While individual results vary by role and industry, DBA graduates commonly advance into executive positions, consulting, and university teaching, with competitive salaries reflecting their advanced expertise and leadership. Many alumni also report career growth such as salary increases and promotions following graduation.

While individual outcomes vary by industry and role, our DBA graduates commonly experience strong career advancement after completion of the program, including securing executive and leadership roles, consulting positions, and university teaching opportunities.

Your research project invites you to focus on a genuine challenge or opportunity within your organization or industry. From there, you’ll complete research anchored in real-world business needs, ensuring your work makes a lasting difference. From day one, you will work toward a doctoral research project designed to tackle a real-world business challenge. With structured support like our Doctoral Success Lab, research seminar, and faculty mentorship, you’ll be empowered to make a meaningful contribution to your field. Depending on your track choice, you have the option of completing a research project or a dissertation.

Core courses include Doctoral Success Lab, A History of Applied Management Theory, Global Leadership and Ethics, Organizational Behavior and Social Responsibility, Global Perspectives in Human Resources, Seminar in Economics and Finance, Research Methods (both Qualitative and Quantitative), Statistical Analysis, Analytics for Decision Making, Applied Research, and Strategic Management in Global Organizations. You'll also complete track-specific courses depending on whether you choose the Teaching Track or Consulting Track.

Yes, the DBA program is fully online, allowing you to balance your studies with your professional and personal commitments.

The program requires 57 credits to complete.

Tuition for the online DBA program is $965 per credit hour. The estimated total program cost is $55,005, plus a $45 technology fee per course.

Yes, Saint Leo University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), ensuring you receive a high-quality education that is recognized and respected by employers nationwide.

A DBA is a doctoral degree designed for practice-oriented professionals with industry experience. It equips you with critical thinking and data analysis skills essential for business settings. Through rigorous research focused on defined business issues, you'll combine business acumen with scholarly methods to drive meaningful organizational change.

The DBA is best suited for professionals with an MBA or background in business and finance. It emphasizes management, finance, and bottom-line results with a practice-oriented approach. Unlike a PhD, which is research-focused, the DBA prepares you to apply your learning directly to real-world business challenges.

DBA graduates pursue diverse careers including executive and leadership roles, consulting and analysis positions, academia and training, specialized fields, and research and development. You can become a consultant, take on decision-making roles within your organization, or transition into teaching at the university level.

We offer two distinct tracks: the Teaching Track for those interested in academic careers, and the Consulting Track for professionals pursuing consulting or organizational leadership roles.

You'll need a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA in graduate coursework. Applicants with a 2.75-2.99 GPA may be admitted following a faculty interview. You'll also need three years of professional work experience, a current resume, and two letters of recommendation if your GPA falls below 3.0.

The program has two starts per year: fall and spring.