DBA in 2026- What are your experiences? Open to recommendations

[Max13]

Yeah South College policy is interesting but not everyone was finishing early tbh. I finish in one year by the skin of my teeth when the program came out. I was told in my class barely anyone was doing that and 1.5-2 years was a lot more realistic and the vast majority projected to be 2.5-3 years. Outliers in the masters level is not an issue as WGU has shown but I can imagine at the doctoral level, it is. I feel for everyone but I can see why they made this change. I am mixed. I might not have gone into it at 2 or 3 years length. Finishing in one year (I did have to quit my second job to do this and spend every possible minute of my life) was made it affordable enough.

[Maniac Craniac]

William Woods University: Offers 5-week courses in their online DBA program and accepts up to 50% transfer credits (not sure if they have to be masters level or doctoral level credits). This degree can be finished in a year if you grind out two courses per term with transfer credits it could be faster. The program requires 51 credits, and students will complete an Applied Doctoral Study Project (DSP). 

https://www.williamwoods.edu/academics-p...ba-online/
https://www.wilmu.edu/business/doctor-of...culum.aspx

Their transfer policy page indirectly states that they accept master's credits towards a doctoral program (quotes below). Exactly what they will accept is a good question. Note- the policy says that doctoral candidates must complete a minimum of 30 credits at William Woods. If that rule is applied to the DBA, then it would override the 50% rule, and one could only transfer in up to 21 credits.

https://williamwoods.smartcatalogiq.com/...hatgpt.com

"Students with a master's degree in an area different from that in which they intend to seek a doctoral degree may expect to transfer far fewer than the maximum transfer hours allowed."

"students with additional graduate coursework (multiple master’s or specialist degree) may be considered for additional transfer credit with review and approval by the program director."

"No work completed as an undergraduate student (including graduate courses) will be accepted unless the undergraduate student completed graduate courses as part of an undergraduate to graduate degree program such as William Woods University’s Graduate Bridge Program."