Below you’ll find answers to questions about the Kelley Direct Executive DBA program. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, please contact us at edba@iu.edu or 877-785-4713, or schedule a video call with us.
Our Executive Doctor of Business Administration is a degree aimed at empowering students through theory and practice in the areas of strategy and leadership. The program will equip students with the skills to be critical consumers of information and data, and to question and improve organizations and processes. Classes will involve significant exposure to theory and research findings with a heavy focus on application to students’ own organizational context. Students will be required to complete a thesis, which will be an applied research project.
No. The EDBA curriculum includes MBA Core courses only and is separate from an MBA. Students wishing to obtain both credentials must first formally enroll in the Kelley Direct Online MBA Program. Each degree has its own distinct admissions process and academic requirements.
The total number of credits required depends on the student’s academic background:
An EDBA can be a highly valuable investment for experienced professionals aiming to elevate their careers. Designed for senior-level leaders, our EDBA program emphasizes strategic leadership development by integrating advanced business theory with practical application. This equips professionals to become more influential and forward-thinking in their organizations. Earning an EDBA can significantly enhance career prospects, opening doors to executive roles, board memberships, and academic opportunities, while demonstrating a strong commitment to lifelong learning.
Kelley Direct’s EDBA offers a targeted curriculum focused on strategy and leadership, rather than a broad survey of business topics. This approach allows senior executives to concentrate on areas most relevant to organizational decision-making and long-term impact. The program is designed to provide depth and specialization, equipping leaders with research-based tools that align with their strategic responsibilities.
The EDBA is taught by full-time, award-winning faculty who also teach in the Kelley Direct MBA Program, ensuring academic rigor and continuity across programs. Students participate in cohort in-residence experiences that foster collaboration and professional networking. Additionally, the program includes dedicated one-on-one coaching through Kelley Direct Professional Advancement (KDPA), offering personalized support to help students align their academic work with professional objectives.
The EDBA may qualify you to teach at certain institutions; however, the eligibility to teach at the collegiate level with an EDBA varies by institution and academic department.
The applicability of MBA credits toward the EDBA program will be determined on a case-by-case basis through a review of transcripts.
The first step in the Executive DBA application process is to complete the Phase 1 application. The application can be completed at any time, but we encourage prospective students to submit it as early as possible for rolling admission. Our admissions team will respond quickly to answer questions and discuss next steps.
Top applicants will be invited to complete Phase 2. Prospective students will be asked to schedule a 30-minute interview with a member of our admissions team. No need to be nervous—we love getting to know our applicants!
Admission decisions are communicated on a rolling basis. Applicants will be notified as soon as their application has been reviewed and a decision has been made.
GMAT/GRE scores are optional.
Application fee waivers are not available. However, the application fee is waived for active-duty military members and US military veterans.
Deferrals are not permitted. If students are unable to accept their offer of admission, they may decline and reapply for a future term.
For the Kelley Direct scholarship essay and personal statement, the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is permitted. However, it’s important to note that while GenAI can be a valuable tool, any work produced by GenAI should not be presented as your own. Always acknowledge the use of GenAI in your writing and cite it appropriately. The goal is to use GenAI as a supplement to your own critical thinking and storytelling, not as a replacement. You should never submit a document fully generated by a GenAI model.
All large language models may hallucinate, meaning they may generate false information that looks accurate. They may perpetuate biases, and image generation models can occasionally come up with offensive results. You will be responsible for any inaccurate, biased, offensive, or otherwise unethical content you submit to the admissions committee.
We also require that you attest to the usage of GenAI in your scholarship essay and/or personal statement, if utilized. Remember, the goal is not to hide the use of GenAI but to transparently acknowledge its role in your work. This maintains academic integrity and is in alignment with Kelley's expectations of its EDBA students.
Students previously enrolled in Kelley Direct who are now seeking admission to the EDBA program will need to submit an EDBA application. The EDBA application procedures apply, and materials will be reviewed as part of the standard admissions process.
The tuition for the online EDBA program is $2,300 per credit hour. Candidates who hold a prior MBA may be eligible to transfer up to 27 credits (pending transcript review on a case-by-case basis) reducing the total credit requirement to a minimum of 42. Candidates without a prior MBA will be required to complete 69 credit hours; 27 of those hours will be the Kelley Direct Online MBA Cores and residencies with tuition at the current MBA rate. The MBA Cores and residencies will prepare you for the EDBA coursework.
Scholarships may be available. We encourage students to speak directly with their admissions officer who can provide personalized guidance and help navigate the financial aid process.
Yes, every course includes live, synchronous class sessions. On average, students will have one live class session per week, per class. Live sessions are held via Zoom, allowing for real-time interaction and engagement. Our students are busy working professionals who report that these sessions fit easily into their week and that they are some of the most valuable aspects of the learning experience. Given the busy schedules of our students, our faculty can work with you on alternatives if you occasionally need to miss a live session. Most students find these sessions extremely valuable and say they wouldn’t miss them for anything.
The course sequence and pacing for the EDBA program are intentionally designed to preserve the integrity of the cohort experience. While the sequence itself isn’t flexible, this structure ensures that all students progress together, fostering a collaborative and supportive learning environment.
The program’s design and inclusion of live class sessions one night per week allows students to balance their studies with professional commitments while maintaining the benefits of shared learning and peer connections.
Students should expect to dedicate approximately 15–20 hours per week to their coursework.
Yes. While the EDBA program includes foundational MBA coursework for candidates who do not already hold an MBA, the curriculum (42 credit hours) is dedicated to learning about research in the areas of strategy and leadership, research methodology, and thesis development. This focus distinguishes the EDBA as a research-intensive, doctoral-level program designed to prepare professionals for high-level strategic roles.
Yes. The EDBA program includes two required in-person residencies, counting for a total of 6 credit hours. The first is taken in year one to kick off the program and is focused on executive presence. This residency is meant to equip students with the communication and presentation skills they need to succeed at the C-suite level.
The second residency is taken during the summer between year one and year two. This residency leads into the thesis project and is focused on topic exploration and matching students to advisors for their thesis. The residencies will be cohort-based experiences and will provide students with opportunities to network with one another and faculty.
Candidates who do not hold a prior MBA will participate in four total residencies: Kelley on Campus, Kelley on Location (as part of the MBA core coursework), and the two doctoral residencies. These residencies are integral to the program and provide valuable opportunities for networking, collaboration, and applied learning.
Yes. The EDBA program is taught by the same award-winning full-time faculty in our top-ranked Kelley Direct Online MBA Program.
While many students in the EDBA program are already successful in their careers, our Kelley Direct Professional Advancement (KDPA) team can help students navigate an industry transition or build a consulting business. They can also assist students with addressing leadership challenges or preparing for advancement within their organization.
Every interaction students have with peers, faculty, and staff during their EDBA experience is an opportunity to network. During live virtual class sessions, office hours with faculty, and collaboration with peers, students gain many opportunities to make connections in an online environment. In addition, we offer various ways to connect in-person during the in-residence experiences.
All Kelley EDBA students and alumni have access to a KDPA coach for as long as they need, including before, during, and after completion of the program.
Our coaches’ backgrounds include human resources, management consulting, entrepreneurship, technology, pharmaceuticals, sales, finance, and executive coaching, making them exceptionally well equipped to support EDBA students’ individual career goals. In addition, students who have an interest in teaching will receive tailored mentorship from a Kelley faculty member to align academic aspirations with practical guidance.
The Kelley School of Business and the Kelley Direct Online MBA Program are accredited by AACSB International. The AACSB accreditation process includes rigorous self-evaluation and peer-review elements, as well as a continuous improvement review every five years to ensure we are improving over time.
The EDBA diploma will state ‘Executive Doctor of Business Administration’. On the official transcript, the major will be listed as strategy and leadership, reflecting the program’s academic focus.
Yes. Military students receive a waiver of both the application fee and the enrollment deposit.
Since the EDBA program is an online program, students attending our program do not qualify to move to the US on an F-1 visa. However, international students who are living abroad are still required to attend EDBA in-person residencies. We will help students get an I-20 and F-1 visa to enter the US for these required in-person experiences in the US.
International EDBA students who are not presently in the US for work or study must communicate with Kelley Direct to submit the necessary documents required for I-20 issuance. I-20s will be issued by Indiana University’s Office of International Services. International Kelley Direct students will then apply for F-1 student visas from US consulates/embassies outside of the US. Obtaining an appointment with the consulate/embassy can take up to 30 days (and is currently taking longer in many places), so contact us regarding the I-20 well in advance of an in-residence stay.
If you already have B-1/B-2 (business/tourist) visa stamps OR are a citizen of a country which is part of the Visa Waiver Program, you are advised to follow the F-1 procedures as well, as you will be receiving college credit for the course.