2027 Best Online PhD Programs With No SAT or ACT Requirement
Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
If you are searching for an online PhD that does not require SAT or ACT scores, the good news is that those undergraduate admissions tests are generally irrelevant to doctoral applications. The harder decision is finding a research program you can complete, afford, and use toward your goals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $140,910 median annual wage for computer and information research scientists in 2024, illustrating the potential appeal of research careers - not a salary promised by a PhD.
This guide helps prospective doctoral students compare fields, identify real admissions hurdles, and verify programs before applying.
Key Things You Should Know
- SAT and ACT scores are undergraduate admissions measures; an online PhD may instead assess graduate preparation, research fit, writing, and sometimes GRE or GMAT scores.
- Compare actual PhD credentials - not similarly named professional doctorates - and confirm accreditation, dissertation requirements, funding, and any in-person obligations.
- Occupational pay is not a graduate outcome: the $140,910 median for computer and information research scientists in 2024 does not establish what a particular PhD graduate will earn.
Top 10 Best Online PhD Programs With No SAT or ACT Requirement - Top 10 Programs
Business / DBA Programs
For this PhD-focused guide, compare PhDs in business administration or management, not Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programs. A business PhD typically centers on original research and a dissertation; a DBA is usually more practice-oriented. Liberty University's online PhD in Business Administration is one program to investigate. Check its current graduate and program-specific test policies, research concentrations, dissertation supervision, and any intensive requirements. If your goal is management advancement rather than research, compare the PhD's cost and time with a DBA, MBA, or additional experience.
Education / EdD Programs
An education PhD prepares students to investigate questions about teaching, learning, or education systems. An EdD is a distinct credential and should not be counted as a PhD option. Liberty University offers an online PhD in Education to investigate; verify the current admissions rules, specialization, research sequence, and dissertation expectations directly. Classroom experience may strengthen an application, but admission criteria vary. If you want to improve practice within your school or organization, an EdD may fit better than a research-intensive PhD.
Educational Leadership Programs
Educational leadership PhDs examine how institutions, policies, and leadership practices affect outcomes. Check the exact degree awarded: many online educational leadership doctorates award an EdD rather than a PhD. Before applying, ask whether the research area matches available faculty expertise and whether the program requires scheduled seminars, campus visits, or a dissertation defense. A PhD does not replace the experience or state-specific credentials required for many school administrator positions.
Psychology Programs
Walden University's online PhD in Psychology is a starting point for examining research-focused options. Confirm the specialization, current admissions standards, research mentorship, and any in-person requirements. Do not assume an online psychology PhD qualifies you for clinical licensure. Eligibility depends on the specific program, required clinical training, accreditation where applicable, and state board rules. Applicants pursuing independent clinical practice should check their state's requirements before considering tuition or convenience.
Nursing / DNP Programs
A nursing PhD emphasizes research that can inform nursing science, education, or health systems. A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a different, practice-focused doctorate. The University of North Dakota's online PhD in Nursing is one option to investigate. Ask about nursing credentials, prior degree requirements, research advising, campus attendance, and funding. Neither a nursing PhD nor a DNP automatically grants a new nursing license; advanced-practice roles have separate state and certification requirements.
Public Health Programs
Public health PhDs typically develop researchers in areas such as epidemiology, health behavior, or policy. Walden University's online PhD in Public Health is an example to investigate, but confirm its current concentration choices, admissions tests, methods coursework, and dissertation support. Do not substitute a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) when comparing PhD programs: a DrPH commonly emphasizes applied public health leadership. Match faculty research and data-access opportunities to the question you hope to study.
Computer Science Programs
Computer science PhDs require more than advanced programming courses: the defining work is original research, usually culminating in a dissertation. The University of North Dakota's online PhD in Computer Science is a program to investigate. Confirm its current online delivery, adviser availability, research areas, admissions tests, and any campus-based activities. If your objective is a software development job rather than a research role, compare the doctorate with a master's degree, a portfolio of work, and relevant experience.
Cybersecurity Programs
Cybersecurity PhDs can focus on original research in secure systems, cyber defense, or related areas. Capitol Technology University's online PhD in Cybersecurity is a program to examine; verify its current admissions policy, research supervision, dissertation requirements, and delivery details. Research fit matters more than a general claim that classes are online. If you want an operational security role, employer-valued experience or certifications may be a more direct route than a research doctorate.
Social Work / Human Services Programs
Walden University's online PhD in Social Work is a research-oriented option to investigate. Confirm its graduate prerequisites, faculty fit, dissertation process, and any residency requirements. A Doctor of Social Work (DSW) is a separate credential with a different professional emphasis. If your goal is licensed clinical practice, check your state's social work licensing pathway first: a PhD does not substitute for the required qualifying degree, supervised experience, or examinations.
Public Administration / Public Policy Programs
Walden University's online PhD in Public Policy and Administration is a starting point for applicants interested in research on governance or policy. Verify the current program title, test policy, methods requirements, dissertation advising, and online attendance rules before applying. A Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) is not a PhD. For many government or nonprofit leadership jobs, relevant experience or a master's degree may offer a more direct path than doctoral research.
What Are Online PhD Programs Without SAT or ACT Requirements?
Online PhD programs without SAT or ACT requirements are Doctor of Philosophy programs whose doctoral admissions process does not call for those undergraduate entrance exams. This is generally the norm, not a special exemption or a sign of easy admission. "Online" describes at least part of the instruction; it does not establish that research, examinations, residencies, or a defense can all occur remotely.
The meaningful questions are whether a program requires the GRE, GMAT, or another graduate-level test; whether it admits applicants with your previous degree; and whether a faculty member can supervise your proposed research. Review the doctoral program's admissions page alongside the graduate school's rules, since both may apply.
There is no dependable shortcut from a university's undergraduate SAT policy to its PhD admissions policy. The programs below are specific online PhD options to investigate, not a ranked list or a certification of their current test rules. Before treating any as a confirmed no-SAT-or-ACT option, obtain the current doctoral application requirements from the institution.
This comparison distinguishes the PhD awarded from the question most likely to affect your decision. It does not substitute for an admissions decision or a check of current delivery requirements.
| Institution and PhD option to investigate | Decision-critical check |
| Liberty University - Business Administration | Research concentration, graduate tests, and dissertation format |
| Liberty University - Education | Specialization, faculty fit, and required intensives |
| University of North Dakota - Nursing | Prior nursing preparation and any on-site requirements |
| University of North Dakota - Computer Science | Available advisers, research area, and delivery requirements |
| Walden University - Psychology | Specialization and whether it supports the intended career or license |
| Capitol Technology University - Cybersecurity | Research supervision and dissertation milestones |
Institutional accreditation is essential, but it does not confirm a program's current SAT/ACT policy or professional licensure suitability. Verify each program's present listing, accreditation, and admissions rules with the university before paying an application fee. No option should be called "best" for you until it also fits your research goal, budget, and location constraints.
Doctoral admission generally begins with a completed bachelor's degree; some PhDs require or prefer a relevant master's degree. Programs may review transcripts, prerequisite coursework, a statement of purpose, recommendations, a writing sample or research proposal, and an interview. Research-intensive programs may assess whether an available faculty adviser can support your topic. GPA standards and GRE or GMAT rules vary by program; an unpublished threshold is not proof that no standard exists.
Use this sequence to establish whether an application is realistic before investing time in it:
- Read both the current graduate-school and PhD-specific admissions requirements, including any test policy.
- Ask admissions whether SAT or ACT scores are requested and whether a GRE, GMAT, or other examination applies to your entry route.
- Confirm degree prerequisites, research expectations, faculty-adviser procedures, and application deadlines.
A search for the easiest degree to get addresses a different decision: doctoral research requires sustained independent work even when undergraduate entrance tests are absent.
An online PhD and a campus-based PhD award the same type of credential when the institution awards a PhD, but their research arrangements can differ substantially. Online coursework may reduce relocation needs while shifting more responsibility to the student to schedule adviser meetings, access research resources, and build a scholarly network.
The comparison below highlights practical trade-offs rather than assuming either format is stronger in every field.
| Consideration | Online PhD | Campus-based PhD |
| Research access | May suit remote data collection; confirm access to needed facilities and participants | May provide easier access to laboratories, archives, and research groups |
| Schedule | May reduce commuting but still involve live meetings and fixed deadlines | Usually requires more regular presence on campus |
| Funding | Ask whether assistantships and tuition remission are available to online students | Ask about funded research or teaching appointments and their conditions |
| Location | Check residencies, defenses, and fieldwork separately | Relocation or regular travel may be necessary |
If you have not yet completed the degree needed for PhD admission, comparing the cheapest online colleges may help with an earlier educational step. It does not establish the cost or suitability of a later doctorate.
PhD students study advanced theory and research methods in a defined field, then produce an original contribution to knowledge. Requirements commonly include specialized seminars, quantitative or qualitative methods, comprehensive or qualifying examinations, a dissertation proposal, supervised research, and a dissertation defense. The sequence and terminology differ by institution.
Your proposed question should guide the search. For example, an applicant studying school policy needs relevant education researchers, while a cybersecurity applicant may need access to particular technical expertise or research infrastructure. Ask prospective programs when students select advisers and what happens if an adviser becomes unavailable.
An online PhD usually requires multiple years, but a credible timeline depends on the entry route, enrollment pace, research approvals, data collection, adviser availability, and dissertation progress - not simply the number of courses. A relevant master's degree does not automatically shorten the program. Ask what graduate credits, if any, apply to the specific PhD requirements and which research milestones remain.
Compare total expected cost, not tuition per credit alone. Include mandatory fees, possible residencies and travel, research expenses, and the cost of taking time away from paid work. Request written details about fellowships, assistantships, tuition remission, stipends, eligibility for online students, and how long any support lasts. A guide to the cheapest online PhD options can inform a shortlist, but a lower published tuition rate is not necessarily a lower net cost.
A PhD can prepare you to pursue research in universities, government, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, or industry, depending on the discipline. It may also support teaching and specialized analytical work. The degree alone does not secure a faculty appointment or leadership role; employers may look for publications, teaching, technical skills, postdoctoral work, or substantial professional experience.
Start with the work you want to do. If it requires designing original studies, a PhD may be appropriate. If it primarily requires professional practice or management, compare a relevant master's degree, licensure, certification, or experience first. Older applicants considering college degrees for seniors should apply the same test: choose a PhD for a defined research goal, not merely because it is the highest credential available.
There is no single "online PhD salary." Pay depends on the occupation, field, employer, location, and experience, and an occupational median does not measure the earnings of graduates from a particular program. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $140,910 median annual wage in 2024 for computer and information research scientists. That figure describes people working in the occupation; it neither guarantees a PhD graduate that role nor shows how much the doctorate increased their pay.
To assess financial value, compare likely employment options with the full cost of study, available funding, foregone earnings, and the qualifications employers actually request. A funded research PhD and a self-funded program can have very different financial implications even when both award the same degree.
How Can You Choose a Reputable Online PhD Program?
A reputable choice must pass more than the no-SAT-or-ACT check. The strongest option is the one whose research supervision, requirements, and financing fit your goals. Do not mistake an online course listing for proof that the entire doctorate is remote.
Before applying, use these checks to uncover costly mismatches:
- Confirm institutional accreditation and, where your intended profession requires it, relevant programmatic accreditation or state-board acceptance.
- Read the current PhD catalog and admissions pages for tests, entry degrees, dissertation milestones, enrollment rules, and required attendance.
- Identify faculty whose work matches your question; ask whether they are taking students and how remote supervision works.
- Request a written estimate of tuition, fees, travel, and research costs alongside the conditions and duration of any funding.
- Ask for program-specific completion and career-outcome information, and compare the PhD with a master's degree or professional pathway.
Red flags include vague accreditation claims, promises of guaranteed jobs, unclear dissertation supervision, and an "entirely online" claim that conflicts with required campus activities. Confirm details directly with the program before committing.
Other Things You Should Know About
These are primarily undergraduate admissions tests and generally are not part of PhD admission. Confirm the current graduate and program-specific requirements; a GRE, GMAT, or other assessment may still apply.
No. PhD programs can evaluate prior degrees, grades, research preparation, writing, recommendations, and fit with available advisers.
Sometimes, but "online" alone does not establish that. Ask about residencies, laboratories, examinations, dissertation defenses, and other in-person requirements.
No. Each is a distinct doctoral credential. Compare the exact degree awarded and whether its research or professional focus matches your goal.
- Research Your Options: U.S. Online Learning | EducationUSA https://educationusa.state.gov/your-5-steps-us-study/research-your-options/online-learning
- College Admission Use of National Test Scores | Colorado Department of Higher Education Home https://cdhe.colorado.gov/college-use-of-national-test-scores
- Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) 2024 - NCSES - NSF https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/earned-doctorates/2024
- Rule 3341-3-06 - Ohio Administrative Code https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-3341-3-06
- Certification Procedures - Questions and Answers http://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/certification-procedures-questions-and-answers
- Doctor of Philosophy Degree Policies - UMD Academic Catalog https://academiccatalog.umd.edu/graduate/policies/doctoral-degrees-policies/
- Grad school requirements: Everything you need to apply | About the University of Cincinnati https://www.uc.edu/blog/grad-school-requirements.html
- Federal Regulation & State Authorization | ku.edu https://codl.ku.edu/federal-regulation-state-authorization
- Specialized Program Accreditation | Utah Tech University https://accreditation.utahtech.edu/specialized-program-accreditation/
- Estimate Graduate Education Costs | Admissions and Aid | RIT https://www.rit.edu/admissions/graduate/estimate-education-costs
