Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
You have a master’s degree. You want to stay in the U.S. This is the solution built for you: an accredited doctorate with CPT from day one through graduation, a $15,000 Grant with an interest-free payment plan, and 3-4 more years in the U.S. while you work and study.
You bring the master’s. We handle everything else, from A to Z.
Free consultation · No commitment required
One program. Everything handled.
We give you the academics, we place you in a paid position, you keep your status, you work from day one, and you pay as you go.
Grant + Interest-Free Payment Plan
Eligible students receive up to a $15,000 Grant toward tuition, combined with an interest-free payment plan that spreads the rest across your program. No loans, no interest. You pay as you go while you keep earning.
CPT Throughout the Entire Program
Many universities cap how much CPT you can use per year or per degree level. Not here. You are authorized for full-time CPT from your first day of class through graduation, roughly 3 years of uninterrupted work in your field.
Extend Your Stay, Then Earn New OPT
Whatever master’s you hold, the doctorate is the next level up, and moving up a degree level makes you eligible for a fresh period of OPT after graduation. Change of status and SEVIS transfers fully supported, with no gap in status.
CareerConnect CPT/OPT Work Placement Assistance
Already have an employer? We make the transition seamless. If not, our CareerConnect team matches you with a paid position aligned with your degree: resume help, employer introductions, and placement support included.
See if you qualify. Request more information.
What exactly is a DBA?
DBA stands for Doctor of Business Administration. It is a doctorate, the highest degree level in business, one full level above every master’s degree, including the MBA. If you are from outside the U.S., you may only know one kind of doctorate, the PhD. They are not the same, and the difference matters.
Doctor of Business Administration
The doctorate built for working professionals who want the highest degree in business without leaving their career.
- Applied research that solves real business problems
- Keep your job: on campus every 8 weeks, the rest fits around work
- About 3 years while working full-time the entire way
- Leads to executive leadership, consulting, and boardrooms
Doctor of Philosophy
The doctorate built for full-time academics who want to research and teach at a university.
- Theoretical research written for scholarly journals
- Full-time on campus, with little room for a career outside
- Typically 4-6+ years to complete
- Leads to professorships and academic tenure
Both earn you the title of Doctor, and both sit a full degree level above your master’s. That higher level is what unlocks your new period of work authorization. And you do not need an MBA: any accredited master’s degree qualifies you for the next level up.
A doctorate built around your career
The School of Management and Leadership pairs a practical, industry-focused curriculum with the flexibility working professionals need. The hybrid executive format brings you on campus every 8 weeks; the rest fits around your job.
Hear from our students in the U.S.
4.9 Google reviews“I can’t say enough about my experience with EduConnect. From the moment I started my visa and school application, everything was handled so professionally and efficiently. They supported me not just with paperwork, but with every step of the journey.”
“I’m thrilled with my experience with EduConnect USA. A special thanks to Sandra and Aubrey for their kindness and professionalism. I highly recommend EduConnect to anyone planning to study in the U.S.”
“From the first consultation, the team was professional, clear, and responsive. They explained the program structure, tuition, visa process, and work authorization in a way that was easy to understand.”
“Big shoutout to Aubrey. She really helped me all the way through this whole process. She didn’t just guide me, she supported me emotionally, kept me calm, and boosted my confidence when I needed it most.”
“Fantastic experience with EduConnect USA! Their team provided clear, supportive guidance throughout the entire process. They took the time to understand my goals and matched me to the right opportunity.”
“They are extremely professional. Amazing group of people, specially Anastasia, she is really attentive and helpful.”
Four concentrations, one doctorate
Every concentration pairs doctoral research with paid, hands-on work in your field from day one, so the degree builds your resume while you earn it.
Management
The broadest pathway, and the most popular. Study contemporary leadership, organizational strategy, and change management for an AI-driven business landscape, then apply that research directly to the organizations you work with. Built for professionals targeting senior leadership, consulting, or entrepreneurship.
Information & Data Science
For professionals who want to lead the data revolution rather than watch it. Build advanced capability in data science, analytics, and intelligent automation, with doctoral research grounded in quantitative analysis and the ethics of data usage, sharpened daily in a real business setting.
Marketing
Study how marketing drives organizational strategy across industries: human behavior, social influence, marketing research, and data analytics. Your work placement connects you directly with prospective employers while you complete your doctorate.
Hospitality Management
Prepare for international strategy and leadership roles in one of the world’s largest industries. Doctoral coursework in hospitality systems and entrepreneurship pairs with hands-on placements that build the management experience and business relationships employers look for.
See What Credits Transfer
The credits you earned in your master’s program don’t have to stay behind. Eligible graduate coursework transfers directly into the DBA, reducing the credits you need to complete, and what you pay. Alliant MBA alumni can transfer up to 9 units of qualifying coursework straight into the doctorate. Earned your master’s somewhere else? Your transcript is evaluated case by case, and many students from other accredited universities can transfer up to 12 credits.
You don’t need to figure out which courses qualify. That’s our job. Send us your transcript and an advisor will tell you exactly how many units apply, how much shorter your program becomes, and how much less you pay. Talk to an advisor to see how many units you can apply.
Alliant University
Your doctorate comes from Alliant University’s School of Management and Leadership, an accredited university whose degrees are recognized worldwide. Faculty mentor your dissertation from first prospectus to final defense, and the hybrid executive format brings you to the Los Angeles campus every 8 weeks, with the rest built around your job. Offering six intakes a year, in January, March, May, July, August, and October, your start date can line up with your plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DBA, in plain English?
DBA stands for Doctor of Business Administration. It is a doctorate, the highest degree level in business, a full step above every master’s degree including the MBA. Graduates hold the title of Doctor. Unlike a traditional academic doctorate, the DBA is designed for working professionals: you research and solve real business problems while continuing your career, on an executive schedule with campus sessions every 8 weeks in Los Angeles.
Is a DBA the same thing as a PhD?
No, and this confuses a lot of people from outside the U.S., where “doctorate” often just means PhD. Both are doctoral degrees and both earn you the title of Doctor, but they serve different goals. A PhD trains full-time academics: years on campus producing theoretical research for scholarly journals, usually aiming at a professorship. A DBA applies that same doctoral rigor to the real world: applied research on actual business problems, built around your job, aimed at executive leadership and consulting. If you want to keep working and advance your career, the DBA is the doctorate built for you.
Do I need an MBA to apply?
No. Any accredited master’s degree qualifies you. The MBA-to-DBA route is simply the most common among our students. Whatever master’s you hold, the doctorate is the next degree level up, and that is what makes you eligible for a new period of OPT after you graduate.
Can I really work through the entire program?
Yes, and this is where this DBA stands apart. Many universities limit how much CPT you can use per year or per degree level, forcing students to pause their jobs mid-program. Here, your CPT runs from day one straight through graduation, roughly 3 years of uninterrupted, full-time work authorization in your field. And because the doctorate is a higher degree level than your master’s, you qualify for a fresh period of OPT after you finish.
What does the program cost?
It depends on you, in a good way. Eligible students receive up to a $15,000 Grant toward tuition, transfer credits from your master’s reduce it further, and the remainder is spread across an interest-free, pay-as-you-go plan designed to be covered while you work. An advisor will give you your exact numbers in your free consultation, based on your transcript and Grant eligibility.
When does the DBA start, and what is the format?
Most students finish in approximately 3 years, depending on pace, transfer credits, and dissertation progress. The program runs on 8-week terms with a hybrid executive format: on campus in Los Angeles every 8 weeks, with the rest built around your work schedule. Intakes open in January, March, May, July, August, and October. If you are finishing a master’s or OPT, register 3-6 months ahead so your start date lines up with no gap in status. You can review the academic calendar to plan ahead.
I’m on OPT right now. How does the transition work?
This is the most common path. Register for the DBA 3-6 months before your OPT ends; we handle the SEVIS transfer or change of status so your student status continues seamlessly. Your Day 1 CPT activates on the first day of class, meaning you can keep the same job without interruption.
What if I don’t have a job, or my employer isn’t set up for CPT?
Either way, you are covered. If you already have an employer, we make the arrangement compliant so you keep working from day one. If you don’t, CareerConnect, our CPT/OPT work placement assistance, matches you with a paid position aligned with your degree, with resume support and employer introductions before your program starts.
Your master’s got you here. Your doctorate keeps you here.
Talk to an advisor today. We respond within 48 hours and confirm your $15,000 Grant, your transfer credits, your timeline, and your work placement, from A to Z.