Online Doctorate in Finance

Students pursuing graduate-level finance degrees have three main options:

• The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in finance, usually heavier in pedagogical content, is often the top option for aspiring professors in finance.
• A Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree with a concentration in finance teaches leadership skills and practical applications of financial concepts to professionals. These programs are more suited toward those individuals planning to apply their knowledge within the executive workforce.
• A Ph.D. or DBA in a related field, such as business administration or management, with a concentration in finance blends specialized financial topics with broader business concepts.

While a dedicated doctoral degree in finance may place more emphasis on financial theory, such as pricing models, a degree in business with a finance concentration focuses on understanding finance as applied to the business world. Students can learn through real-world case studies of international markets and investment management.

Coursework for a doctorate in finance is typically completed over the first two to three years of a full-time program, leaving the last couple of years for the dissertation. A set of comprehensive exams are administered before dissertation research begins in earnest, often at the end of the second or third year of study. Fulfillment of all requirements for the degree can take anywhere from four to six years, on average.

Some institutions offer online doctoral programs in finance that can be completed on a more flexible schedule. Though most coursework and assignments can be completed online, many online programs usually require one or more short periods of on-site residency at a campus location. Both the Ph.D. and DBA in finance are offered by online schools, and the general program structure mirrors those offered at traditional universities.

Although many candidates have some background in graduate-level finance or economics, a master's degree in the field is not required for entry to many programs. Students without a master's may be required to showcase competency in certain mathematical subjects prior to admission. Additionally, many schools require students to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) as another objective measure of competency.

Choosing to pursue an online doctorate in finance requires in-depth research of the programs' requirements and level of accommodation. Look through the schools below and request additional information from any programs of interest.