Excelsior U to Offer DBA

[ss20ts]

The Albany residency makes sense because that's where their office/campus is located. The Florida residency doesn't make sense. At $800 per credit and 60 credits, I can go to numerous other DBA programs for less and some don't have in person residency requirements. I have not seen residencies required in multiple state before this program.

Apparently they're trying to build a physical presence in St. Petersburg:

https://stpetecatalyst.com/university-se...-location/

That's just weird! They're named after the state they're from. Odd that they're adding in person classes in Florida since so many colleges are struggling with in person programs. Many are just struggling period.

[SteveFoerster]

The Albany residency makes sense because that's where their office/campus is located. The Florida residency doesn't make sense. At $800 per credit and 60 credits, I can go to numerous other DBA programs for less and some don't have in person residency requirements. I have not seen residencies required in multiple state before this program.

Apparently they're trying to build a physical presence in St. Petersburg:

https://stpetecatalyst.com/university-se...-location/

That's just weird! They're named after the state they're from. Odd that they're adding in person classes in Florida since so many colleges are struggling with in person programs. Many are just struggling period.

In keeping with the state motto theme, we'll see whether they change their name to "In God We Trust University" (assuming Florida doesn't already have one). 

[Mint Berry Crunch]

Received this today from Excelsior University. I think I will pass on this program; the cost is too high, there's little to no discount for former graduates, and there are no scholarships.

Thank you for your interest in our upcoming Doctor of Business Administration program at Excelsior University! Please read on for information about the program, and take a look at the attached document for a more in-depth breakdown of the program and its requirements!

Doctor Of Business Administration
The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program at Excelsior University is designed for experienced professionals seeking to elevate their strategic leadership, research, and consulting skills. The program is delivered online, with two in-person residencies, providing flexibility while ensuring valuable face-to-face networking, mentoring, and research support opportunities. The program equips students with advanced knowledge of business theories, research methods, and evidence-based practices, preparing them to become leaders in their industries. This is a high-impact doctoral program designed for experienced professionals who are ready to lead at the next level. It is built for scholar-practitioners who want to turn real-world challenges into research-driven solutions!

The planned launch for this program is our Spring 1 2027 term, which begins January 2027.

Admission Requirements and Eligibility
To be eligible for the DBA program students must have 5+ years of professional experience and management of people and projects. This criteria should be demonstrated in the following materials that you will submit with your application:

Curriculum Vitae/Resume
2 Letters of Recommendation:
First Letter: This should be from a supervisor or board member who can speak to your professional accomplishments, leadership skills, and managerial experience.
Second Letter: Another professional reference that highlights your qualifications and suitability for the DBA program.
Self-Employed Applicants: If you are self-employed, your application will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. You will need to provide a similar letter of recommendation from a colleague or client who can attest to your professional interactions and managerial capabilities.
Letter of Intent
Portfolio

Program Length and Residency Requirement
Our DBA program is a total of 60 credits long and will take 2-3.5 years to complete depending on courses completed each term.

Throughout the course of the program students will be required to complete two in-person residencies, one in Albany, NY, and the other in St. Petersburg, FL. Each residency is 4 days long, for a total of 8 days in-person across the entire program. The remainder of the program is online, with some synchronous components.

Dissertation Requirement

As part of the program students will complete a dissertation with ongoing support from faculty and advisors. This dissertation is threaded through the entire program, and students have two options on how to complete it:

Applied Project Dissertation
Create a transformative solution for an organization or business concept using design science principles.
Three-Paper Model
Develop three high-quality, interconnected papers, each addressing a unique aspect of your research focus.

Tuition and Fees
Tuition for this program is $800/credit hour, with an estimated total cost of $48,000-$50,000. This includes tuition and fees, two in-person residencies (lodging, airfare, and some meals excluded), program events, and additional costs for some materials and research technologies. Percentage discounts are available for institutional partners!

Application

Applications for the DBA open on August 24th, 2026!

Looks like a solid course offering. TESU offers a DBA for roughly the same price (maybe a bit cheaper) and completely online with the option to attend in-person symposiums (which I attend to improve my knowledge and research writing).