Is an Online PhD Accredited?

While the majority of doctorate degrees are still earned on campus, an online doctorate degree may be an ideal option for you.

When looking for the best online PhD programs, you can look at an institution’s accreditations to determine its credibility. If a program isn’t accredited, other organizations and institutions may not take your degree seriously.

In this article, we’ll explore how to tell if an online PhD program is accredited and how to find accredited programs in your chosen field.

Accredited Online PhD Programs

Accredited online PhD programs can offer a path to the highest academic achievement from your home. These programs often cater to business, technology, healthcare, and liberal arts fields.

The flexibility of online PhDs is a standout feature and can help you balance your career, family, and other commitments. This flexibility coupled with rigorous academic standards upheld by accreditation helps to ensure a quality education.

Accredited programs are more recognized and respected professionally, which is crucial for your degree’s value. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals with doctoral degrees often have higher earnings and lower unemployment rates.

Online PhDs may open doors to careers in academia, research, and senior professional roles, allowing for advancements as university professors, senior researchers, or industry leaders. These programs emphasize the ability to conduct original research and develop expertise, which is essential for contributing new knowledge to your field.

The structure of online PhD programs varies, with some requiring in-person meetings or residencies, while others are fully online. Typically, you’ll complete coursework, pass comprehensive exams, and produce a dissertation – a significant piece of original research.

How Can I Tell if a School Is Accredited?

To check if a school is accredited, you can visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website. They provide a database where you can search for accredited institutions. It’s a reliable way to ensure your chosen school meets educational standards and your degree will be recognized.

Why Earn a PhD Online?

In many cases, it can be faster to get an online PhD than to attend a campus program in person. While traditional programs can take more than 5 years to finish, you may be able to complete your online degree program in as little as 3 years!

Online PhD programs also allow flexibility if you’re a full-time parent or employee. Your classes might not be at set times, and your coursework may be self-paced, allowing you to finish it as your schedule allows.

If you have questions for your professor, you can likely just shoot them an email, rather than waiting to meet with them. Not having to move your schedule around for classes can be a crucial factor in being able to go back to school.

Taking classes online may help you save money on student activity fees, meal plans, and off-campus housing. Sometimes, the cost per credit is also cheaper online than it is in person. You may still need to pay to use certain online resources, but you might not pay for things that on-campus students normally pay for.

Are Online PhD Programs Reputable?

When choosing a school to finish your doctorate at, it’s important to consider how reputable they are in your community and beyond.

Attending a school with a stellar reputation can add credibility to your degree when you apply for jobs. While you’re not guaranteed a job just because you have a PhD from a well-known university, it can certainly help to have one.

Do reputable schools like Stanford offer online PhD programs? Stanford itself doesn’t offer PhD programs online, but some schools you’ve probably heard of do.

Where Can I Find Online PhD Programs?

If you’re having trouble finding a program, you don’t need to look any further. My College Guide is here to help. We’ll show you available online PhD programs in a variety of fields. You can use our “My Degree Finder” tool to get started today!