Kelley Direct’s Online Executive Doctor of Business Administration (EDBA) is built for those who lead with intention and elevate every move they make. You’ll experience a program that sets the standard in strategy, leadership, and executive impact, tying academic rigor with real-world relevance. For Kelley Direct alumni, the EDBA is the logical next step in a trusted journey. If you’re new to Kelley Direct’s legacy of excellence in business education, it’s a rare opportunity to join something elite.
Strategy and leadership
Designed for the highest-level professionals
42 credit hours
For those who qualify to transfer in a full 27 MBA credits
141,000+
Largest business school alumni network in the world
Professionals at the highest levels can expand impact with an EDBA
Kelley Direct Chair Erik Gonzalez-Mulé invites you to join the Online EDBA Program. Designed for executives who want greater expertise and maximum earning potential, Kelley's Online Executive DBA is rigorous, relevant, and built for those who break through every challenge and seek to shape their industry.
Description of the video:
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.840
The Kelley Direct
executive doctorate
2
00:00:01.840 --> 00:00:04.720
in business administration is
an executive doctorate degree
3
00:00:04.720 --> 00:00:06.920
for senior leaders and
experienced professionals
4
00:00:06.920 --> 00:00:08.080
in organizations.
5
00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:10.600
The program can be completed
in as little as three years
6
00:00:10.600 --> 00:00:13.580
if you don't have an MBA, as
little as two years if you do.
7
00:00:13.580 --> 00:00:16.020
You can expect to take
two courses per term,
8
00:00:16.020 --> 00:00:18.180
taking about 15 to
20 hours a week.
9
00:00:18.180 --> 00:00:21.858
If you're debating between an
EDBA versus a PhD in business,
10
00:00:21.858 --> 00:00:23.400
there's three primary
things that you
11
00:00:23.400 --> 00:00:25.420
should think about when you're
weighing the two programs.
12
00:00:25.420 --> 00:00:27.620
First is that they will
have different focuses.
13
00:00:27.620 --> 00:00:30.520
A PhD is more interested in
basic knowledge discovery
14
00:00:30.520 --> 00:00:33.280
and advancing new theories
than an EDBA would,
15
00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:34.860
which is more
practical and applied.
16
00:00:34.860 --> 00:00:36.360
The second thing I
would think about
17
00:00:36.360 --> 00:00:38.520
is the length of the
program and that PhDs
18
00:00:38.520 --> 00:00:41.380
tend to be five years long
and sometimes even longer,
19
00:00:41.380 --> 00:00:43.120
whereas EDBAs are
shorter, which allows
20
00:00:43.120 --> 00:00:45.960
you to continue working full
time while doing the program
21
00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:47.060
as a part-time student.
22
00:00:47.060 --> 00:00:49.400
Finally, another huge
benefit of this program
23
00:00:49.400 --> 00:00:52.720
is just having other like-minded
individuals with similar career
24
00:00:52.720 --> 00:00:55.800
stages that you can learn
from and network with.
25
00:00:55.800 --> 00:00:57.520
The Kelley Direct
executive doctorate
26
00:00:57.520 --> 00:00:59.480
in business
administration is designed
27
00:00:59.480 --> 00:01:02.340
for visionaries and for those
who lead while others follow.
28
00:01:02.340 --> 00:01:05.179
We hope to see you in our
Kelley Direct EDBA program.
29
00:01:05.179 --> 00:01:07.929
[AUDIO LOGO]
30
00:01:07.929 --> 00:01:10.000
Elevate your influence
Led by the same award-winning faculty behind the #1-ranked Kelley Direct Online MBA Program, our EDBA curriculum equips you with the tools to think critically, lead strategically, and drive change. Focused on advanced strategy and leadership concepts, the Online EDBA is rigorous, relevant, and built for those who lead with intention.
A streamlined path to prestige and even greater impact
An MBA isn’t required to enroll in the EDBA program at Kelley Direct. However, an MBA can fast-track your EDBA experience. For either curriculum track you pursue, you will earn an elite credential designed to expand the influence of top executives.
69 credit track
For students without an MBA, you will matriculate into the 69 credit hour option for the EDBA.
42 credit track
For students with an MBA, we will accept transfer credits on a case-by-case basis, evaluating the match of courses taken during your AACSB-accredited MBA program to those offered in the Kelley Direct Online MBA Program. For students with a Kelley Direct MBA, we will transfer 27 credit hours, making the EDBA 42 credit hours.
Application process and deadlines
Priority application deadline for the fall 2027 EDBA cohort at Kelley Direct is May 1, 2027.
Submit our free, five-minute Phase 1 application today! All you need is an up-to-date resume or CV.
- Complete a virtual interview with our team
- Submit our Phase 2 application, including:
- Personal statement
- Two recommender forms
- Official transcripts from all conferred degrees
- GRE/GMAT test optional
- $75 application fee
Still have questions?
Our team is ready to support your career transformation every step of the way. Connect with us to get answers and learn more about the Executive DBA. Together we'll get you one step closer to gaining a credential that's instantly respected.
What’s your next move?
With a Kelley Direct Executive DBA, you’re not just earning a credential—you’re creating a legacy. Whether you’re expanding your executive influence, stepping into academia, or pivoting into consulting, Kelley Direct’s seasoned career coaches from a variety of industries offer tailored, strategic support every step of the way. This is more than traditional career services—it’s high-impact coaching designed for visionaries ready to lead boldly and define what comes next.
Command your legacy with the Kelley Direct EDBA
Kelley Direct pioneered online graduate business education, and now it’s redefining the online business doctorate degree. As part of an Executive Doctor of Business Administration cohort, you’ll learn from award-winning faculty, engage in cutting-edge strategy and leadership coursework at a designated R1 institution, and join a global network of 141,000+ alumni. Our graduates don’t just climb—they command their legacy.
High impact meets high return
At $2,300 per credit hour*, Kelley Direct’s Executive DBA is a strategic investment in your future. Backed by the #1-ranked online MBA program with a legacy of ROI leadership, this program delivers real-world value. Whether you’re transferring credits or pursuing the full program, you’ll gain a credential that’s designed for high-impact professionals who seek a top-of-the-line qualification that fits their current and long-term goals.
*Current fall 2026 tuition rate. Tuition rates are subject to change each year as set by the IU Board of Trustees.
MBA, EDBA, or PhD? Discover which degree fits your future
Choosing the right advanced degree starts with understanding your goals. Whether you’re aiming to pivot careers, deepen executive expertise, or contribute to academic research, Kelley Direct gives you clarity. Explore how the MBA, EDBA, and PhD differ and discover why the Executive DBA may be the strategic next step for experienced professionals ready to lead boldly.
Typical years of work experience: 5+
Length of program: 2 to 3 years
Modality: In person or online with residencies
Curriculum focus: Acquiring general, well-rounded business skills for career advancement
Target audience: Early to mid-career professionals with established work experience
Intended outcomes: Career pivot, career advancement, and/or knowledge acquisition
Typical years of work experience: 10+
Length of program: 2 years with full credit transfer; 3 years without MBA
Modality: Online with residencies
Curriculum focus: Applying strategy and leadership theory to applied, real-world problems
Target audience: Mid- to late career professionals with extensive work experience who can continue working while earning their degree.
Intended outcomes: Preparation for higher levels of responsibility and intrinsic satisfaction from acquired knowledge. Expanding impact and influence in one’s field or seeking a non-tenure-track teaching role at a business school.
Typical years of work experience: Varies, often with research experience in a master’s program
Length of program: 5+ years
Modality: Fully in person
Curriculum focus: Quantitative and qualitative research methods, theory, applications to real-world issues
Target audience: Individuals with a passion for research who are deeply interested in pursuing an academic career
Intended outcomes: Placement as tenure-track research faculty at universities
“This is a doctorate in strategy and leadership, designed for the highest-level professionals who want to elevate their influence, strengthen their strategic thinking, and lead at the very top.”
Erik Gonzalez-MuléKelley Direct Associate Faculty Chair; Randall L. Tobias Chair in Leadership; Chairperson of the Management and Entrepreneurship Department
Get your questions answered
Explore common questions about the Executive Doctor of Business Administration degree from Kelley Direct and discover how this credential can grow your impact.
Ready to join?
At your level, success isn’t measured by titles or promotions—it’s defined by influence, legacy, and the freedom to shape what’s next. With the Kelley Direct Online EDBA, you’ll redefine the standard in elite online business education.