PhD vs. Professional Doctorate: EdD, DNP, DBA and the Rest

"Doctorate" covers very different degrees. A PhD trains you to produce original research. A professional doctorate (EdD, DNP, DBA, DSW and similar) is built around applying research to a field you already work in. Both can be earned largely online, but they differ in their final project, their admission assumptions and often in how much campus time they require. This guide explains the differences and shows what to look for on a program page.

How the federal statistics define doctorates

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) sorts doctor's degrees into three groups. A research/scholarship doctorate is "a Ph.D. or other doctor's degree" that requires work beyond the master's level, including a dissertation based on original research or an original project of substantial scholarly or artistic achievement. A professional practice doctorate prepares students for the credential or license needed to practice; NCES's examples are degrees such as the MD, JD, PharmD and DDS. Everything else falls under doctor's degree—other.

Two details matter when you compare online programs:

• NCES lists the EdD and the DBA among possible research/scholarship degrees, "as designated by

the awarding institution." The federal category depends on how each university reports its program, not on the letters in the degree name.

• In everyday use, "professional doctorate" usually means a practitioner degree such as the EdD,

DNP or DBA. That is a description of the program's purpose. It is not the same thing as the federal "professional practice" category, and it is not a PhD.

So read the program's own description of its final project rather than relying on the abbreviation.

What each degree asks you to produce

The PhD

A PhD centers on a dissertation that contributes new knowledge, usually after coursework and a qualifying or comprehensive exam. Auburn University's online nursing PhD states that "All PhD students must take and pass a comprehensive examination before commencing their dissertation research." The University of Missouri's online nursing PhD describes preparing for a comprehensive examination, developing a proposal and defending the project "to a committee you and your advisor assemble."

Professional doctorates

Professional doctorates usually end in an applied project tied to a problem of practice. The names vary:

• Applied doctoral project. Bellevue University says its DBA "does not require a traditional

dissertation"; students complete an applied doctoral project instead.

• Dissertation in practice. Sacred Heart University's EdD in educational leadership ends with

a five-chapter "Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice."

• Record of Study. Texas A&M's online EdD in curriculum and instruction uses a Record of Study

"in place of a traditional dissertation."

• Research capstone. Penn State World Campus requires a research capstone "addressing problems

of practice" for its online DEd.

• DNP project plus practice hours. The Johns Hopkins DNP Post-Master's track includes 12

credits for the DNP Project, and students accumulate practice hours toward "a minimum of 1000 practice hours required for the DNP degree."

Some professional doctorates still call their final product a dissertation. Kennesaw State's EdD in educational leadership and the University of Maryland Global Campus DBA both list dissertation coursework. The label alone does not tell you how much original research is expected; ask for examples of completed projects.

Campus time, residencies and defenses

"Online" doctorates often include short in-person requirements, and these are not limited to one degree type. In our research files:

Others keep everything remote. Boise State's EdD in educational technology says all courses and "exams/defenses can be completed at a distance," though some synchronous attendance may be required. Bellevue's DBA residency is a one-credit online course. UMGC's DBA has workshops that are "primarily online," with in-person attendance not required.

Two practical points:

1. A "residency" can mean an online course, a short campus visit or a multi-day summit. Read what

the program actually requires and who pays for travel. Penn State notes that travel, lodging and meals for its summit "are at the expense of the student."

1. Defenses may be remote or in person. Florida's online EdD requires students to be present for

the dissertation defense.

To filter for programs without stated campus visits, see programs with no campus visits. Our guide to campus visits and placements covers clinical and field requirements in detail.

Admission and practice assumptions

Professional doctorates often assume current work in the field because the final project is built around your own setting. Kennesaw State's EdD in instructional technology requires certification-track students to have "access to a classroom for field experiences and capstone projects." Nursing practice doctorates typically require a nursing license and supervised practice hours; see our guide to professional licensure disclosures for how state rules affect where those hours can happen.

PhD programs vary more. Auburn's nursing PhD offers both MSN-to-PhD and DNP-to-PhD pathways, so a professional doctorate does not rule out a later PhD.

Funding differs, especially online

Do not assume the funding model of a campus PhD carries over to its online version. The University of Florida states that departmental stipends "are not available for Distance Ph.D. students." Texas Tech's higher education PhD offers research assistantships, but recipients must live in Lubbock and work 20 hours a week with a faculty mentor. Professional doctorates are usually priced per credit, and per-credit tuition is not the total cost of the degree.

Accreditation and licensure are separate questions

Every program should sit within an institutionally accredited university. Some professional doctorates also have programmatic accreditation: the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, accredits baccalaureate, graduate and residency/fellowship programs in nursing. Programmatic accreditation still does not mean a degree qualifies you for a license in your state. For practice doctorates, check the university's licensure disclosure for your state before you apply.

Questions to ask before you apply

• Is the final product a dissertation, an applied project or a capstone, and can I see past

examples?

• How many in-person visits are required, where, and who pays for travel?
• Can the proposal and final defense be completed remotely?
• Do I need current employment, a license or site access to complete projects?
• Is any funding (stipends, assistantships) available to online students specifically?

Browse online doctoral programs or narrow to online PhD programs, then use compare to place two programs side by side.