Online P.h.D. program rankings are often touted as the best way to choose an online school. After all, admissions requirements are not as strict as they are at many traditional campus universities and the school is not going to run out of classroom space so getting into the school or program of your choice is entirely feasible. But should you trust online rankings to bear the burden of making your decision for you or should you try to navigate the endless array of online schools yourself?

Program Rankings

Program rankings are wonderful when they are done properly but this is not always the case. Suffice it so say, you want program rankings done by a credible, impartial institution using criteria that line up with your personal preferences. This is one of those times when it would be wise to remember that information presented on the internet is not policed or regulated enough that you can trust what you see. You could create your own rankings based on no criteria at all and post them right now. Remember that.

Trusting Online Rankings

Assuming that you have found rankings completed by a credible, impartial source then you want to know what criteria were used. Are they just being ranked on the quality of the information presented in the PhD programs? Do they offer multiple PhD degrees and are they all of the same quality? What information exactly went into these rankings? Is there any information that was included that you don’t want influencing your final decision? Is there anything that is important to you that was left out?

Knowing What You Want

The best way to assess online P.h.D. program rankings and to make your final decision is to know exactly what you want. Of course, you want an officially accredited quality P.h.D. program but do you want a school that takes an active role in helping you find employment? Do you want a school that is known for being able to provide assistance through e-mail or over the phone whenever you need it? Do you want a program that allows you to work as quickly or as slowly as you wish? Whatever you want, know it and check each program to see how that degree program matches up.

Online P.h.D. program rankings are fun to look at but aren’t really that helpful. Students have differing opinions about the same educational experiences. Know what works for you and find the closest match.

The PhD degree is the highest academic degree conferred by American universities. The Ph.D., which stands for Doctor of Philosophy, is the best known and most common type of doctorate degree, but for our purposes we have simply listed all types of doctorates below, including PhDs, Doctor of Social Work, Doctor of Business Administration, Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Management, and more.

Doctor of Ministry Doctor of Education	Liberty University — The Doctor of Education program at Liberty University prepares graduates for exciting careers in the field of education. The degree requires 60 credit hours and includes a dissertation. Graduates are successful as teachers, superintendents, principals, curriculum directors, instructional supervisors, or university administrators.
PhD in Public Policy PhD in Education PhD in Public Health More PhD's...	Walden University — The Walden University PhD programs offer prospective students a wide range of doctoral study, including Counseling, Education, Human Services, Management, Psychology, Public Health, Business Administration, and much more. Graduates not only teach in universities across the country, but serve in the highest levels of organizations.
Doctor of Business Admin Doctor of Education PhD in Public Admin More PhD's...	Northcentral University — The mission of Northcentral University is to provide the world with a dynamic education offering accredited graduate and undergraduate programs through a proven, online, unique faculty mentored approach to learning. Graduates of Northcentral have proven themselves as contributors to societies around the globe.
Doctor of Management Doctor of Computer Science	Colorado Technical University — The Doctor of Management program at Colorado Technical University is geared to develop the next generations leader's in the business world. The first year of this exciting program focuses on research and studying management literature. The final year instructs students on the art of leadership and management.
PhD in Education Admin PhD in IT Management Doctor of Social Work More PhD's	Capella University — The Capella University doctoral programs in Education, IT Management, Nursing, Social Work, Business, and Leadership provides graduates advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in their field of choice. Culminating with a dissertation, the award-winning faculty mentor your journey towards contributing a significant peer-reviewed paper to the world of academia.
Doctor of Education More PhD's...	Grand Canyon University — The Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership degree program at Grand Canyon University prepares graduates to become leaders in the field of education. The curriculum includes literature in leadership, existing theory, and the study of statistics and research methodology.
Doctorate of Business Admin	University of Liverpool — The Doctorate of Business Administration program at the University of Liverpool begins with a core curriculum of change and crisis management, innovative approaches to leadership, managerial decision making, ethics, sustainability, and social impact. It concludes with a original thesis that is practical rather than technical.
Criminology Educational Psychology Organizational Development Sports Psychology	University of the Rockies — University of the Rockies is a post graduate schools that has several accredited online doctorates programs, great for students who must balance school with busy or inconsistent schedules. Most of these programs focus on various specializations in psychology including criminology, educational psychology, organizational development, and sports psychology.
Doctor of Business Admin Doctor of Management Doctor of MIS Doctor of Education Doctor of Health Admin	University of Phoenix — The University of Phoenix offers a wide variety of PhD programs, including Business, Management, MIS, Education, and Healthcare Administration. For example, the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree program equips graduates for careers in management at the highest levels. The additional programs further provide advanced study that will catapult your career to new heights.
Health Education Physical Therapy Health Sciences Audiology	AT Still — AT Still is one of the country's most trusted and longest-standing leaders in education that mostly specializes in health science and other related subjects. AT Still is also a post graduate school, offering masters and doctorates programs to students looking to advance their career goals. AT Still offers four doctorates degrees online, including Health Education, Physical Therapy, Health Sciences, and Audiology.
PhD in Physical Therapy	Boston University — Boston University has added an online program for its Physical Therapy transitional doctoral degree in response to changing trends and growing interest in distance education. This program is designed to be completed in less than two years and connects the space between a BS/MS and doctorate degree. Boston University is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.
Doctor of Business Admin Doctor of K-12 Education Doctor of Higher Education	Argosy University — The College of Business at Argosy University includes a Doctor of Business Administration as well as two doctoral programs in Education: K-12 and higher education. The curriculum is designed to train educators in the art of transformational leadership required to lead complex institutions. Coursework includes globalization, economics, societal shifts, and relationships between individuals and organizations.
Doctor of Business Admin	South University — South University has a Phd in Business Administration available through online courses that provides greater convenience and flexibility compared to the campus program. Students are able to work on and turn in assignments from home, school, or even when they are on the go. Moreover, assignments can be submitted at any time before or on the deadline, great for students with busy or inconsistent work schedules.
PhD in Edu. Leadership	Keiser University — The PhD program in Educational Leadership at Keiser University provides graduates with the tools required to become leaders in education. The curriculum is designed around values leadership, ethical and informed decision-making, diversity, assessment, program evaluation, effective communication, and technology.
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