School DBA degree program offers you a collaborative atmosphere centered on industry-relevant applied research in either Finance or Marketing. Students enrolled in the DBA program will be charged tuition based on the number of credit units of enrollment per semester. Tuition rates change annually in the summer.

Ranking: 2nd
Tuition Approximately: $1,740 per credit hour
Contact information: dbainfo@olin.wustl.edu
Apply Now: https://olin.wustl.edu/EN-US/academic-programs/dba-in-finance/Pages/default.aspx

The University of California, Berkeley – Haas School of Business

The Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley is one of the world’s leading producers of new ideas and knowledge in all areas of business. Berkeley Haas offers a highly recognized Ph.D. in Business Administration. This program is a great option for business leaders with a curriculum focused on management and a tuition that is fully funded. All students admitted to their program are fully funded for five years with good academic standing.

Berkeley seeks applicants who are looking to break the traditional molds of business and leverage their Ph.D. education to improve the industry with new theories and idea. Several distinct fields of study allow students to choose from one of six doctoral programs, including a Ph.D. program in Accounting, Real Estate, Business and Public Policy, Management of Organizations, Marketing, or Finance.

Ranking: 3rd
Tuition Approximately: Vary
Contact information: +1 510-642-3944, phdadms@haas.berkeley.edu
Apply Now: http://haas.berkeley.edu/Phd/

University of Florida – Warrington College of Business

The Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida offers an on-campus Ph.D. in Business Administration-Management, as well as, a hybrid Doctorate in Business Administration. Both programs are highly accredited and well-respected and are great choices for the doctorate student. The Ph.D. in Business Administration-Management students who are admitted into the program receive a stipend of at least $30,000 a year, and receive a full tuition waiver. DBA program is offered as a track under the Ph.D. degree. Through the DBA Program, you will have exclusive access to gifted thought leaders who will pass on the strategies and practices that shape the business world. The DBA program at UF is designed to integrate the theory and practice of business within the context of current issues that the business world faces. The degree requires 60 credit hours and takes approximately three years to complete

Ranking: 4th
Tuition Approximately: Total $108,159
Contact information: 352-273-3208, Fax: 352-294-2272, angie.woodham@warrington.ufl.edu
Apply Now: https://warrington.ufl.edu/doctor-of-business-administration/

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University of Minnesota Twin Cities – Carlson School of Management

The University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management offers a sought after PhD in Business Administration. This on-campus degree is consistently seen as one of the leading business education programs in the United States. The PhD program in Business Administration provides full-time training in teaching and research while allowing you to focus your studies in one of seven areas of concentration. You will engage with motivated students from throughout the United States and 21 other countries, connect with a vibrant business community, and get access to financial support, technology resources, and research opportunities. All students admitted to this fast-paced program are guaranteed five years of funding of approximately $51,000 annually, as long as they continue to make good progress within the terms of the degree.

Ranking: 5th
Tuition Approximately: $16,000
Contact information: 612-625-0027 – 877-625-6468, Fax: 612-624-8221, csom@umn.edu
Apply Now: https://carlsonschool.umn.edu/degrees/phd

Indiana University – Kelley School of Business

Indiana University offers a prestigious PhD in Business. The Kelley School of Business holds consistent national acclaim within the business education community and offers multiple in-demand areas of study for PhD students. Students within this Business PhD can choose among the following areas of study: Accounting, Business Economics and Public Policy, Entrepreneurship or Strategic Management, Finance, Information Systems, Marketing, Operations Management or Decision Sciences, and Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management. In total, 18 credit hours are required in the major field, 9-12 credit hours in the minor, and 10.5 credit hours in teaching development and research methods. All doctoral students of the Kelley School of Business receive a basic financial aid package that consists of tuition, a living expenses stipend, and health and dental insurance.

Ranking: 6th
Tuition Approximately: Vary
Contact information: 812-855-3476 or 812-856-7456
Apply Now: https://kelley.iu.edu/programs/phd/

Stanford University – Graduate School of Business

The Graduate School of Business at Stanford University offers an exceptional on-campus PhD in Business. This program offers the combination of a prestigious school, affordability, and excellent accreditations. Stanford’s Graduate School of Business offers a full-time PhD in Business that allows students to choose from seven distinct areas of concentration. The fields of study offered include Accounting, Economic Analysis and Policy, Finance, Marketing, Operations, Information, and Technology, Organizational Behavior, and Political Economics. PhD Program is designed to develop outstanding scholars for careers in research and teaching at leading academic institutions throughout the world. All incoming doctoral students are provided with financial aid for five years. There is an additional fellowship stipend and/or research or teaching assistantship for 2017-18 that is $42,000.

Ranking: 7th
Tuition Approximately: varies
Contact information: +1 (650) 723-2831, PhD_Program@gsb.stanford.educ
Apply Now: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/phd

Duke University – Fuqua School of Business

Duke University’s prestigious Fuqua School of Business offers students an intensive five year PhD in Business Administration. The program is approximately five years in length with a rigorous curriculum that provides students with opportunities to actively practice and use analytical skills and theoretical knowledge in order to gain a full understanding of what it takes to become a well-rounded leader in today’s business organizations.

Although each professor has his or her own unique area of research focus, concentrations within this Ph.D. program in management are generally divided between even major topics: Accounting, Strategy, Marketing, Finance, Decision Sciences, Management and Organizations, and Operations Management. The Fuqua School of Business offers fellowships to all doctoral students, including international students. This fellowship pays for tuition, a competitive stipend for living expenses, and single person health fees.

Ranking: 8th
Tuition Approximately: Vary
Contact information: +1 919.660.7862, fuqua-phd-info@duke.edu
Apply Now: https://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/phd

Boston University – Questrom School of Business

If you’re ready for the Questrom PhD program, you’re ready to launch a career-defining, personal research agenda with support from faculty who become invested colleagues that want you to succeed. Boston University’s Questrom School of Business offers a highly competitive PhD in Business. This competitive on-campus program holds an outstanding global reputation and offers a fully funded fellowship for all admitted doctoral students. The minimum course requirement for the PhD program is 48-64 credits depending on the chosen academic discipline. Below are the course requirements for the disciplines that they offer: PhD in Accounting, Information Systems, Marketing, Operations & Technology Management, Organizational Behavior, Strategy & Innovation, and PhD in Mathematical Finance. Boston University offers a highly competitive, fully funded doctoral fellowship to all admitted doctoral students that are available for five years.

Ranking: 9th
Tuition Approximately: Varies
Contact information: (617) 353-9720, phdmgmt@bu.edu
Apply Now: https://www.bu.edu/questrom/degree-programs/phd-program/

University of Pennsylvania – Wharton School

Whether you’re just starting your research on PhD programs or you’re ready to apply, Wharton will walk you through the steps to become a successful PhD candidate. All students admitted to the Wharton Doctoral Programs receive a full fellowship that includes a stipend and covers the cost of tuition and health insurance. Admission to the Wharton Doctoral Programs is highly selective and analysis of candidates is individualized. They seek students interested in conducting leading-edge academic research to advance business knowledge. PhD students begin their studies in September only. Working across 10 academic departments and 20 research centers and initiatives, Wharton’s 225+ faculty represent a tremendous breadth and depth of expertise. Their commitment to you as a doctoral student provides you unlimited opportunity to discover your interests and define your individual research niche.

Ranking: 10th
Tuition Approximately: Varies
Contact information: +215.898.2575/4877, Fax +1.215.898.0581, doctoral-admissions@wharton.upenn.edu
Apply Now: https://doctoral.wharton.upenn.edu

DBA programs are research-based and equip candidates with the skills they will need to succeed in a career in academia or high-level business consulting. The DBA can lead to a variety of careers, including- Consultant, Manager, Educator, Administrator, Entrepreneur, and Writer/Author.

DBA programs are made up of a combination of coursework and independent research. Coursework is to be completed by attending classes on campus, or online, depending on the program structure. Requisite DBA courses might delve into such topics as:

• Leadership in Organizations
• Change in Organizations
• Continuous Professional Development
• Advanced Research Techniques
• Research Design
• Theory into Practice
• Publication and Dissemination