- Youth Program
- Wharton Online
How to Choose a PhD Program
Successfully completing a doctoral program requires commitment and perseverance. the most important step in this process is to consider whether academic life is right for you and what kind of doctoral program — from discipline to environment — will be the best fit for your goals and preferences., we asked our current students and faculty, “what is key to making this decision” following are some questions they suggested you ask yourself, and answer, in order to select the appropriate program..
First, a basic description of a doctoral program:
As a doctoral student, you will spend the first two years of your program exploring areas of interest through coursework. In the two to three years that follow, you will select and pursue your own research topic, one which will make an original contribution to the existing body of knowledge in your field. Your original research culminates in an extensive written document known as the doctoral dissertation.
General Questions
If you are considering your career options, answering these questions will help you clarify your goals and ambitions — and determine if a doctoral program is the right decision for you.
- Am I the type of person who is suited for a career in academia? Am I independently motivated to answer questions that I find interesting?
- Do I want to spend the rest of my career doing research, as well as reading and talking about it?
- Do I have a strong enough academic background in order to apply and be accepted by the program?
- Is now the time for me to pursue a PhD?
- What are my goals after completing the PhD?
Program Questions
If you know you want to pursue a doctoral degree, answers to these questions will help you select the right program for you.
- How many faculty are working with students?
- How many faculty members are doing research in areas related to my own interests?
- What opportunities are there to work with a variety of faculty and to be exposed to different approaches in research (modeling, work with data, experiment design)?
- Am I technically prepared to learn to do research in this field?
- Most PhD students change their vision of research and many change their intended concentration area after joining the program and being exposed to a variety of research styles. Does my program of choice offer flexibility needed to do so?
- Is there financial support for students to attend academic conferences to present their own research?
- What opportunities are there for students to participate in colloquia, both as an attendee and as a presenter?
- What is the department’s placement record? What types of jobs do graduates take and where?
- Finally, how well do graduates of the program perform in the long term (contributing to the field through publication, practice of management and earning tenure)?
Hear From Our Doctoral Community
From undergrad to phd, from research consumer to research producer, from phd student to colleague.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Graduate school, academic affairs division, search form.
- Meet Our Staff
- Campus Services
- All Programs
- Doctoral Degrees
- Master's Degrees
- Non-Degree Programs
- Graduate Certificates
- Online Graduate Programs
- Admissions Requirements
- International Applicants
- Tuition & Costs
- Assistantships & Fellowships
- Campus & Community
- Request Information
- Check Application Status
- Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Preliminary Competition Registration Form
- Academic Calendar
- Dissertation Boot Camp
- Graduate Catalog
- Graduate Student Appreciation Week
- Graduate Student Organization
- Schedule of Classes
- "Staying on Track" Checklist
- Teacher Tuition Incentive Program
- Graduate Student Orientation
- Graduate School Feedback
- Graduate Council
- Graduate Faculty
- Funding Your Students
- University Libraries
You are here
How to pick the right phd program.
Picking the right PhD program isn’t like choosing between pour-over or latte, paper or plastic, half-and-half or heavy cream. It’s a major investment, a significant period of time, and a major career direction.
How do you know you’re picking the right PhD program? Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you narrow down your search.
Is it compatible with your professional goals?
Sometimes a Ph.D. program may look attractive because of the coursework, or faculty, or location, but in the end, you have to ask yourself if that Ph.D. will advance your career in the direction that you want to take. If it doesn’t, then it might be time to look elsewhere to make sure you choose the right Ph.D. to match your needs or maybe a different professional direction altogether.
What research options are available?
Research is a key part of a Ph.D. program, and the work you do as part of your Ph.D. program can help your career get off on a solid footing. Take your time and ask questions as you analyze the research opportunities that will be part of your Ph.D. program. Visit the campus, meet your professors, and dig deep to see if you’ll have all of the tools and resources you need at your disposal, including the freedom to research what you are truly passionate about.
What’s the reputation of the faculty?
You’ll be spending the lion’s share of your time being guided by the faculty, so do all you can to make sure they’re the kind of scholars and mentors you want to influence your work and your career. Sites like Rate My Professors tend to be skewed and focus on personality alone, so be sure to spend most of your research time looking at faculty CVs, publications, research records and areas of interest to ensure that your potential teachers match up with your research goals.
What funding is available?
Funding is a big factor that can influence your choice for the right Ph.D. program. Fellowship and assistantship offers can even make it your #1 factor. Turning to loans to fund your graduate studies is a big decision that will influence the rest of your life, so do your due diligence to find out how you can save money and obtain funding. Check out our guide to “scholarships” for grad school.
How long will it take?
Chances are you have career and family factors to consider, and you probably can’t put it all on “pause” to get your Ph.D. How long do you want to keep studying? How can you balance your current job situation with a Ph.D. program? Asking yourself these kinds of questions will help steer you towards choosing the right Ph.D. program.
Are students happy, graduating, and finding jobs?
Current grad students in the program and those who have recently graduated can also be an important asset to you. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them. Ask about their grad school experiences, find out whether they’re happy with the program and faculty, research support and teaching opportunities, and prep for the job market. Find out too if they’re getting jobs, and where they’re ending up after graduation. They were once in your shoes and knowing about their experiences can help you choose the right Ph.D. program.
Find the Right PhD for You!
Learn more about PhD programs at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
The Grad Lady
Everything you need to get into grad school
How to find PhD programs
Lists and rankings for PhD programs are much less reliable and harder to find than they are for undergraduate institutions, so it can be hard to determine what a “good” school is for you. Here are some tips on how to start looking, and how to narrow down that list.
Geographic location
If you have a clear idea of the environment and geographic location you want then you can easily start focusing your search from the get-go. Here are a few things to consider:
- Weather . I wanted a place with 4 seasons (I just like having summers and winters). I grew up in New Jersey and went to college in Ohio, so I don’t mind the cold. This ruled out California and most of the South for me.
- Urban/rural environment . I wanted to be in or near a big city. Being in a city has advantages like having more access to apartments, grocery stores, bars, gyms, retailers, etc. Cities are typically more diverse, which mattered to me because I need good Chinese food. However major cities can also be more expensive and have higher crime rates.
- Proximity to family . Graduate school is a long haul, and things will get difficult and stressful. Being close to your family, friends, or loved ones at a time like this might be very important to you as a support system. I kept most of my applications centered around the east coast. Even though I spent 4 years of undergrad living a few states away from home, it’s comforting to me now that I can get on a train and be at my house in an hour, surrounded by my parents and adoring cats.
Now I didn’t let geography rule out certain schools completely, but it did help narrow down my list initially. Only you know how important geographical factors are for you.
Medical School Rankings
I know I know- we’re applying to grad school not med school. But if you’re applying in biomedical sciences, many of the programs will be associated with a medical school. PhD rankings are kind of nonsense, but medical school rankings are a lot more carefully calculated. I used the US News rankings for medical school research (make sure you differentiate from primary care) to get a feel for how certain programs compare with each other. I would hesitate from looking at other medical school rankings that do not specify research as its own ranking category, because there are obviously a lot more factors that go into medical school rankings.
The trouble with this approach is that it doesn’t include excellent graduate schools that do not have medical schools, like Princeton and Cal Tech.
PhD-Granting Medical Centers
If you’re interested in conducting translational research or research in more clinical settings, you can consider applying to medical centers like Rockefeller, the Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan Kettering, the Albert Einstein College, Mt. Sinai, or UT Southwestern. Unlike a typical “grad school” these institutions do not have an undergraduate campus, and are solely focused on giving MDs and PhDs. Research here is often closely linked with the medical school and hospital, so you probably have more opportunities to carry out efficient translational research. As long as you don’t care for teaching, mentoring, or being involved with undergraduates, then these are excellent places to consider.
Umbrella Programs
An umbrella program is one that groups many different biomedical science departments together under one large program. It will usually have “biomedical sciences” or “biological sciences” and “program” in the name and also have some cute acronym to make it easy to remember. You apply one time to the program, and you have access to all the different labs in all the departments within that program. This means you can submit one application and theoretically spend your first year rotating in a neuroscience lab, a cancer biology lab, and a structural biology lab.
This differs from smaller scale departmental programs, where your application goes directly to a specific “department”, “program”, or “track” and you only have access to the faculty specifically appointed in that department. I use “smaller” loosely here- the department itself can still be huge. For example the University Program in Genetics and Genomics at Duke comprises genetics-focused labs, but there is still a large number and variety of faculty within the program.
The big pro to an umbrella program is the diversity . You’ll have SO MANY options of faculty to meet with and talk to (typically in the hundreds). Umbrellas are great if you are unsure of what field of biomedical science you want to pursue, and might want to try labs from disparate fields. However, as one professor at Princeton put it, “when you’re applying to a program with 500 faculty, 495 of those faculty will be irrelevant to you”. What smaller programs lack in numbers they often make up for in camaraderie and more individualized focus .
Figure out what type of environment sounds more appealing to you and you can narrow down your search that way. That being said I applied to both types of programs, so I could get a feel for the different environments. (Check out the schools I visited here ).
Look at Faculty
Find some recent papers in your field of interest and do a search for the “corresponding author”- this is usually the PI of the lab. Keep up with the current conferences and publications and you’ll start getting a feel for who’s who in the community. This can be hard if you’re an undergrad and simply don’t have that mileage, but it’s worth keeping your eyes and ears open.
Tip: Don’t just look up “top tier” journals like Science and Nature. More focused journals will feature articles from labs in that specific fields which may be more relevant to you.
Talk to your PI
Or any grad student or professor or boss who a) keeps up with current research and b) knows you well as a student and researcher. I showed my PI my initial list of potential schools and she helped me eliminate schools that she thought wouldn’t be a good fit for me, and also suggested a few that I hadn’t even considered. Talking to someone who knows you objectively and knows the field is extremely important.
- Find Your Perfect PhD
- Finding a PhD
Find Your PhD, Fast Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest. Search Now
- When looking for PhD research projects, a great place to start is with our comprehensive and up-to-date database .
- Speak with lecturers within your area of interest about potential PhD opportunities they may have.
- Attend Postgraduate Events . Whilst there, speak to current PhD students and career advisors to get an awareness of what PhD projects are on offer.
- Visit the postgraduate section of university websites and the PhD Research Council section of the GOV.UK website
Finding A PhD
Searching for PhD research projects can sometimes feel like daunting process. Often, it’s difficult to know where to find a PhD position or where to even start.
To make this searching process as easy as possible for you, we’ve curated a collection of the best places to search for PhD projects. By using our recommended collection, you should hopefully gain a greater insight into where your interests lie and which programme is best suited for you.
Our Comprehensive and Up-To-Date Directory
We can’t create a list of great resources and not include ourselves! At DiscoverPhDs, our primary aim is to connect great students to great PhD projects. To enable this, we provide a comprehensive database of PhD projects offered from universities all across the UK.
We regularly add to our database to ensure you’re getting the latest opportunities and the most relevant information and programme details. On top of this, we’ve created our database to be as easy to use as possible; all our PhD listings provide a direct ‘apply’ link or contact email address of the lead supervisor. This enables you to:
- Request further information about any aspect of the position,
- Enquire about the specific applications process,
- Connect directly with the supervisor
Universities Websites
Search on the website of the universities you are interested in as some many only be listing PhD research projects internally or may link you to other opportunities such as Professional Doctorate Programmes. As examples, have a look at the research pages of The University of Cambridge , Cardiff University , University of Leicester , Sheffield University and The University of Glasgow .
Your Current Supervisor
If you’re currently undertaking a research project or dissertation as part of your undergraduate or master’s degree, it would be a good idea to speak to your current supervisor. Not only would you have already built a good rapport with them, but having worked with you they will have a good idea on what PhD positions would utilise your strengths or best interest you. In fact, a noticeable percentage of past and current PhD students came into their PhD programme because of being recommended by their undergraduate supervisor. Your supervisor will be well-connected – make sure you take advantage of these opportunities.
Tip: Don’t just limit your discussion to your own personal supervisor. All supervisors are within their field of work because they have a natural passion for research and teaching. As such, most supervisors will be more than happy to help any student who wishes to follow in their footsteps and make their own impact.
Postgraduate Events
Nearly all universities hold regular Postgraduate Fairs and Open Days. As part of these events, current postgraduate students may be on hand to share their experiences of their projects and university. This is a fantastic opportunity to not only find out what PhDs the university is offering but to find out more about their facilities, research labs and library collection, etc. Given that you will be heavily relying on these resources during your PhD, it’s important that you know what’s provided by each university. Hearing student stories about what PhD life is really like, what to expect from supervisors and some of the challenges that current students have encountered can be really useful in your decision making process.
Besides the above, career advisers may also be available at these events. Speaking to them will help you understand what you can do with a PhD, whether a PhD is right for you, what degree class you’re expected to hold and how best to prepare for research projects. Seeing as they would have helped many PhD candidates through the decision-making process before, they will provide you with some invaluable insight that you would otherwise be oblivious to.
To help bring all Postgraduate Fairs and Open Days offered across all universities together, we’ve created a helpful Postgraduate Events page which we highly recommend you check out.
Research Councils
Research councils are nationally funded agencies which offer sponsored PhD research projects (also known as a PhD studentship). Different research councils cover different areas of research, these include:
- The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC),
- The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC),
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC),
- The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC),
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
The GOV.UK website has a full list of nationally-funded research councils available online. You can find further details on these councils on the GOV.UK website.
Although our database includes PhD programmes offered by these research councils, it would be a good idea to regularly browse the website of the ones you are particularly interested in case they list some internal only. These councils play an important role in supporting and encouraging doctoral researchers and they regularly hold calls for applications for PhD funding. If you or your potential supervisor have a PhD project proposal defined but need funding, then applying to these calls may become a key first milestone in your postgraduate research journey.
For example, the EPSRC offers a Doctoral Training Partnership programme in which a research student is given funding to pursue postgraduate study with a research question that aligns with the Councils core engineering and physical sciences themes. These awards often have eligibility criteria linked to them, impacting which postgraduate research students can apply; an international student, for example, may not be able to apply to a certain UK based scholarship scheme but there are several other options that can still help you fund your doctoral research; this may involve taking out a postgraduate loan (or more specifically a postgraduate doctoral loan).
To make this searching process as easy as possible for you, we’ve curated a collection of the best places to search for a PhD. By using our recommended collection, you should hopefully gain a greater insight into where your interests lie and which programme is best suited for you.
Further Resources
As you continue your search of PhD research projects, be sure to check our our PhD advice articles, including how to prepare for your PhD application, and interviews with current and past doctoral students. Many of the people we’ve interviewed have completed degrees within a STEM discipline; they offer a wide range of advice on their individual approaches to applied research and independent study, as well as sharing some the impact their work has had. Many have continued the research of their projects within academia after finishing, whilst some have developed successful careers in industry and business sectors.
It’s worth noting that when you apply to undertake doctoral study, you may first be registered as an MPhil researcher, depending on the specific doctoral programme you apply for, officially become a full PhD student after passing an upgrade viva. At the upgrade stage, some students do decide to graduate with an MPhil research degree rather than pursuing further PhD study however this is less common.
We hope the above list will help you find the perfect PhD position and earn your doctoral degree.
If you have any recommendations besides these resources, please let us know at [email protected] so we can look to add it.
If you’re ready to start your search for your PhD, start now with our PhD database .
Browse PhDs Now
Join thousands of students.
Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.
Speak with an Accepted admissions expert for FREE!
Accepted Admissions Blog
Everything you need to know to get Accepted
June 29, 2020
How to Be a Competitive PhD Applicant and Apply to the Best Programs for You
What are your goals?
If you’re considering applying for admission to a PhD program, you should start thinking about where you want to apply. Your criteria for selecting target programs will depend on your goals and circumstances, but here are a few things to think about.
Getting started: Ask yourself these goal-oriented questions
Let’s jump right into the introspective phase of mining your goals:
- First (and most importantly), what is your goal?
- What are your primary research interests?
- Do you want to pursue an academic career?
- Or do you plan to work in another sector?
How will your goals influence your career?
If you’re primarily interested in research, your priority should be finding a program that will give you the research training to launch your career. Follow these steps:
- Try to identify scholars who are working in the areas that interest you.
- Review the literature in your field, network at conferences, and review CVs on departmental websites. In short, do your research.
- If you have an undergrad mentor in your field, consult them for advice about departments where exciting research is going on.
- Ask yourself: who would be a good mentor , and who would I be interested in working with for the next several years?
- Consider the rankings of your target school and/or department. In many fields (see below), top programs are a MUST for securing a job in the field post-graduation. On the other hand, go beyond the rankings to explore the real dynamism of, and specialities in, a department (particularly once you’re talking about the specific subfields PhD students are concerned with). Even among the top schools, Princeton and Harvard are very different places!
Outside academia
If your goals lie outside of academia, work on identifying programs that will help you reach your goals . For you, these questions will be most relevant:
- What industry are you interested in?
- Does the university you’re considering have research ties with that industry?
- Does the department offer opportunities for professional development (fieldwork, internships, etc.)?
- Whether you are primarily interested in industry or academia (or if you are undecided), the following question is important: What other resources does the university offer to support graduate students (career development, professional groups, alumni working in the field, etc.)?
Do your research to find the best programs for your interests and goals. You might begin by searching for “PhD in X” online, searching by specific universities, and considering the different departments in which your field of interest could be placed. For example, a doctoral candidate studying religion could, depending on the specialty, be getting her PhD in a religion, history, or literature dept.
Are you a competitive PhD applicant?
Once you’ve established your goals, it’s time to evaluate your credentials and consider where you will be a competitive candidate.
Answering the following questions will help you honestly size up your profile:
Keep in mind: most PhD programs are extremely competitive, and admissions can seem downright capricious. That’s the inevitable result of admitting only a handful of applicants each year.
Are you PhD material at this time?
Have you discussed grad school with any mentors—and do they think you’re capable of grad-level work? Here are some other questions to ask yourself:
- Have you done research as an undergrad or master’s level student? Perhaps you helped a professor work on a book; done lab work for a researcher; done an independent study (these are particularly great for revealing a student’s deeper research interests, and for cultivating significant student-faculty relationships); or participating in summer or yearly academic programming, such as language courses or research work . If not, consider gaining more research experience before applying.
- Are your GPA and test scores competitive? Most programs (not all) publicize their average admitted GPA and GRE info. Bear in mind that at some schools, your application will be processed first by the university’s graduate school, which may impose a minimum GPA or GRE requirement. If you’re concerned about meeting minimum standards, check the department’s requirements carefully. BUT REMEMBER: Top programs want very high GPAs. And, GRE matters less (compared to SAT or to one’s GPA) for many programs, especially in humanities. Look at each school’s site. It is also crucial to demonstrate that you’ve done relevant coursework, to show you have a real background in your field. For example, was it your major? Did you do a postbac?
- Do you meet the prereqs for admission? This might seem like a no-brainer. But many of the competitive/highly ranked programs (in a variety of fields) have minimum requirements that far surpass the requirements you met as an undergrad. For example, to enter many English departments, you’ll need to demonstrate fluency in two or more foreign languages. Do your research.
- Is there a professor in your specialty at the program you’re targeting, and (important!) are they accepting students? Look at faculty pages for your department at each target school and note the interests, publications, and bios of profs you’d want to work with. Reach out to them directly ; offer to meet with them in person (though probably not during COVID) or arrange a Zoom call. You could be a superstar and still not be accepted if the program doesn’t think they can fit your needs .
- Don’t only target the very top-ranked programs in your field. Because PhD admission is so competitive, it is important to do a broad-ranging, well-researched search. HOWEVER: This is not always true. In certain fields, many would argue that it is only worthwhile to target the very top programs because otherwise you don’t have a chance of getting a job in the field afterwards. It is best not only to ask current doctoral students, but also senior professors who might be on the hiring end of the profession. You can also look at professors’ online bios to see where they got their degrees- if everyone, even those at “less-than-top-tier” universities, all have degrees from Harvard, it probably means there are few jobs to go around and so only those coming out of the very best schools are securing them.
More criteria to consider when selecting a PhD program
I’ve discussed some important criteria for helping you to select a grad program: your goals/research interests, and evaluating whether you’ll be a competitive applicant. Those are big ones. But as a classic PhD Comic reminds us , you’re not just a “brain on a stick”—you have concerns and needs outside of your research. You also need to find a program where you’re going to fit and thrive as a human being for the next several years. A few things to consider are location, finances , and departmental culture.
Your PhD program won’t exist in a vacuum! Where you’ll be spending your next few years matters. Ask yourself:
- Is there a part of the country you want to live in?
- Are you constrained geographically by family needs, or by a career you’re pursuing already?
it’s a good idea to investigate funding opportunities when you research admission information.
- Will you need to submit additional applications?
- What type of funding is available to grad students in your target department?
- Is funding guaranteed for the duration of your program?
- Is funding available during the summer?
Departmental culture
This is largely an issue of “fit” —but you can find out a fair amount about how a department treats its students by talking to people.
- When you visit, do people seem at ease?
- If you sit in on a seminar, do you sense a collegial environment?
Also, contact the department registrar to get in touch with current doctoral students to ask for some of these details, and for their experience in the program: working with certain profs, living in the area, etc. Consider COVID limitations and their impact on in-person visits, of course; consider asking permission to sit in on a Zoom class!
The grad program you select will be a major part of your life for the next several years, so you want a good fit on a personal level.
Remember, make sure the school where you are going to spend several years pursuing your PhD fits your needs, and not just the other way around. Your target PhD program should help you reach your goals, and it should enable you to work with professors you admire. Think deeply about the people you’d like as your mentors, and consult with their current advisees: Do they treat their students well? Be sure to find out how they interact with students, and consider writing out for your own self-understanding what the ideal advisor-advisee relationship would look like. Is your dream advisor hands-off? Hands-on? Is he/she warm, or distant? Do you want an ongoing mentorship with this person, or simply someone to look over your work when required and help sign the papers to get you over the finish line?
Also, your target program should be in a location and price bracket that you can manage. Don’t underestimate the value of fit in these ways, as well as school culture—these will strongly contribute not just to whether or not you get accepted, but how well you fare and how happy you’ll be over the course of your PhD experience.
Do you need help choosing the best PhD programs for you? Do you need help with any other elements of the application process? Explore our Graduate School Admissions Consulting & Editing Services and work one-on-one with an expert consultant who will help you GET ACCEPTED!
Related Resources:
- Plotting Your Way to a PhD , a free guide
- Focus on Fit , a podcast episode
- 4 Tips for Securing Effective Recommendation Letters for PhD Admissions at Top Programs
About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service
Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553 © 2022 Accepted
- Degree Guide
How to Find a Graduate Program That’s Right For You
![Find a Graduate Program [geo-near-name]](https://www.gradschools.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Find-a-Graduate-Program.jpg "how to find a good phd program")
There are so many graduate school choices out there that it can be overwhelming. Before you work yourself into a froth, consider the following ways of narrowing down your requirements to find a graduate program.
Specialization
Of course, the area of specialization will ultimately depend on your own interests, but you may also want to take into account the job market. Some specialties will experience growth in the future, whereas those that are currently growing may be expected to become stagnant. For example, if you’re interested in getting a Ph.D. in microbiology , the job market in academia is projected to be relatively stable, whereas the job market in biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry tends to be brighter. You might be better prepared to choose an area of microbiology that is more marketable to the biotechnology industry.
Graduate Program Ranking
For some students, a program’s ranking is important. They feel that the rank of a program is an indication of the quality of education they will receive and the level of resources that will be available to them, and, in most cases, this is probably true. However, students should be aware of what qualities are used to establish a program’s ranking and how those qualities are evaluated. For example, a highly-ranked program may indeed have greater resources available, but may also have a higher cost which may make it more difficult to attend, or a higher student-to-faculty ratio which may actually detract from the educational experience.
Graduate School Location
One criterion that may play an important role in the decision of which graduate program is right for you may simply come down to geography; is the program located in an area of the state or country in which you want to live. Be aware that you will be living in this area for an average of 2-6 years or more, depending on if you are seeking a Master’s degree or Ph.D. You should be comfortable with the location. Some students may, for personal reasons, want to be relatively near their family. Others have a spouse who is more likely to be employed in certain areas of the country. Some students may have allergies, asthma or other health issues which may become aggravated in some areas of the country.
A good way to get an idea of what the location of a university is like is to take a look at the web site of the city or community in which the university is located. The city website will often have links to local weather reports, employment opportunities, community businesses, health care facilities, etc. You may also want to consider our online graduate programs and schools listing and those on our sister website at eLearners.com which allow you to pursue your degree without moving at all.
Graduate School Faculty
Recently, I was speaking with a noted professor in the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University, and he made a comment that is especially applicable here: “You may get your degree from a university, but you get your education from your adviser.” When you earn your graduate degree, you will be entering a professional community that is influenced by tradition and reputation. Your major professor will be your means of entry into this community, and his or her reputation will influence yours. Also, it is important to remember that, as with the location of the program, you will be working very closely with your major professor for an average of 2-6 years or more. It is important that your personalities and professional ideas are compatible.
The best way to get an idea of the students and faculty you will be working with is to talk to people. Talk to faculty at your current college or university to find out the reputation of the professor who will be your adviser. If at all possible, contact some of his or her current graduate students and ask them what he or she is really like to work for. Most importantly, talk to your potential adviser to get an idea of their personality and professional ideas.
Cost of Graduate School
The level of financial support you receive often depends on the degree you are seeking. There tends to be less financial support for a Master’s degree than for a Ph.D. At the doctoral level, it is not uncommon for a university to waive tuition requirements (referred to in the business as tuition remission). In addition to not paying tuition, many doctoral students receive some form of grant, stipend or assistantship. Whether a university is public or private, if tuition remission is available, the likelihood of assistantships (either teaching or research), etc. are all issues to be considered when examining the cost of attending a particular graduate program.
Quality of Life
Graduate school will be a way of life for the next 2-6 years. If you are married, however, your decisions will also affect your spouse and/or children. Some of the things to consider include the availability of child care, employment opportunities for spouses, health insurance, the local cost of living and the weather, culture, and local forms of recreation (is this a place where you can have some fun?).
If possible, try to visit the area and spend some time in the community. Talk to some of the “locals” and find out what’s going on in the area. Talk to some of the business owners to find out what the job market is like for the area, to get an idea of the local cost of living and housing and to find out what people do for fun. When you apply to a university or program, quite often they will be more than happy to send you information from the local Chamber of Commerce concerning health care, child care, cost of living expenses and recreation opportunities.
This is in no way an exhaustive list of things to consider, and you should give a higher priority to those issues that are important to you. The decision is never easy; you will be investing 2-6 years, or more, of your life and you do not want to make a mistake. By beginning your search early in your undergraduate career, you will have time to objectively evaluate each program, closely examine the details of each, and ultimately reach a decision that is best for you.
Take a look at some graduate programs that might interest you.
- Some of the nation’s most affordable tuition rates, from a private, nonprofit, NEASC accredited university
- Qualified students with 2.5 GPA and up may receive up to $20K in grants & scholarships
- Multiple term start dates throughout the year. 24/7 online classroom access
- Accredited online university.
- Capella University offers graduate programs designed to take you to the forefront of your profession.
- Competency-based curriculum delivers both foundation knowledge and real-world skills, so that what you’re learning in your courses is immediately applicable to your career goals.
- Capella University offers doctoral programs designed to take you to the forefront of your profession.
- Popular Programs: Organizational Leadership , Psychology , EdD in Educational Leadership
- Regionally accredited, private school with 1:1 learning.
- Most classes 100% online! Classes start soon.
Share this article
- Take advantage of some of the nation’s most affordable tuition rates, while earning a degree from a private, nonprofit, NEASC accredited university
- Multiple term start dates throughout the year. 24/7 online classroom access.
Popular Online Programs
Business Administration, Psychology, Information Technology, Human Services…
Sponsored meaning explained.
EducationDynamics receives compensation for the featured schools on our website (see "Sponsored Schools" or "Sponsored Listings" or "Sponsored Results" or "Featured Schools'). So what does this mean for you?
Compensation may impact where the Sponsored Schools appear on our websites, including whether they appear as a match through our education matching services tool, the order in which they appear in a listing, and/or their ranking. Our websites do not provide, nor are they intended to provide, a comprehensive list of all schools (a) in the United States, (b) located in a specific geographic area or (c) that offer a particular program of study. By providing information or agreeing to be contacted by a Sponsored School, you are in no way obligated to apply to or enroll with the school.
Your trust is our priority. We at EducationDynamics believe you should make decisions about your education with confidence. That's why EducationDynamics is also proud to offer free information on its websites, which has been used by millions of prospective students to explore their education goals and interests.
Heads Up: The Fed continues to raise rates — up 3% this year — making credit card debt even costlier. Pay it off today with a low fixed-rate personal loan. View your rate —>
You are now leaving the SoFi website and entering a third-party website. SoFi has no control over the content, products or services offered nor the security or privacy of information transmitted to others via their website. We recommend that you review the privacy policy of the site you are entering. SoFi does not guarantee or endorse the products, information or recommendations provided in any third party website.
Personalized experiences via sharing your personal information
To provide you with a personalized experience and deliver advertising specific to you, SoFi may share some of your personal information with our 3rd party partners. If you do not allow this by either your browser settings or if you select "No (Opt-Out)" in the toggle below, you will experience less targeted advertising from our partners.
We recognize browser-enabled global privacy controls and clearing your cookie cache will not affect this setting if enabled.
If you do not have a browser-level global privacy control enabled, clearing your browser cookies at any time will undo preferences saved here. To re-save preferences, please return to this screen after clearing your cookies. Also, please note that the option selected here will only apply to the device you are currently using.
Select a product to get started.
Personal Loans
Student loan refinancing.
Credit Card
Private Student Loans
Credit Score & Budgeting
Auto Loan Refinancing
Or just create an account.
What Is A Fully Funded PhD Program and How To Find One
By Jacqueline DeMarco · September 20, 2021 · 6 minute read
We’re here to help! First and foremost, SoFi Learn strives to be a beneficial resource to you as you navigate your financial journey. Read more We develop content that covers a variety of financial topics. Sometimes, that content may include information about products, features, or services that SoFi does not provide. We aim to break down complicated concepts, loop you in on the latest trends, and keep you up-to-date on the stuff you can use to help get your money right. Read less
Graduate school has a reputation for being expensive and it can be. But did you know that you can pursue earning a PhD for free? While it can cost anywhere from $12,000 (public institution) to $28,000 (non-profit private institution) per year to attend a PhD program, there are fully funded PhD programs that allow students to get their degrees for free.
Not only can students skip out on paying tuition and fees, but they may also receive a stipend that can cover their living expenses and health insurance, as well as get assistance to finance the research and travel necessary to earn their graduate degrees.
Attending a fully-funded PhD program can be one way to save money on education costs and to make obtaining one of these degrees more financially feasible.
Table of Contents
What is a PhD Program?
PhD programs (also known as doctoral programs) give students the opportunity to do graduate-level research in the field of their choice and can range across a variety of subjects such as engineering, English, public health, and computer science.
The application process for PhD programs can be competitive and the programs themselves can be very time-consuming. Working while pursuing these specialized degrees can be challenging, which is why it can be so helpful when these programs offer an annual stipend.
What Does Fully Funded Mean?
While not all PhD programs are fully funded, some are and they include both full tuition reimbursement and a stipend to help cover the cost of living while pursuing the degree. Programs have varying funding requirements.
In some cases, students may receive a “no-strings-attached” fellowship where they are given funding but don’t owe the university anything in return aside from doing research for the university.
In many cases, to receive funding a student will need to work part-time for the university by providing teaching or administrative assistance. These experiences can give students an opportunity to build out their resume while helping them pay for graduate school .
More often than not, these fellowship positions are the main way to receive full funding to attend a PhD program and are commonly offered in research-based degree programs.
Some fellowships may be offered in the form of scholarships or stipends which are not usually taxed as income by the IRS. Some schools may offer assistantships, where students earn an income from the university, which can be taxed as income.
They are less commonly offered for professional degree programs. Generally, these positions are given to the doctoral students who are doing research in order to complete their theses or dissertations.
While all PhD programs have their own unique funding packages, many fully-funded PhD programs help cover the costs of:
Tuition and Fees
Typically, fully-funded PhD programs provide students with what are called “tuition waivers’ and they cover the cost of attending the university by paying for any tuition and university fees. In some cases book stipends, reduced-fare transit passes, and other benefits are given to students to lessen their financial burden.
Related: What is the Maximum Amount of Student Loans for Graduate School?
Living Expenses
Through either fellowship funding or working for the university, students can receive a stipend that covers some living expenses. These stipends can generally be used to pay for food, rent, and anything else they may need to cover.
These stipends aren’t always enough to cover a student’s full living expenses depending on the cost of living in their area and their lifestyle choices, especially during the summer as typically stipends are only given out during the academic year.
Students might choose to work or take out loans to cover the costs of living during the summer, but some programs do offer summer funding.
Recommended: Using Student Loans for Living Expenses Off Campus
Health Insurance
Many doctoral programs include health insurance benefits, but this isn’t a guarantee, so it’s an important benefit to check for when applying for graduate school programs. It’s very common for these student health insurance packages to only allow students to receive health care at on-campus facilities. Some programs automatically enroll their students in one type of healthcare plan and others allow students to choose their plan during the annual open enrollment period.
If a student is married or has dependents, they may be able to add them to their student health insurance plan, but there may be an additional cost.
Research and Travel Funding
If necessary, some programs allow doctoral students to apply for funding to help them do their research (buying equipment, technology, textbooks, etc.) or to travel to conferences, archives, or summer programs. This is something students apply for on an as-needed basis and is not a guarantee.
In some cases, students will pay the costs up front and then be reimbursed. Grants and scholarships can also help cover research and travel expenses, so students could apply for those to get their hands on extra funding.
Recommended: Finding & Applying to Scholarships for Grad School
Take control of your student loans. Ditch student loan debt for good.
How to find a fully funded phd program.
While there are platforms such as FindAPhD that allow you to search for PhD programs that are fully funded, one of the best ways to discover which programs are fully funded is to do research into a variety of programs.
Before submitting an application to a PhD program, the student will want to research the program fully. That includes learning more about the university’s resources, their faculty members, and what their requirements are for graduation.
Look into the specifics of the funding options available at each university you plan to apply to, as PhD programs may address funding differently.
While some universities will automatically give grants or fellowships to their admitted students, other programs make their students complete a separate funding application. These applications can require submitting letters of recommendations or personal statements and can have deadlines that are different from the application deadline for the doctoral program.
Examples of Fully Funded PhD Programs
It’s possible to find fully funded PhD programs across a variety of subjects at many different schools. From a PhD in biological sciences at Harvard, to education at Stanford, to nursing at Duke, fully funded PhD programs run the gambit.
Paying Down Student Loan Debt
If a student has student loan debt from an undergraduate or master’s degree that they want to pay down before or while attending a PhD program, student loan refinancing could help them save money in interest over the life of the loan and pay down their debt faster.
Student loan refinancing involves taking out a new loan at a new interest rate and/or a new term that is ideally better than the current rate or terms that the borrower currently has. It is possible to refinance both federal and private student loans.
It’s worth noting that federal student loans carry special benefits and protections such as income-driven repayment plans and economic hardship programs that borrowers will lose access to if they refinance to a private student loan.
SoFi offers student loan refinancing with flexible terms and competitive fixed or variable rates for qualifying borrowers. The application process is entirely online and there is live customer support available to assist applicants seven days a week.
The Takeaway
A fully-funded PhD program can help students pursuing advanced degrees pay for their education. Fully funded PhD programs can vary from school to school, but generally cover the cost of tuition and may involve a stipend to help students cover their living expenses. In some cases, PhD candidates will be required to do research or teach as part of the agreement to receive funding.
Learn more about SoFi’s student loan refinancing options today.
SoFi Student Loan Refinance If you are looking to refinance federal student loans, please be aware that the White House has announced up to $20,000 of student loan forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for qualifying borrowers whose student loans are federally held. Additionally, the federal student loan payment pause and interest holiday has been extended beyond December 31, 2022. Please carefully consider these changes before refinancing federally held loans with SoFi, since the amount or portion of your federal student debt that you refinance will no longer qualify for the federal loan payment suspension, interest waiver, or any other current or future benefits applicable to federal loans. If you qualify for federal student loan forgiveness and still wish to refinance, leave unrefinanced the amount you expect to be forgiven to receive your federal benefit.
CLICK HERE for more information.
Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income-Driven Repayment plans, including Income-Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.
SOSL0421016
All your finances. All in one app.
App Store rating
See what SoFi can do for you and your finances.
Select a product below and get your rate in just minutes.
Online Investments
Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or other eligible status and and meet SoFi's underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. To qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, evaluation of your creditworthiness, years of professional experience, income, and a variety of other factors. Rates and Terms are subject to change at anytime without notice and are subject to state restrictions. SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Financing Law License No. 6054612. SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp., NMLS # 1121636. ( www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org )
✝ To check the rates and terms you qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.
* SoFi Lending $10 Check Your Rate on a Personal Loan or Student Loan Refinance Promotion (“ Promotion ”): The Promotion is offered by SoFi Lending Corp. or an affiliate (dba SoFi). SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this Promotion at any time with or without notice to you. No purchase necessary to participate. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Promotion is void where prohibited by state law.
Covid updates. The bivalent COVID-19 booster is required for on-campus presence.
How to Choose a Graduate Program
Choosing a graduate program can be daunting. This guide will provide insight on how to get started.
Lian Parsons
The first step is deciding to pursue a graduate degree. The second step is choosing one. This process can be intimidating, but this guide will walk you through how to choose a graduate program and how to set yourself up for success.
Taking the next step in your education journey means making a commitment to yourself and to your future. With so many graduate schools to choose from, it can be difficult to know what the best option is for you.
Deciding whether or not to go to graduate school in the first place can be challenging to figure out. Graduate certificates are also an option for those who want to hone a specific skill set and — in many cases — can be completed along the way to a master’s degree.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics , enrollment in master’s and doctoral programs is on the rise and is projected to be 6 percent higher in 2030 than in 2020 (3.3 million vs. 3.1 million students, respectively).
This blog post will offer a few tips on how to choose a graduate program that fits both your goals and your lifestyle, as well as what will help set you on the pathway to success.
Why pursue a graduate degree?
Before beginning the process of applying to graduate school, take some time to figure out what you want to get out of the graduate school experience.
Whether you’re looking to open up your career prospects, gain new professional skills and connections, or return to academia to develop yourself personally, having a solid “why” in mind can help you clarify your next steps.
“While a new career path may reveal itself as a result of graduate study, don’t rely on it if you’re unsure about what you want to do next in life or you aren’t happy in your current job,” says Kimberly Parke, executive director of pre-degree advising, recruitment, and admissions at Harvard Extension School. “Instead, spend time in self-reflection, and engage in research about all possible options, including informal interviews with people in jobs and fields that seem interesting to you.”
Once you do figure out that “why,” the value a graduate degree can bring can go far beyond the individual.
“The difference you’ll be able to make in your community with your new skills and connections, the impact you’ll have on your friends and family through modeling the discipline and responsibility it takes to complete a program, and the confidence you’ll gain for all those same reasons and more are invaluable,” adds Parke.
What factors should you consider when choosing a graduate program?
When thinking about how to choose a graduate program, there are multiple elements to consider, according to Amanda Peters, director of Harvard Extension School career advising and programming.
“Each person really needs to prioritize what matters to them and what will allow them to be successful. Find what holds the most value and what is the priority and all the rest of the evaluation is going to be based on that,” says Peters. “You want to make sure you’re going to be able to commit to following through on the program.”
The most personal part of choosing a graduate school is taking stock of what’s most important to you. These priorities can be broken down into a few main categories.
Career Goals and Personal Interests
Consider whether or not the program will help you advance in your career. Additionally, reflect on your personal passion for your chosen industry and whether or not you see yourself in this field long term.
Lifestyle and Program Format
Most adults who are working full time in addition to balancing family responsibilities likely do not have time to take two to three years off to complete a graduate degree program. You may find online classes or alternate class schedules work best for you.
Program Qualifications and Requirements
Once you’ve identified some graduate programs that interest you, you’ll need to research whether you meet the qualifications for admissions. You’ll also want to know exactly what requirements you’ll need to meet to graduate.
Some programs, for example, may require you to take an entrance exam; others, like Harvard Extension School , may require that you successfully complete a course or two.
Most graduate programs will have both admissions qualifications and graduation requirements listed on their websites. You can also contact each school’s graduate admissions office directly for more clarity.
Having a range of options when applying can also be beneficial in providing you greater choice later on in the process.
Resources for Support
Reach out to the individual graduate schools for more information about resources such as internship and research opportunities, academic support and tutoring, networking outlets, career services , and childcare options if you’re a parent.
Location and Cost of Living
If you’re not able to move to attend school in person, or if the location is simply financially inaccessible, find out if the graduate program offers online degrees.
Some online graduate programs may require that you take some percentage of your courses on campus. Be sure to verify whether there is a residency requirement and, if there is, whether you will realistically be able to complete it.
Tuition and Financial Aid Options
Graduate school is a hefty investment, so take your time to understand the full cost of the program and how it fits into your budget. You’ll want to find program options that are comfortable for you.
As Julie Lonergan, associate director of pre-degree advising and admissions of Harvard Extension School advises, “Research your options for financial aid, grants and loans, and ask your employer about tuition reimbursement opportunities. Be creative when you search for scholarships and fellowships, as you may find ones associated with your field of study, your geographic location, your industry, and more.”
Educating yourself about financial aid options is also an important piece of the puzzle.
Explore Graduate Degrees at Harvard Extension School.
How do you determine the quality of a good graduate program?
Deciding what to prioritize when selecting a graduate school is a process that is individual to each graduate student, but there are several common factors to take into account.
Quality of Faculty and Instructors
“Whatever your ultimate goal may be, learning from faculty at the top of their fields or with extensive academic and research experience will help set you up for success,” says Lonergan.
Graduate faculty and instructors should teach a curriculum that is up-to-date and provides you with the knowledge you need to be successful on your next steps.
Students Access to Faculty/Resources
Contact graduate schools to find information about the average class size, as well as information on what resources each grad school provides to help graduate students succeed, such as career support, mentorship opportunities, professional development, and advising. Most graduate schools will also have this information posted on their websites.
On-Campus Facilities
For answers about facilities, reach out to those who had the opportunities to use them the most: current graduate students or recent alumni.
Social media groups are also a good source for honest insights into campus life and facilities, such as libraries, research labs, classrooms, and online spaces.
Social Environment
Look up the demographics of the graduate student population, faculty members, and administration, which can often be found on school websites. Speaking with current grad students or alumni is also an opportunity to find out what kind of student tends to be attracted to each particular graduate school or program.
Alumni Career Paths
Peters suggests finding alumni via platforms like LinkedIn to find out their trajectories post-graduation. If their stories inspire you, that’s a positive sign the graduate program may be a good fit for you as well.
School websites will also often include profiles on current grad students and alumni , which can give you a sense of their academic experiences and career outcomes.
Many alums are eager to share their experiences. Don’t hesitate to reach out to alumni in your prospective field as part of your research into a specific graduate program.
Is support available to help students choose the right graduate program?
One thing prospective graduate students should know is they are not alone. There is a large range of sources from which to gain insight into how to choose a graduate program and help you narrow down your search.
Professional associations, alumni associations, current students and faculty, school admissions offices, and industry newsletters are all great resources to find out more about the programs you’re researching.
Enrollment coaches are also specifically and uniquely positioned to help throughout the journey of how to choose a graduate program and to ensure that you get the most out of your experience.
“Learning is about inquiry, in all its forms, so as a student whose job it is to learn, seek answers and ask for help,” says Parke. “If there’s one place where you’re expected to do that, it’s at a school!”
How do I know if grad school is right for me?
Pursuing a graduate degree program is an incredible undertaking, but one that has the potential to launch a new career trajectory, connect you with fellow like-minded students, faculty, and alumni who are rooting for your success, and help you discover who you are — and who you’re going to be.
Explore all undergraduate and graduate programs at Harvard Extension School.
About the Author
Lian Parsons is a Boston-based writer and journalist. She is currently a digital content producer at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. Her bylines can be found at the Harvard Gazette, Boston Art Review, Radcliffe Magazine, Experience Magazine, and iPondr.
Preparing for Graduate School: Advice for Incoming Student Success
The idea of going back to graduate school as a working adult presents both opportunities and challenges. Here are a few tips for setting yourself up for success in graduate school and beyond.
Harvard Division of Continuing Education
A division of Harvard University dedicated to bringing rigorous programs and innovative online teaching capabilities to distance learners, working professionals, high school students, college students, and those seeking higher learning in retirement.
Recently viewed courses
Recently viewed.
Find Your Dream School
COVID-19 Update: To help students through this crisis, The Princeton Review will continue our "Enroll with Confidence" refund policies. For full details, please click here.
- Find a Grad School
- Grad School Advice
Find Your Grad School
Graduate schools are seeking students like you, find your fit with our featured schools explore your matched schools, filter your results.
- Enrollment Size Select an enrollment size... 0-100 100-250 250-500 500-750 750-1000 1000-1500 1500-3000 3000+
- Institution Type Private Public
- Featured Schools Show Only Featured Schools
Showing 1 - 25 of 1,912 results
- Sort by name
- Sort by size
- Sort by location
Adler University
Chatham University
Creighton University
- 5,022 Enrolled
Emerson College
- 819 Enrolled
Full Sail University
- 2,876 Enrolled
Hofstra University
- 4,606 Enrolled
LIM College
- 231 Enrolled
New York Institute of Technology
- 4,419 Enrolled
Ramapo College of New Jersey
- 342 Enrolled
Regis University
- 5,552 Enrolled
Southern California Institute of Architecture
- 265 Enrolled
Southern California University of Health Sciences
- 651 Enrolled
Springfield College
- 1,190 Enrolled
Suffolk University
- 3,112 Enrolled
University of the Southwest
- 953 Enrolled
University of Utah
- 8,531 Enrolled
Samuel Merritt University
- 1,094 Enrolled
SIT Graduate Institute
- 508 Enrolled
University of South Dakota
- 7,105 Enrolled
Vanguard University of Southern California
- 353 Enrolled
Adler Graduate School
- 477 Enrolled
Colorado State University-Global Campus
- 3,371 Enrolled
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- 7,355 Enrolled
Southern New Hampshire University
- 24,644 Enrolled
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences
- 542 Enrolled
St John's University-New York
- 5,266 Enrolled
St Thomas University
- 1,880 Enrolled
Enrollment Advisor
1-800-2REVIEW (800-273-8439) ext. 1
1-877-LEARN-30
Student Support
1-800-2REVIEW (800-273-8439) ext. 2
Partnerships
- Teach or Tutor for Us
College Readiness
International
Advertising
Affiliate/Other
- Enrollment Terms & Conditions
- Accessibility
- Cigna Medical Transparency in Coverage
Register Book
Mon-Fri 9AM-10PM ET
Sat-Sun 9AM-8PM ET
Local Offices: Mon-Fri 9AM-6PM
Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM ET
Sat-Sun 8:30AM-5PM ET
- SAT Subject Tests
Academic Subjects
- Social Studies
Find the Right College
- College Rankings
- College Advice
- Applying to College
- Financial Aid
School & District Partnerships
- Professional Development
- Advice Articles
- Private Tutoring
- Mobile Apps
- Local Offices
- International Offices
- Work for Us
- Affiliate Program
- Partner with Us
- Advertise with Us
- International Partnerships
- Our Guarantees
©2023 TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University
Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information | CA Privacy Notice | Terms of Use | Site Map
Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students , Uncategorized
The 8 Best PhD Programs To Pursue In 2021
Pursuing a PhD is a major life choice for most people, but one that nearly always pays off in the form of better career opportunities. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees, some choose to continue on to a PhD program to broaden their knowledge, earn a higher salary, and/or work in a more specific niche.
There are various reasons for getting a PhD. Some people might want to work in research or academia, where a PhD is required, and others simply enjoy learning a subject in depth. Whatever the reason is, getting a PhD is sure to open a lot of doors.
There are some areas of study where a PhD is more expected than others. It’s good to get a general idea of the most common PhD programs to understand if you’ll need to take one and if it’s right for you. Keep reading to learn more about PhDs, if you should take one, and what are the best programs.
Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash
What is a PhD?
PhD is short for Doctor of Philosophy.
Essentially, a PhD is the highest level of schooling and degree a student can get, so after completing a PhD, you’re often considered a top expert in your field.
Most of the time, this degree qualifies someone to teach the subject they studied at a university level, so if you want to work as a professor, then you’ll need to earn a PhD.
Most PhD programs last three to four years, but this can vary depending on where you’re studying and the topic and scope of your research.
At the end of the degree, you’ll often have to present original research or a dissertation that you conducted in the duration of your studies. Some places require you to defend your research in an oral defense in order to receive your doctorate degree.
Why Should You Get a PhD?
Many people wonder whether or not a PhD is right for them . The truth is, there are a lot of reasons people opt to continue their education with a PhD. Working in academia is just one reason to do a PhD, but there are a number of other things to take into consideration when choosing to do a doctorate degree, like gaining a huge advantage in the job market.
PhD students often have large aspirations to do work that allows them to achieve significant breakthroughs. Especially in the fields of science and technology, a PhD gives you the tools to understand your field on a deeper level, which can help push your research to new levels.
It’s also common for PhD students to be interested in discovery. During your PhD, you work closely with other experts, so the chances of discovering or learning something totally new are much higher than in your bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Overall, PhD students have an insatiable sense of curiosity that drives them to pursue the highest levels of education.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Best PhD Programs
There are many different PhD programs out there, and the one you choose will depend on the degrees you’ve earned up until now as well as your personal preferences.
Here are just a few of the best PhD programs you can study to increase your employability and deepen your knowledge and expertise.
Accounting and Finance
With a PhD in Accounting and Finance, you’ll be able to get more knowledge in financial research methods and theory. During your PhD studies, you’ll acquire both critical and analytical skills and you’ll learn how to assemble high-level financial reports.
With this degree, you’ll be able to work in any financial institution or corporate environment. Some of the positions you can get include account manager or chief financial officer.
Applied Mathematics
Since math applies to so many things, with this degree, you’ll be able to work in a number of fields, including technology, engineering, business, and more. With a PhD in Applied Mathematics, you’ll acquire a more fine-tuned understanding of topics and concepts like problem-solving, communication skills, analytical thinking and reasoning, and a lot more.
This degree is ideal if numbers and equations are your passion and you want to work with them on a high level of research.
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering is becoming an increasingly popular area of study since it’s such an important part of modern medicine and science. In this degree, you’ll research topics in fields such as computer engineering, life sciences, mathematics, and more.
The goal of this program is to understand how to use modern technology in practice and in research. Common jobs after graduation include becoming a research scientist or biomedical engineer.
Business Administration
As one of the most popular degrees at any level, a PhD in this field will be sure to land you a job in a business leadership position. During your degree, you’ll enhance your analytical and reasoning skills in order to understand how to make better business decisions. You’ll also improve your management skills, paving the way for a role in leading companies of any size.
Typically, graduates with a PhD in Business Administration can expect to work as a Chief Executive Officer, business professor, or operations manager.
With a PhD in Statistics, you’ll likely end up working as a statistician. In this position, you can work with various businesses to help them analyze data and solve issues. During your studies, you’ll further your collaborative skills and study advanced methods of computation, formulations, as well as advanced equations, and how to solve problems.
Many industries hire statisticians, such as governments, healthcare, financial institutions, as well as scientific institutions.
Computer Science
In a PhD in Computer Science , you’ll work on mastering a specific area of computer science and developing and designing creative projects that are relevant to your subject. You’ll likely work on an independent project as part of your studies.
Graduates from this degree don’t only work in academic settings, but they’re also likely to become computer research scientists. Other possible roles with this PhD degree include computer hardware engineer, robotics, programming, and more.
If you’re looking to conduct studies or research in this field, then you’ll need a PhD in Economics. As part of this degree, you’ll conduct a research project and you’ll learn how to conduct advanced scholarly research.
Many people who graduate with a PhD in Economics go on to work as economics professors, economists, work with governments, or as other types of specialists in this field.
Organic Chemistry
It’s common for people who pursue a higher degree in organic chemistry to have a background in chemical engineering, so if this sounds like you, then this PhD can be a good option. During your PhD, you’ll conduct research and work with other experts.
Most graduates with a degree in organic chemistry find jobs teaching at the university level or leading advanced research and study teams.
Should You Get a PhD Online?
As studying online becomes more popular, it’s not uncommon for students to seek out online PhD programs. Since a lot of the work in a PhD is independent study and research anyways, it’s not difficult to make the jump to an online program.
With an online PhD program, you’ll get flexibility in terms of when you want to do your coursework, you’ll find it convenient to study from anywhere, and the online PhD programs are usually more affordable since you don’t need to factor in moving or being on campus to complete your degree.
Best Online PhD Programs
While the offered PhD programs will depend on the university, here’s a short list of great schools in the US to consider for an online PhD. These schools are affordable and offer online courses, seminars, exam preparation, and more.
- Concordia University-Chicago , River Forest, IL
- University of the Cumberlands , Williamsburg, KY
- Winona State University , Winona, MN
- Otterbein University , Westerville, OH
- Union University , Jackson, TN
- University of South Dakota , Vermillion, SD
- Texas Tech University , Lubbock, TX
- Clemson University, Clemson, SC
- University of Florida , Gainesville, FL
- Endicott College , Beverly, MA
Choosing to get a PhD is not a decision most make lightly, so it’s important to get a good idea of the different PhD programs out there and find one that really fits your academic and professional goals.
If you’re still in the earlier stages of your higher education, you might want to consider taking your undergraduate or graduate degree online as well. University of the People offers multiple great online BA and MA programs in majors like computer science , health science , and business administration . The best part? All the programs are tuition-free.
Related Articles
Privacy overview.
- Youth Program
- Wharton Online
Wharton Stories
How to prepare a strong phd application.
Doctoral candidates and departmental coordinators at the Wharton School outline a few tips to help you navigate the PhD application process.
It’s no secret the application process can be intimidating. Where do you start? What exactly are schools looking for on your application? What materials do you need to submit? Doctoral candidates and departmental coordinators at the Wharton School have outlined a few tips to help you navigate the process.
Don’t Delay the Process
A successful PhD applicant starts thinking about their application months or even years before the deadlines. For Alejandro Lopez Lira , a third year student in Finance, the application process began a year before he actually submitted the paperwork. He said, “I spoke to my advisors way before, like one year before, about my letters of recommendation, where to apply, everything involved in the process.”
Each program has different requirements, which can make for a tedious process. Karren Knowlton , a third year in Management, said, “I took a little while to draft a personal statement. I had my mom, who teaches creative writing, and a few other people that I trust just read over it. Then you have to tweak it for different schools because they want slightly different things.”
Taking time to prepare your application is critical. Starting the process sooner rather than later gives you several advantages:
- It allows your letter of recommendation writers enough time in advance to thoughtfully prepare a letter that speaks to who you are as a PhD candidate.
- It gives you more time to review your materials, fix any errors, and proofread, proofread, proofread.
- Finally, it means a lot less stress when the deadline starts rapidly approaching. By planning ahead, you’ll have a much smoother process applying.
Get Letters of Recommendation
Prof. Matthew Bidwell , who previously served as the doctoral coordinator for the Management program , said a common mistake he sees are letters of recommendations from employers. Although he said it is impressive to see work experience, having an employer write a letter is not the best choice.
“We don’t pay very much attention to those because rightly or wrongly, we worry that they’re not looking for the kinds of things that we’re looking for,” he said. “If you have one, it’s not a disaster, but when you see people with two or three — most of their recommendations coming from their work — that kind of heightens our concern. You’re committing to a fairly specialized career, do you really know what that career entails?”
Instead, he suggests getting to know an academic who will be able to write a recommendation attesting to your ability to manage doctoral-level research and work.
Include Research/Work Experience in Your Field
Each program has a unique set of criteria to evaluate applicants, but several doctoral coordinators agree that some research and work experience in your field of interest will strengthen your application overall.
Prof. Fernando Ferreira , doctoral coordinator for the Business Economics and Public Policy and Real Estate programs, thinks work experience can be useful in demonstrating an applicant’s abilities. He said, “Any work experience after undergraduate school is important. If that experience is more related to research it’s even better, but work experience in general is always good.”
Prof. Guy David , doctoral coordinator for the Health Care Management & Economics program , thinks that work experience benefits applicants in terms of giving them a broader view of business. “Work experience creates retrospection about how the world works, how organizations make decisions, and how people function in various situations,” he said.
However, he warns that spending too much time away from an academic setting can have its drawbacks too. “It may lead people to start their PhD later when they are not in the habit of immersing themselves in rigorous studies and have a shorter horizons to develop a name for themselves,” he said.
Although having both research and work experience can strengthen your application, you will not be denied entry because you are lacking either.
Prof. Bidwell said, “I think research experience does give us some confidence that people have some idea about what it is that we do. In terms of work experience, I think we don’t have a strong view. We quite like work experience, but we also take people straight out of undergrad.”
Prepare for the Standardized Tests
Most PhD programs require students to take the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). Having high test scores is a key part of an application as it tests skills learned over the course of many years in school. Quantitative skills are especially important when applying to doctoral programs in business areas. Much like any other standardized test, the GRE requires preparation.
Karren, who took the GRE twice to ensure her scores were high enough, offered advice to those who may be struggling. “I would absolutely recommend practicing the writing beforehand. Look up examples and have your outline structured,” she said. “So much of it is just getting the right structure and how you formulate your arguments so knowing what they’re looking for is key.”
Test prep can be time-consuming, but like anything else, practice makes perfect. There are multiple text books and online sites to help you prepare for the exam. Karren aimed to improve her math scores the second time she took the GRE and recommended this site to help strengthen math skills.
Taking advantage of resources to help you study can limit the number of times you need to take the GRE while ensuring you score high enough to remain in the applicant pool.
Watch a Webinar with Former Wharton Vice Dean Catherine Schrand
Posted: August 4, 2017
- Admissions and Applying
- Advancement and Transition
Doctoral Programs
Start your doctoral journey.
Whether you’re just starting your research on PhD programs or you’re ready to apply, we’ll walk you through the steps to take to become a successful PhD candidate.
Deciding to get a PhD
You might be surprised to find out what you can do with a PhD in business.
Is an Academic Career for You ? What Makes a Successful PhD Student
Preparing for the Doctoral Path
The skills, relationships, and knowledge you need to prepare yourself for a career in academics.
How the PhD Program Works How to Become a Successful PhD Applicant
Choosing the right program
What’s the difference between PhD programs? Find out how to choose one that fits your goals.
What to Consider When Choosing a Doctoral Program What Differentiates R1 Universities?
Starting an application
Tips for a successful application process.
Application Requirements Preparing Your PhD Application
Related Content
Key Choices Every Startup Has to Make Early in Its Life Cycle
How This MBA Student’s Passion for Policy, Finance, and Football Are All Related
How This Software Engineer Is Taking Her Advocacy Work for Women to the Next Level
A Passion for Food Led this Foodkick Co-Founder to Wharton
How This Doctor Took on Wharton’s Quantitative Curriculum and Grew Her Family at the Same Time
Four Hispanic Student Perspectives At Wharton: The Journey To An MBA
7 Ways this Mother of Two Found Balance in Wharton’s EMBA Program
How Wharton’s EMBA Program Adds Value for Military Students
Why Timing Is Often More Important Than the Idea for an Entrepreneurial Venture
How Wharton’s EMBA Program Helped this Doctor Find Unexpected Career Opportunities
How this Lawyer Moved into the C-Suite
Wharton EMBA Alumni Provide Advice on Switching Careers
How Former PetSmart CMO Josh Kanter Used Wharton’s EMBA Program to Advance to the C-Suite
Why This Aspiring Marketing Leader Decided to Upskill with an MBA Degree
How This Tech Manager Transitioned from Research Consumer to Research Producer in Wharton’s PhD Program
Let Us Guide You to a Grad School Program That Best Matches You
The GradSchoolMatch™ platform makes the graduate school search and application process easier. Just take a few moments to tell us a little about you and your objectives, then our matching methodology creates a customized program list.
Search for Programs
Before you create an account, you can search here by academic field, location, university or general keywords to get a preliminary look at some of the programs that match your interests.
Tools for Your Graduate Journey
Once you've created your personalized account, you'll have access to these innovative tools designed to organize and enhance your search process.
Find a Program
Bookmarking.
Match and connect with programs through our unique mutual Bookmarking feature. Show your interest in a program by Bookmarking it. When a program Bookmarks you in return, you have a match and recruiters can reach out to you.
360 Evaluation
See how competitive you're with admissions committees. This self-evaluation feature further tailors your profile for better insight into the best programs for you.
Organize Your Admissions Process
Your timeline.
This customized tool projects a personalized timeline based on your planned start date. This helps you organize tasks and stay on track.
This personalized dashboard contains everything you need to manage your matches and messages, make personal notes about your process, and track your grad school journey.
Essay/Interview Prep
Present your best self to admissions committees. This tool provides insider advice and exercises that will teach you how to stand out from the competition.
Decide on a Program with These Innovative Tools
Decision matrix.
Customize program rankings based on your priorities so your matches best reflect your personal preferences.
Loan Calculator
Project your total borrowing costs before you apply to figure out what you can afford or how much you would need to borrow.
Program Rater
Rank your Bookmarked programs to narrow your options and make a decision based on personalized metrics.
Get Started
Featured Grad School Resources
The Importance of Critical Thinking in Grad School (and Everywhere Else)
Soft skills like critical thinking are among the most desired, and often most lacking, according to grad school admissions committees and hiring managers alike.
Learn More The Importance of Critical Thinking in Grad School (and Everywhere Else)
7 Tips to Stay Organized During Your Grad School Search
Searching for a grad program can be overwhelming with thousands of programs out there. Use these tips to help you stay focused and organized.
Learn More 7 Tips to Stay Organized During Your Grad School Search
More International Students Enrolled in U.S. Grad STEM Programs: The Numbers and Their Impact
International students are a significant population within U.S. grad schools, outnumbering domestic students in fields such as STEM. The impact that has in a global economy is important.
Learn More More International Students Enrolled in U.S. Grad STEM Programs: The Numbers and Their Impact
Follow GradSchoolMatch.com:
PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in USA
We have 27 phd projects, programmes & scholarships in usa.
All disciplines
Institution
All Institutions
All PhD Types
All Funding
Computational Modelling and Control of Nonlinear and Fluidic Systems with Application to Immunology
Phd research project.
PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.
Multiphyiscs modeling of Lithium-ion batteries
Computational fluid dynamics and computational engineering, 3d printing for heterogeneous integration and 3d integrated electronics/optoelectronics, doctorate in business administration (dba), funded phd programme (students worldwide).
Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.
USA PhD Programme
An American PhD usually takes 4-7 years to complete. Programmes normally take place within specialist university graduate skills and are more extensive than in Europe. Students begin with one or two years of coursework and examinations to develop a grounding in their subject before moving on to independent research on their doctoral thesis. This is then submitted for an oral ‘viva voce’ exam.
Development of Advanced Concrete Materials for Additive Manufacturing of Novel Radiation-Resistant Structures in Reactor Environments
Awaiting funding decision/possible external funding.
This supervisor does not yet know if funding is available for this project, or they intend to apply for external funding once a suitable candidate is selected. Applications are welcome - please see project details for further information.
Advanced Material Development and Assessment of Cementitious Filler Materials for Long-Term Disposal of Nuclear Waste
Novel bio-receptive and carbon-negative cementitious materials to transform civil infrastructure to next-generation carbon sinks, astrophysical sciences and technology ph.d., mathematical modeling ph.d., microsystems engineering ph.d., mechanical and industrial engineering ph.d., sustainability ph.d., electrical and computer engineering ph.d., color science ph.d..
FindAPhD. Copyright 2005-2023 All rights reserved.
Unknown ( change )
Have you got time to answer some quick questions about PhD study?
Select your nearest city
You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits:
- Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
- The latest PhD projects delivered straight to your inbox
- Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
- Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, research proposal tips and much more
- Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs
Or begin browsing FindAPhD.com
or begin browsing FindAPhD.com
*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.
Already have a my FindAPhD Account? Log in
Create your account
Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here .
Filtering Results
How To Find The Right Job After Getting A Business Degree
February 26, 2023
Donna Kjellander
Academic Degree
A business degree is one of the most sought-after qualifications for those looking to enter the business world. With the right degree, you can open doors to a range of career opportunities. But once you have your degree, where do you go to look for jobs? With so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to start. The good news is that there are many ways to find the right job for a business degree graduate. This article will provide an overview of the different job search options available to business degree grads and the tips and tricks you need to make the most of them.
A bachelor’s degree in business is by far the most popular degree to obtain, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. You must have a strong professional and personal network in order to be successful in today’s business environment. If you want to get business skills, you should look for a part-time job or internship after your degree is completed. Business students typically believe that working for an organization in the field of their choice is a good idea. A job waiting table can be a valuable resource for learning important business skills that can be applied to your professional career. It is never too early to create a LinkedIn profile and resume if you are still in school. With a business degree, you will have access to an amazing array of opportunities.
Employers require problem-solving abilities, teamwork, initiative, and communication skills as part of their hiring process. Make a point of highlighting these skills that you gained during your school years on your profile and resume. Employers, according to two-thirds of them, expect graduates to improve their interviewing skills.
Where Do Business Majors End Up?
Business majors often end up in a variety of different roles and industries. Many business majors go into finance and accounting, while others pursue careers in consulting, marketing, or management. They can also find themselves working in the tech industry, in retail, or in the hospitality sector. Business majors are also highly sought after in the government sector and in the nonprofit sector. With a business degree, graduates can find themselves in a variety of roles, from entry-level positions to executive positions. No matter the career path taken, business majors are often well-positioned to succeed and to make a positive impact in the world.
Business graduates have a wide range of career options available after completing their degrees. Accountants and financial analysts are both possible career paths for accounting majors. Business consultants assist and advise other firms on matters pertaining to business. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the vast majority of employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree in human resources. A wide range of management consulting firms are available to assist you. Financial analysts work for a variety of organizations, including investment firms, large corporations, and government agencies. A financial analyst’s job is to forecast future revenue by analyzing costs and creating financial models. Management consultants advise businesses on how to organize their operations so they are more efficient.
Business Majors: Endless Career Possibilities
Business majors have numerous career options to choose from. Accounting, entrepreneurship, and fashion marketing are just a few of the many career options available. Business graduates can pursue certification programs or attend graduate school for an MBA or other advanced degree. A business major is likely to land you a job in one of the rapidly growing fields such as healthcare, technology, or financial services. A business degree not only provides a broad overview of the business world, but it also allows graduates to specialize in a specific field. Financial services careers may be available for those with a background in accounting, whereas entrepreneurship careers may be available for those with an entrepreneurial background. Fashion marketing, health care management, and technology management are just a few of the job opportunities available. Graduates with a business degree can pursue employment in any of these rapidly expanding markets.
Entry Level Business Degree Jobs
Entry level business degree jobs are a great way to launch a career in the business world. These jobs are ideal for recent graduates, as they typically require minimal prior experience and instead focus more on the knowledge and skills gained through their degree. Common entry level business degree jobs include administrative assistant, financial analyst, marketing associate, and account manager. These jobs provide an opportunity to gain valuable business experience and begin to form a network of contacts in the business world. Additionally, many of these jobs can lead to more advanced positions within the same organization or elsewhere. For those looking to start their business career , an entry level business degree job is a great place to start.
Jobs for entry- level business administration jobs are available for remote remote locations within 5000 miles of New York, New York. The hourly rate for part-time work is between $16 and $20. A person with a news addiction is ideal for this position. Property/casualty claims handling must be handled with a bachelor’s degree or direct equivalent experience. Annually, the annual cost ranges between $65K and $72K USD. Medical life insurance is required by law. As part of your 401k, you may be able to work full-time.
Distance learning platforms can be used to provide one-on-one instruction for nursing students who are entering the profession. Work under direct supervision, as well as entering scheduling at the entry level, such as daily and nightly work. Administration, Credentialing, Finance, and Billing are all included. A degree in STEM or an MBA is preferred. Assists the Coordinator in developing operational plans.
Jobs You Can Get With A Business Degree And Salary
A business degree can open up a variety of job opportunities, ranging from entry-level positions to executive roles. Common job titles for business degree holders include financial analyst, human resources manager, marketing specialist, and operations manager. Salaries for these positions vary depending on the type of job, experience, and location, but can range from $45,000-$125,000 annually. Other specialized positions such as financial advisors, project managers, and IT consultants may also be available with a business degree, with salaries ranging from $50,000-$150,000. With a business degree, individuals may also be qualified to pursue careers in entrepreneurship, consulting, or public relations.
A business degree can be a combination of several different types. One of the best ways to prepare you for a specific focus area or sector is to study for specific jobs. Accounting was the fourth most popular major in demand among employers, accounting for half of all majors in the top ten. Your career prospects will be unaffected regardless of which business degree you choose. A finance professional is in charge of interpreting data in order to develop a plan for an organization’s future financial health. A marketing professional’s job is to build brands, plan marketing campaigns, and analyze campaign results. Business administrators and business managers are in charge of running a company’s day-to-day operations.
In their daily work, operations professionals analyze the needs of a company, its employees, and its customers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for business and financial occupations was $76,570 as of 2021. A bachelor’s degree is preferred in each of these jobs. The median salary for information systems managers working for businesses in 2021 was $159,010. If you have a degree, you can change your life. Learn about the business programs offered by SNHU to help you achieve your objectives.
What Kind Of Jobs Can You Get With A Business Management Degree?
A business management degree can open up a plethora of job opportunities. With a degree in business management, you can pursue career paths in management, finance, marketing, and human resources. You can become a business manager, financial analyst or controller, marketing specialist, or HR manager. Additionally, with a business management degree, you can become a project manager, consultant, entrepreneur, or even a business professor. With so many possibilities, you can find a job that fits your interests and skills, and you can find success in the field of business management.
It is possible to stand out from other applicants for a manager or director position with a master’s degree. Employers will value your additional expertise and focused instruction gained from attending a business school . An MBA and a master’s in business management differ in many ways. Students who major in business management have the opportunity to make a significant impact immediately. Employers value people who can complete their tasks effectively with little to no additional training or manual dexterity. As a management student, you learn how to lead organizations at various stages of development. The right school is critical for a successful business management career.
A business management degree program at North Central College examines business history and its significance. Whether you work in nonprofit, for-profit, technical, or governmental settings, we will ensure that you are prepared to do so. You will be exposed to practical experiences throughout your studies through student organizations and teams, internships, and studying abroad.
Unlock Business Success With A Management Degree
A business management degree will allow you to gain valuable experience in your career. A business management degree allows you to gain knowledge and skills that will allow you to excel in a variety of business roles. Companies are managed and supervised by business managers in addition to supervising and managing their assets, operations, and employees. Finally, the good news is that a business management degree can lead to a wide range of career advancement and personal satisfaction opportunities, as well as greater opportunities for earning and working. Furthermore, those with a business management degree can expect to earn a good living, with the median salary for management occupations being $102,450 in May 2021. You can open up new opportunities for success if you have a business management degree.
Highest Paying Jobs With Business Degree
Having a business degree can open up a world of opportunity. Many of the highest paying jobs require a business degree, including executive positions in both the public and private sectors. These jobs typically come with generous salaries and benefits, such as stock options and bonuses. With a business degree, you can also work as a consultant or analyst, helping businesses improve their performance and profitability. You could even become a financial manager or accountant, overseeing the financial operations of a business. If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding career, a business degree is a great option.
It is possible to find a variety of high-paying jobs with a degree in business. Financial managers are in charge of investing in large portfolios of assets for large institutions, such as pension funds or insurance companies. A health care manager is in charge of running the facility, as well as overseeing a team of medical professionals. The role of an IT manager is to manage the company’s information technology operations. It managers may also help develop long-term strategies for a department or organization. The CEO is frequently the first point of contact for any organization’s success or failure. A chief financial officer is in charge of overseeing all financial aspects of a business.
Actuaries’ expertise in statistics, mathematics, and financial theory is used to calculate the risks that policies pose and the costs that they incur. Financial examiners are most commonly employed by the finance and insurance industries. Accountants prepare and review financial records for businesses and individuals. Compliance officers are in charge of ensuring that internal policies and external regulations are followed. Compliance officers are frequently employed in engineering, quality assurance, production, and even marketing departments. Wayne Angell and Sherwin Snyder, both alumni, created the Angell Snyder School of Business. The accreditation process for our programs is carried out by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). With a strong alumni advisory board featuring business masterminds, Ottawa University is a leader in business education .
Business Management Degree Jobs With No Experience
A business management degree can open up many opportunities for those with no experience. With the right degree, it is possible to find a position in a variety of fields, such as human resources, finance, accounting, and operations. Many entry-level jobs require an understanding of basic business principles, which a degree in business management can provide. Additionally, the degree can provide a foundation of knowledge in areas such as marketing, customer service, and project management that can be beneficial to employers. With the right degree and a good work ethic, those with no experience can find success in business management degree jobs .
A business administration job that has no prior experience is rewarding and challenging. If you don’t have any experience, the best career options are financial analyst, bookkeeper, cost estimateer, and systems administrator. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, the median annual wage for financial analysts was $83,660 in May 2020. As a bookkeeper, you can work for individuals, businesses, or state and local governments. A high school diploma or a bachelor’s degree in accounting is frequently required for entry-level positions as a bookkeeper. The cost estimating process collects information pertaining to resources, labor, and time required for a project. To the greatest extent possible, computer system administrators are in charge of the health and upkeep of computer systems.
The Benefits Of A Business Management Degree For Entrepreneurs
A business management degree will give you an advantage when starting your own business because it allows you to get started right away. If you are interested in business, you will have a strong understanding of the fundamentals of business, such as marketing, finance, and accounting. Furthermore, as a business professional, you will have a better understanding of how processes and strategies work and how they can be successfully implemented. Those who earn a business management degree stand to gain a lot from starting a business. You will not only gain knowledge and skills, but you will also be able to earn a living from it. Business management is an excellent career choice, with the median salary for management occupations being so high. Earning a business management degree will allow you to pursue salary opportunities and gain valuable experience.
Business Major Jobs
Business majors can pursue a variety of jobs in the business world. Some of the most common jobs that business majors can pursue after graduation include accountants, financial analysts, business administrators, marketing managers, and operations managers. Accountants are responsible for tracking and analyzing financial records, while financial analysts provide advice on investments and business strategies. Business administrators are in charge of day-to-day operations of a company, while marketing managers create strategies to build a brand and reach potential customers. Operations managers oversee the production and distribution of goods and services. All these jobs require an understanding of business principles and knowledge of the industry.
Business degrees will continue to grow in technology and data-heavy industries. A vice president of finance is one of the highest-paid business jobs . A finance director is in charge of creating budgets and strategic plans for a company as a whole. It is the chief financial officer’s responsibility to map out the financial strategy of a company. The financial manager of a company is in charge of managing its finances. Typically, tax professionals prepare and file state and federal tax returns for businesses. Financial/securities/investment analysts are responsible for evaluating the performance of stocks, bonds, and other investments.
Financial planners assist people in determining how to spend their money to meet their needs. When it comes to career advancement, you don’t have to be ashamed of wanting to succeed right away. Getting your foot in the door is sometimes difficult. Monster is looking for new members. Send job alerts directly to your inbox so you don’t miss any. The national median salary for total cash compensation is 50th percentile, according to Payscale.
Is Business A Good Major?
If you earn a business degree, you will be able to advance your career, raise your salary and lifetime earnings. You will reap the benefits of your career investment for the foreseeable future. It is all up to you to find the right business degree program for you.
Business Majors: A Smart Choice For A Profitable Career
It is a resounding yes that business majors make money. According to PayScale, people with a business degree earn significantly more than people with a high school diploma or an associate’s degree. A bachelor’s degree in business earns an average of 64,000 USD per year, and an associate’s degree in business earns an average of 83,500 USD per year. It’s especially impressive considering how competitive the job market is right now. Majors in business have the ability to adapt and thrive in a variety of settings, from a small business to a large corporation. Any organization can benefit from them in this way. Furthermore, a business major prepares employees for a variety of careers, including problem-solving, communication, and leadership. These are the skills that employers require in order to be successful in the workplace of the future. As a result, business majors have a strong chance of living well. If you have the right degree and experience, business majors can expect to earn a salary that is significantly higher than the national average. Those who want to succeed in the business world should consider this career path.
Non Desk Jobs With A Business Degree
For those with a business degree, there are a variety of non-desk jobs available. From market research to project management, business graduates can use their knowledge to pursue a career in a wide range of industries. Business graduates can also explore opportunities in marketing, finance, and management consulting. Additionally, those with a business degree can explore opportunities in human resources, public relations, and business analytics. With the right degree, there are many exciting and rewarding non-desk jobs available.
More graduates are pursuing degrees in non-corporate settings as a result of business degrees. A degree can help you get started in a restaurant, but it will help you succeed more if you are already a restaurant owner. A degree program can assist a farmer in weathering the challenges of the agricultural industry. Agricultural managers and farmers are trained on-the-job to work in this role. Farmers must be business savvy in order to succeed. An agricultural management degree combined with a business degree can lead to a career in greenhouse management. Events must be planned in a unique way, and business school offers all of the skills required.
Graduates with a knack for business and boundless creativity may find success in a career as an event planner. You will receive a lot of benefits in the pharmaceutical sales industry, including a lot of bonuses and the option to set your own schedule. Life on the road can lead to excess, including a managerial position, but there is room for growth if you work hard enough. A construction project manager is an essential member of the construction team. They must perform a variety of tasks related to the overall goals of the company as well as the project. Graduates with a strong business education are better prepared to work in construction zones. Earning an online business administration degree from the University of West Alabama is a viable option.
About author
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
How to Choose a PhD Program Successfully completing a doctoral program requires commitment and perseverance. The most important step in this process is to consider whether academic life is right for you and what kind of doctoral program — from discipline to environment — will be the best fit for your goals and preferences.
Take your time and ask questions as you analyze the research opportunities that will be part of your Ph.D. program. Visit the campus, meet your professors, and dig deep to see if you'll have all of the tools and resources you need at your disposal, including the freedom to research what you are truly passionate about.
Our search is a useful way to find a PhD (it's in the name, after all) but it's also a great way to compare current PhDs - and get a sense of what's happening in your field. Entering your research area (or interests) will bring up relevant projects and programmes, but don't worry about picking one of them just yet.
Look at Faculty. Find some recent papers in your field of interest and do a search for the "corresponding author"- this is usually the PI of the lab. Keep up with the current conferences and publications and you'll start getting a feel for who's who in the community.
Visit the postgraduate section of university websites and the PhD Research Council section of the GOV.UK website Finding A PhD Searching for PhD research projects can sometimes feel like daunting process. Often, it's difficult to know where to find a PhD position or where to even start.
Follow these steps: Try to identify scholars who are working in the areas that interest you. Review the literature in your field, network at conferences, and review CVs on departmental websites. In short, do your research. If you have an undergrad mentor in your field, consult them for advice about departments where exciting research is going on.
Find and compare PhD programmes and postgraduate doctorate studies from top universities worldwide: ... and for good reasons. Some of the world's most highly regarded research takes place in British universities, which are regularly featured in international rankings. ... Studyportals helped me find my dream program in Bioarchaeological and ...
Talk to faculty at your current college or university to find out the reputation of the professor who will be your adviser. If at all possible, contact some of his or her current graduate students and ask them what he or she is really like to work for.
PhD programs (also known as doctoral programs) give students the opportunity to do graduate-level research in the field of their choice and can range across a variety of subjects such as engineering, English, public health, and computer science. The application process for PhD programs can be competitive and the programs themselves can be very ...
You haven't completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits: Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers; winners will be notified every month.*; The latest PhD projects delivered straight to your inbox; Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition; Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, research proposal tips and ...
How do you determine the quality of a good graduate program? Deciding what to prioritize when selecting a graduate school is a process that is individual to each graduate student, but there are several common factors to take into account. Quality of Faculty and Instructors
Find Your Grad School Graduate Schools Are Seeking Students Like You Find Your Fit with our Featured Schools! Explore Your Matched Schools Showing 1 - 25 of 1,912 results Sort by name Featured Adler University Chicago, IL 9 From the School: Adler University is uniquely dedicated to engaging communities and advancing social justice. Our rigorous ...
Here are just a few of the best PhD programs you can study to increase your employability and deepen your knowledge and expertise. Accounting and Finance With a PhD in Accounting and Finance, you'll be able to get more knowledge in financial research methods and theory.
It allows your letter of recommendation writers enough time in advance to thoughtfully prepare a letter that speaks to who you are as a PhD candidate. It gives you more time to review your materials, fix any errors, and proofread, proofread, proofread. Finally, it means a lot less stress when the deadline starts rapidly approaching.
Reading dissertations and published journals is a great way to identify potential PhD topics. When reviewing existing research ask yourself: What has been done and what do existing results show? What did previous projects involve (e.g. lab-work or fieldwork)? How often are papers published in the field? Are your research ideas original?
Let Us Guide You to a Grad School Program That Best. Matches You. The GradSchoolMatch™ platform makes the graduate school search and application process easier. Just take a few moments to tell us a little about you and your objectives, then our matching methodology creates a customized program list. Get Started Member Login.
The best way to find PhD positions is to search online databases, which will allow you to narrow your search by location, program type, and other criteria. You can also search for programs in your field of interest in graduate school directories. Finally, you can contact your desired programs directly to inquire about available positions.
A GPA of at least 4.0 is considered excellent for a program or school you are applying to. A GPA cutoff is a percentage point that is determined by a specific school's admission criteria and is used to determine the lowest possible score. Many colleges and universities consider a GPA of 2.5 to be acceptable.
PhD Type Funding Latest PhDs only Sort by Reset We have 27 PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in USA More Details Computational Modelling and Control of Nonlinear and Fluidic Systems with Application to Immunology Arizona State University Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
2. Choosing the right area or topic of your PhD research. Be as specific as possible searching for the relevant PhD programme. You may choose to begin your search from a rather broad area such as "Education", for example. This can be followed by narrowing down the search by "Higher Education", "Secondary Education" "Adult ...
The good news is that there are many ways to find the right job for a business degree graduate. This article will provide an overview of the different job search options available to business degree grads and the tips and tricks you need to make the most of them. ... Business graduates can pursue certification programs or attend graduate school ...