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Spur the change any organization needs with the University of Mary’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program. Your leadership, business acumen, and career will never be the same.

The worlds of business, industry, and finance need pioneering change-makers. The University of Mary’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program forms them. Our online program with an on-campus residency is designed for busy, working professionals looking to transform their career.

Practical and Research-Based

Our DBA program embraces practicality. In fact, a hallmark of our program is our innovative capstone research project, in which students make detailed observations, deliberate assessment, and meaningful change in a real-world business environment that’s relevant to them. When it comes to Mary’s DBA, we know the importance of building knowledge and expert-level decision-making experience in the complex, ever-changing real world.

Leaders Grow Here

The guided, mentoring environment inside Mary’s DBA program is rich soil for cultivating leadership skills. We know the transformational impact good leaders can have on our lives and businesses, and we also know the impact that bad leaders can have on us. That’s why we embrace True Leadership in the Gary Tharaldson School of Business. True Leaders combine their unparalleled business knowledge with genuine concern for the people around them.

Achieve and Advance with Flexibility

Working professionals are busy people. If you’re going to invest the time, money, and energy into a graduate program, that program should ensure the investment pays off. At the University of Mary, we do just that. Our DBA unlocks the potential for you to advance to a senior-level executive position or transform your success in your current position. And our part-time, online schedule is built for busy people. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

Take the First Step

Get in touch with any questions or submit a simple application for admission.
After you're admitted to the university and the program, we will assist you every step of the way toward acceptance into your academic program so you can enroll and begin your classes!

At a Glance

$21,944
The average increase in annual income for employees with a doctorate compared to those with a master's degree.

Program Length

As little as 36 months

Formats

  • Online with two one-week on-campus institutes in the summer.

Tuition per Credit

 $810

Is This the Degree For Me?

Who It’s For

  • Business leaders and executives seeking a terminal degree
  • Professionals interested in setting themselves apart from master's prepared peers
  • Individuals interested in mastering advanced critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
  • Higher education professionals seeking to blend advanced business acumen with academic excellence
  • Industry professionals seeking mastery of quantitative business skills

Career Paths

  • CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, COOs, and other C-Suite Executives
  • Information Systems Management
  • Financial Managers
  • Health Care Management
  • Entrepreneurs
  • University Faculty
  • Business Consultant

What You’ll Learn

In our DBA program, you will gain advanced knowledge focused on practical and successful business practices. Mary’s DBA is for working, career-focused professionals like you—distinct from a PhD’s theoretical focus and more advanced than an MBA’s foundational scope. With Mary, you will:

  • Develop skills in complex problem-solving, critical thinking, and inspired decision-making.
  • Evaluate the global business environment to propose actionable solutions.
  • Craft innovative and practical business strategies.
  • Apply quantitative operational and financial methodologies to solve real-world challenges.
  • Design and implement a research project that directly impacts your organization.

As a three-time graduate of the University of Mary, I knew the university would provide a holistic education. With that said, the reflection that has stood out the most about my experience in this program is having a renewed sense of purpose in serving others. Ultimately, my journey in the DBA program motivated me to seek opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of the people around me.

marby hogen headshot

Program Details

Program Information

Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.

Your first step is to get in touch with any questions or submit a simple application for admission. After acceptance to the University as a candidate for graduate studies, we will assist you every step of the way toward acceptance into your academic program so you can enroll and begin your classes!

The following are examples of courses that will be offered for this program. For more information regarding the full list of courses, you can click on the program information link above.

Vocation of a Business Leader

Examine the challenges and the opportunities the business environment presents in socio-economic, technology, finance, marketing, communications, and organizational culture and pursue options that counter the contemporary profit maximization model with a formational vade-mecum (handbook for leadership consultation). 

Practical Research

This course emphasizes applied research processes, addressing problem identification, communication of findings, and various research methodologies. Distinctions between primary and secondary research and exploratory, causal-comparative, and correlational methods will be explored. The curriculum also covers research design elements: questionnaire creation, measurement scales, sampling, power analysis, data collection, analysis, and report synthesis.

Strategies for Building Organization

This course focuses on using information to shape and strengthen organizational strategies, leading to improved efficiency and effectiveness, as well as growth. We'll explore organizational development research and its application to enhance organizational performance, emphasizing the need for advanced strategies that unite individuals in the pursuit of truth.

If you are serving or have served our country, we sincerely thank you. Our military services office is here to work closely with active duty, retired, reserve, and eligible family members qualified for military benefits. Learn how we can help you with the application process and review the benefits you have earned.

For a full list of fees, visit our Tuition and Fees page.

The University of Mary is committed to putting your educational goals within reach. Learn what scholarships you qualify for.

We welcome students from various backgrounds, including transfer students from institutionally accredited colleges and universities recognized by the US Dept. of Education and those with military or career and work experience. 

How do I show my previous college, military, or work experience?

  • Official transcripts (if applicable) from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 should be submitted directly to the Office of Admissions.
    • Did you graduate from the University of Mary? Then we’ll get your Mary transcript for you!
    • At most other schools, you can request transcripts by going to the National Student Clearinghouse or by contacting the registrar’s office. 
      • Have your transcripts sent to:
        Office of Admissions
        University of Mary
        7500 University Drive
        Bismarck, ND 58504
      • Or request to send electronic transcripts to registrar@umary.edu.
  • Students with previous career or work experience can earn credits for prior learning.
    • You can choose to test for prior learning credits — we convert your test scores into college credit.
    • You can request a portfolio review for prior learning credits. You’ll assemble documentation to show your experience, which will be reviewed and evaluated by an experienced faculty member.
  • Military experience can count towards a degree.
WHAT WILL I NEED TO APPLY?
  • All of our programs require you to fill out the general application form in addition to submitting the application fee and your transcripts.
  • Any program-specific requirements you’ll need to submit in addition to the items listed above can be found in our catalog.

At the University of Mary, we review every application on an individual basis, ensuring that the materials you submit are evaluated with care and attention. Reach out to us if you have any questions in filling out your application.

Get Started Today

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