DBA – Executive Leadership

Influence the Culture of Top Leadership

Regent University’s fully online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with a concentration in Executive Leadership is for those who are called to top leadership positions or to educate others on effective business strategies. Through its applied multidisciplinary approach, you can gain the necessary evidence-based skills to be a servant leader in the business sector. You can also gain advice on career choice, networking skills, and professional development from seasoned business professionals through the Executive Mentor Program.

Location: Online

Total Credit Hours: 54

Next Session Start: August 24, 2026

Approved Degree Plan: Download PDF

Pave the Way of Leadership

Join the ranks of leading contributors to the body of knowledge in business research and applied practices.

Broaden Your Horizons

Gain a competitive advantage in the industry and launch innovative Kingdom-strategies.

Learn from the Best

Receive membership from faculty who hold the highest degrees in their field and seasoned business professionals through the Executive Mentor Program.

Align Yourself With Excellence Through Regent’s Doctor in Business Administration

Regent has been ranked among the Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report (2026). Our programs have also been recognized among the Top 5 Best Graduate Online Business (Non-MBA) Programs in Virginia for 12 consecutive years (2015-25).

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

Career Opportunities

After completing our DBA in executive leadership, you can:

Create solutions in response to organizational change and anticipate the impact of strategic initiatives.
Positively impact global businesses and communities from a biblical perspective.
Educate others on the importance of effective leadership in business.

Career Opportunities

Executive Leadership for Businesses, Nonprofits & Educational Institutions
University Faculty
Consulting

Featured Courses

Table listing featured courses with course code, name, and credit hours.
Code	Name	Credits
LDSL 722	Leaders & Followers	3	Strategic leadership as it explores the insights and tools of followers in effective partnership with leaders. This course contains the first of two required residencies.
LDSL 726	Human Resource Development	3	Fundamental principles and practices of managing and developing human resources from a senior leadership perspective. Consideration from biblical and theological perspectives.
LDSL 733	Leadership Development	3	Salient and essential aspects of leadership development emphasizing the importance of finding the balance between personal, professional, community, spiritual and family priorities.
LDSL 774	Servant Leadership & the Experiential	3	Examines the practice of Servant Leadership with focus on a deep understanding that moves toward the knowledge of how Servant Leadership works by encouraging student engagement.

Students should refer to their catalog or audited degree plan (ADP) for required courses to complete their degree.

Other Concentrations

Admissions Requirements

2026-27 Semester Check-In Deadlines

All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

Session	Semester Check-In	Session Start Date
Session A	Friday, August 14	Monday, August 24
Session B	Friday, October 16	Monday, October 26
Session C	Wednesday, January 6	Monday, January 11
Session D	Friday, March 5	Monday, March 15
Session E	Friday, April 30	Monday, May 10
Session F	Friday, June 11	Monday, June 21

Prerequisites

Doctoral applicants must hold an MBA or a master’s degree in a business-related field from a regionally accredited institution.

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Submit Your Resume

Provide an updated copy of your professional resume or curriculum vitae that includes:

Employment history with details of leadership responsibilities, skill sets and results – the committee looks at both quantity and quality of responsibilities
School, community and church leadership positions – the committee looks at both quantity and quality of positions
Service activities in which you have been involved
Academic and non-academic honors and distinctions you have received

Your resume should be submitted to regent.edu/items.

Step 4: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Tuition & Fees

2026-27 Tuition Rates

PART-TIME STUDENTS

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA) / Master of Science (MS)	$695	6	$4,170
Master of Business Administration (MBA)	$845 (On-Campus) $695 (Online)	6	$5,070 $4,170
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)	$1,020	3	$3,060
Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD)	$1,020	3	$3,060
Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL)	$1,020	3	$3,060

Full-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA) / Master of Science (MS)	$695	9	$6,255
Master of Business Administration (MBA)	$845 (On-Campus) $695 (Online)	9	$7,605 $6,255
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)	$1,020	6	$6,120
Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD)	$1,020	6	$6,120
Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL)	$1,020	6	$6,120

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$900 (Fall & Spring) $750 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$750

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

2025-26 Tuition Rates

Part-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA) / Master of Science (MS)	$695	6	$4,170
Master of Business Administration (MBA)	$765 (On-Campus) $695 (Online)	6	$4,590 $4,170
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)	$1,020	3	$3,060
Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD)	$1,020	3	$3,060
Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL)	$1,020	3	$3,060

Full-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA) / Master of Science (MS)	$695	9	$6,255
Master of Business Administration (MBA)	$765 (On-Campus) $695 (Online)	9	$6,885 $6,255
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)	$1,020	6	$6,120
Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD)	$1,020	6	$6,120
Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL)	$1,020	6	$6,120

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$900 (Fall & Spring) $750 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$750

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

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“Regent’s online program gives me flexibility and convenience I need.”

Sheri Terrillion, MBA, 2019 Healthcare Management

“My mentor has been incredibly generous with her time and support. She helped me develop a professional philosophy that reflects who I hope to be as a leader, and she pointed me toward resources and suggested specific conferences that could be beneficial to my professional growth. She allowed me to workshop my doctoral final project idea with her and challenged me to make a few strategic tweaks so it sits at the intersection of popular press and textbook writing, with the goal of it being something that could be used in both corporate and academic environments. She’s also been deeply supportive on a personal level, praying for me, checking in on me, and caring about me as a whole person. I’m incredibly grateful for her mentorship and truly can’t say enough good things about Dr. Duke. She is such a blessing!”

Lydia Pert, Doctor of Strategic Leadership, 2026 Mentee

“I completed Regent's MBA program entirely online on my own time. The professors were great at working with me to help me succeed. I am a proud alum of Regent University, ready to take the knowledge and skills I've learned in this program and further my career.”

Drew Friedrich, Master of Business Administration, '22

“I am proud to further Regent University’s conviction of excellence in scholarship, passion for ministry, and devotion to the Word of God.”

Ben Gutierrez, Ph.D., 2004 Organizational Leadership

“I needed someone to tell me who I was and whose I was. Regent did that; the staff was amazing!”

Rae Pearson Benn, M.A. in Organizational Leadership, 2016 WTVZ Host of Our Issues Hampton Roads; Media & Communications Coordinator III, City of Virginia Beach