economics phd fully funded

30 Fully Funded Ph.D. Programs

These fully funded Ph.D. programs are in fields like business, computer science, education and nursing.

(Getty Images) |

Many Ph.D. programs are fully funded.

Students interested in graduate research in various fields, from public health and English to computer science and engineering, have numerous options for Ph.D. programs that offer full funding. These programs typically provide waived tuition and fees and an annual stipend. Some also offer health insurance and other benefits. Gaining admittance into these small cohorts can be highly competitive, and the programs can be time-consuming . Here are 30 fully funded Ph.D. programs at U.S. colleges and universities. Keep in mind this is not a comprehensive list – there are others out there.

• Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of Chicago

Anthropology Ph.D. students at the University of Chicago can receive funding for up to eight years of study, assuming they are in good standing at the university. During that time, they will receive a full-tuition scholarship plus health insurance and a living stipend – which equated to $33,000 for the 2022-2023 school year – and can apply for external fellowships.

Ph.D. in biological sciences in public health at Harvard University (MA)

Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston offers a Ph.D. in biological sciences in public health that aims to provide students with expertise in disease prevention and treatment. This program includes tuition, a stipend and health insurance for five years as long as the student maintains satisfactory academic progress. International students receive the same benefits. Current research in the school's laboratories involves diseases like AIDS, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, malaria and tuberculosis.

(Dominick Reuter) |

• Ph.D. in business at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Students enrolled in the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology can study a range of fields like organization studies, accounting and information technology. Those pursuing a Ph.D. will receive a full-tuition scholarship plus a monthly stipend of $4,267, capped at $51,204. They will also receive medical insurance, new laptops at the beginning of their first and fourth years of study and $4,500 over five years for conference travel expenses.

(Tommy Lavergne | Rice University)

Ph.D. in business at Rice University (TX)

At the Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business in Texas, students enjoy full financial assistance upon admission to the Ph.D. program. Aiming to prepare students to teach in fields like accounting, finance, organizational behavior and strategic management, the program provides students with a research or teaching assistantship. Students receive a tuition waiver and a $40,000 annual stipend contingent on making satisfactory academic progress and maintaining full-time student status.

Office of Strategic Communication | University of Iowa

• Ph.D. in business at the University of Iowa

The University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business offers Ph.D. degrees in fields such as accounting, economics, business analytics and marketing. The college says it provides full funding to "virtually all admitted students." This includes tuition and fees, a minimum nine-month stipend of about $20,000 with annual adjustments and comprehensive health insurance covered at 90%. Some departments offer funding for research presentations at major conferences, summer fellowships and paid time off for independent research.

Ph.D. in chemical engineering at Cornell University (NY)

According to Cornell University 's website, all students admitted to the chemical engineering Ph.D. program at the New York school receive a full tuition waiver, health insurance and a stipend. This funding can come from a teaching assistantship, research assistantship or fellowship, and full stipends are granted for nine months with the likelihood of additional aid in the summer.

Chris Taggart | Columbia University

Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Columbia University (NY)

Students enrolled in Columbia University 's Ph.D. program in clinical psychology at the Teachers College in New York receive fully funded tuition and a $25,000 stipend annually for three years. The stipend also carries into a student's fourth year. These doctoral fellows "may be expected to serve" as graduate teaching or research assistants. Students typically complete the mentor-matched program, which includes a full-year internship, in five to seven years.

Ph.D. in computer science at Brown University (RI)

Brown University 's Ph.D. students in computer science have access to "full financial support while completing the degree," plus the option to take classes at nearby schools without incurring additional costs, according to the school's website. In fact, doctoral students in any program at the Rhode Island university are guaranteed five years of financial support, which includes tuition remission, a stipend, health services fees and a subsidy for health insurance.

Georgetown University |

Ph.D. in computer science at Georgetown University (DC)

Georgetown University 's Ph.D. program in computer science provides scholarships and assistantships that cover full tuition at the Washington, D.C., school and include a stipend and health insurance for the first five years. Once enrolled in the program, students must complete the Apprenticeship in Teaching Program and ultimately write and defend a full research dissertation in a seminar open to the public.

Ph.D. in computer science at Washington University in St. Louis

Ph.D. students in the computer science or computer engineering program at Washington University in St. Louis receive full tuition support and health insurance. According to the university's website: "As a doctoral candidate, you will also receive a generous stipend to cover living expenses and a new, high-end Apple laptop computer. This support is guaranteed as you continue to make satisfactory progress towards your degree." Doctoral students may also qualify for one of three fellowships.

Jeff Miller | UW-Madison

• Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Wisconsin—Madison

Incoming Ph.D. students at the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin—Madison are guaranteed full funding for the duration of the time that they are expected on campus, according to the university's department of counseling psychology website. Doctoral students also receive a benefits package that includes health insurance. Funding may come from financial aid, fellowships, assistantships and/or traineeships.

Emory University |

Ph.D. in economics at Emory University (GA)

Students enrolled in the economics Ph.D. program at Emory University typically receive full funding, according to the Georgia university's website. The stipend provided to students is $36,376 per year for five years, starting in fall 2023, and the full tuition scholarship is worth $70,200 per year. Funding for admitted students also includes a $4,370 annual subsidy that covers 100% of a student's cost of health insurance. First-year students have no stipend-related work requirements.

• Ph.D. in education at New York University

New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development offers more than 30 degree programs. Many can be pursued on campus or online. Ph.D. degrees are offered in areas like developmental psychology, educational leadership and childhood education. Full-time NYU Steinhardt Ph.D. students are eligible for a funding package that includes an annual stipend – $32,000 for the 2022-2023 academic year – tuition coverage for required coursework and student health insurance for five years.

L.A. Cicero, Stanford News Service |

Ph.D. in education at Stanford University (CA)

Stanford University's Graduate School of Education allows students numerous fellowship and assistantship opportunities at the California school, along with a "five-year funding guarantee that provides tuition aid, fellowship stipend, and assistantship salary, and covers the standard cost of attendance," the program website reads. At the Graduate School of Education, doctoral students can choose from a range of academic areas like curriculum studies and teacher education, and developmental and psychological sciences.

• Ph.D. in education at the University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education provides full funding to Ph.D. students as part of a fellowship and research apprenticeship package. This funding includes a living stipend, health insurance and coverage of tuition and fees for up to four years if the student maintains full-time enrollment. Some students may also qualify for additional summer funding.

• Ph.D. in engineering at the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor

Doctoral students in engineering at the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor can choose from numerous areas of specialization under umbrella categories like aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, macromolecular science and engineering, and robotics. All engineering doctoral students are guaranteed full funding, a monthly living stipend and health insurance. The exact amount can vary, according to the program's website, and funding comes from a range of sources, including graduate student instructor positions and fellowships.

Boston University Photography |

• Ph.D. in English at Boston University

Annually, doctoral students studying English at Boston University receive a stipend plus full tuition, fees and basic health insurance. This funding is guaranteed for at least five years, with two of those years typically free from teaching requirements. Funding can sometimes be extended up to seven years, according to the university's website, but it's not guaranteed. Students may also apply for various prizes, fellowships and short-term research and travel grants.

(Stephanie Diani) |

• Ph.D. in English at the University of California—Los Angeles

Applicants to the Ph.D. in English program at the University of California—Los Angeles are automatically considered for various funding options. A six-year funding package includes "a minimum of two years of full fellowship, four years of summer stipend support and up to four years of teaching assistantships," according to the school website. Beyond tuition, fees and health insurance are also covered.

Jeff Watts |

Ph.D. in international relations at American University (DC)

American University offers doctoral students in its international relations program who do not have external funding a renewable four-year Dean's Fellowship that is contingent on making satisfactory academic progress. The fellowship includes the cost of tuition, fees and a stipend that must be earned via a part-time role as a teaching or research assistant. Students also must "demonstrate competency in a modern foreign language" before graduating.

Jonathan Cohen | Binghamton University

• Ph.D. in management at Binghamton University—SUNY

All students admitted to the interdisciplinary management Ph.D. program at the Binghamton University—SUNY School of Management in New York receive a combination of a full-tuition scholarship and a teaching or research assistantship for each academic year, up to four years. This STEM-designated business doctoral degree prepares students for careers in academia and work in the public and private sectors, and has a student-faculty ratio of 1-to-1, according to the university's website.

Duke University Communications |

Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at Duke University (NC)

Doctoral students at Duke University in North Carolina studying materials science and engineering generally receive full tuition, a stipend and fee support for the first five years. Students also receive up to six years of health insurance if they are on the university's student medical insurance plan. The doctoral program aims to help students publish with a faculty adviser and develop research skills, with the opportunity to present research at professional conferences.

Homewood Photography | JHU

Ph.D. in nursing at Johns Hopkins University (MD)

The School of Nursing at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland provides most doctoral students with three fully funded years of study. Available financial aid includes graduate assistantships, targeted fellowships and nursing-specific funding. The university aims to "advance the theoretical foundation of nursing practice and healthcare delivery" with the degree, its website reads. "By graduation, most Hopkins nurse scholars have been awarded grants that continue their research and set them well on their way to a successful career."

• Ph.D. in nursing at the University of Virginia

All students admitted to the University of Virginia 's Ph.D. in Nursing program are eligible for four years of scholarship funding to cover tuition, insurance and fees, as well as annual stipends. To receive certain aid, students must work 10 hours per week as a graduate teaching assistant. With a heavy research focus, students can expect courses in qualitative, quantitative and historical research, and will have to submit a research proposal for peer review.

Ph.D. in nursing at Yale University (CT)

At Yale University in Connecticut, the School of Nursing offers full funding to its Ph.D. students. They receive a monthly stipend for four years in addition to paid tuition and health care. The program allows students to gain in-depth knowledge in a particular area of study. Every incoming Ph.D. student gets paired with a faculty adviser "whose area of expertise and active research most closely matches with the student’s scholarly interest," according to the school's website.

University of Minnesota |

• Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities

Students admitted to the Ph.D. program to study psychology at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities are guaranteed full funding for five years as long as they maintain satisfactory performance and degree progress. This funding includes full-time tuition, a nine-month stipend and subsidized health insurance. Funding comes from some combination of teaching assistantships, traineeships, research assistantships and fellowships. Students in the program can specialize in areas like cognitive and brain sciences, industrial-organizational psychology and social psychology.

Matt Cashore | University of Notre Dame

Ph.D. within the Romance languages and literatures department at the University of Notre Dame (IN)

University of Notre Dame doctoral students who focus on French and Francophone studies, Iberian and Latin American studies or Italian studies are guaranteed five years of funding. Funding includes a full scholarship, including tuition and fees, plus a stipend and health insurance. Anyone who completes the Ph.D. degree requirements at the Indiana university within five years will automatically receive a one-year postdoctoral fellowship via the university's 5+1 Program. Fellows will have a teaching load limited to one course per semester.

Ph.D. in social work at Bryn Mawr College (PA)

Students admitted to Bryn Mawr College 's Ph.D. program in social work receive full tuition waivers and "substantial stipends" toward living expenses. The Pennsylvania college's website says: "Consistent with our model, all Ph.D. students are funded equally, and do not compete for basic financial support during coursework." The program's cohorts typically include only three or four students each year. According to the college, it awarded the first Ph.D. degree in social work in the U.S. in 1920.

Vanderbilt University |

Ph.D. in special education at Vanderbilt University (TN)

Funding is guaranteed for all admitted doctoral students enrolled in the special education Ph.D. program at the Peabody College of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. This includes full tuition, a "competitive" monthly stipend and health insurance for up to four years. Students may also be nominated for additional honor scholarships and fellowships. Areas of focus within the Ph.D. program include high-incidence disabilities and early childhood education.

Ph.D. in theatre and drama at Northwestern University (IL)

This interdisciplinary Ph.D. program at Northwestern University in Illinois combines coursework in humanities, social science and the visual arts. The program's students receive a five-year full-tuition scholarship plus an annual living stipend. Ph.D students enrolling at this program in fall 2022 will receive a living stipend of at least $36,960 during the 2023-2024 school year. Stipend amounts may change from year to year. Students can apply for subsidies to facilitate conference travel and summer language study.

(Photo by Sarah L. Voisin | The Washington Post via Getty Images)

• Ph.D. in women, gender and sexuality studies at University of Maryland

At the University of Maryland 's Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Ph.D. students without a master's degree usually have five years of guaranteed funding. Those with a master's degree usually are funded four years, with awards stemming from a mix of departmental fellowships and graduate teaching assistantships. Since the program's establishment in 1999, the department has granted 36 Ph.Ds, according to UMD's website.

Learn more about paying for graduate school.

Finding a fully funded program isn't the only option to offset the costs of graduate school. See these seven strategies to pay for graduate school to learn more. Check out the latest Best Graduate Schools rankings to see the country's top business, medicine and law programs – and more. For additional grad school tips, follow U.S. News Education on Facebook , Twitter and LinkedIn .

Ph.D. programs that are fully funded

• Ph.D. in biological sciences in public health at Harvard University
• Ph.D. in business at Rice University
• Ph.D. in chemical engineering at Cornell University
• Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Columbia University
• Ph.D. in computer science at Brown University
• Ph.D. in computer science at Georgetown University
• Ph.D. in computer science at Washington University—St. Louis
• Ph.D. in economics at Emory University
• Ph.D. in education at Stanford University
• Ph.D. in international relations at American University
• Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at Duke University
• Ph.D. in nursing at Johns Hopkins University
• Ph.D. in nursing at Yale University
• Ph.D. within the romance languages and literatures department at the University of Notre Dame
• Ph.D. in social work at Bryn Mawr College
• Ph.D. in special education at Vanderbilt University
• Ph.D. in theatre and drama at Northwestern University

More From U.S. News

44 Graduate Degree Jobs That Can Pay Six-Figure Salaries

3 Ways Graduate School Pays Off

Should You Go to Grad School?

You may also like, primary care vs. research med schools.

Anna Fiorino Nov. 21, 2024

Do Law Schools Accept Associate Degrees?

Gabriel Kuris Nov. 18, 2024

Is Law School Worth the Price?

Ilana Kowarski and Cole Claybourn Nov. 12, 2024

Tips for Foreign Law School Applicants

Gabriel Kuris Nov. 12, 2024

Coping With Death as a Future Doctor

Kathleen Franco, M.D., M.S. Nov. 5, 2024

Weighing LSAT Test Prep Options

Gabriel Kuris Nov. 4, 2024

Graduate School with Student Loan Debt

A.R. Cabral Oct. 31, 2024

Finding Scholarships for Grad School

Sarah Wood Oct. 30, 2024

Decide Whether to Retake the GMAT

Anna Fiorino Oct. 21, 2024

Law School Applicants and Volunteering

Gabriel Kuris Oct. 21, 2024

PhD in Economics

Program Overview

The PhD program in Economics provides in-depth, rigorous training in the theory and application of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. Entering students aim for research and teaching careers in academia or research-oriented positions in government, consulting, or private industry. Faculty members work closely with PhD students, generating a collaborative, stimulating intellectual environment.

Graduate Coordinator

• Sara and Dan Boyd Professor and Professor , John Munro Godfrey, Sr. Department of Economics

Preferred Deadline: January 15

Students complete basic coursework during the first two years. In the first year, students take core courses in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Econometrics. The second year is devoted to field courses, and students begin to develop their own research ideas through this coursework. Students’ independent research begins by the summer after the second year when they work on their “second-year” paper, which is typically the first step in building a dissertation. After the second year, students have the opportunity to teach their own class, building additional core knowledge and developing important teaching and pedagogical skills.

After the first year, students participate in our departmental and student seminar series. Many students also choose to participate in brown bag workshops and reading groups. There is ample opportunity to present on-going research both to obtain critical feedback and develop important presentation skills. Students are expected to be proactive and take advantage of these opportunities.

Students are required to complete two fields of specialization. The department offers fields in advanced macroeconomics, health economics, industrial organization, and labor economics.  Please visit our  faculty directory  for additional insight into the research focus within our department.

Program Structure

To earn a PhD a student must:

• Complete a minimum of 54 semester hours of coursework, including required courses in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, econometrics, and research skills.
• Pass two out of three written comprehensive (core) exams in microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, and econometrics in their first summer (at the end of their first year).
• Complete two fields of specialization.
• Complete a second-year paper assignment.
• Form an advisory committee and complete an Advisory Committee Form, which is typically done by the fall of the third year and must be done before the oral examination.
• Complete a Final Program of Study Form, which is typically done by the fall of the third year and must be done before the oral examination.
• Pass the oral examination by the end of the third year. Once a student passes the oral examination and completes the Admission to Candidacy Form, they will be formally admitted into candidacy.
• Regularly present their research in the graduate student workshop.
• Write and defend an acceptable dissertation.

Course Work

Students enrolled in the PhD program in Economics are required to complete a set of core and selected field courses of specialization. The core curriculum consists of the following courses: Mathematical Analysis for Economists ( ECON 8000 ), Microeconomic Theory ( ECON 8010  and  8020 ), Macroeconomic Theory ( ECON 8040  and  8050 ), Statistics for Econometrics ( ECON 8070 ) and Introduction to Econometrics ( ECON 8080 ).

In addition, to satisfy the university’s research skills requirement, students must attend the workshops and seminars sponsored by the department ( ECON 8980 ), and successfully complete Research Methods in Economics ( ECON 8090 ).

Students are required to complete two fields of specialization. The department offers fields in advanced macroeconomics, health economics, industrial organization, and labor economics. Three field sequences are offered per academic year on a set rotation. A field is completed after passing two courses in an area of specialization with a minimum average grade of 3.0.

Written Comprehensive Examinations

At the end of the first year, students are expected to have completed the Microeconomic Theory ( ECON 8010  and  ECON 8020 ), Macroeconomic Theory ( ECON 8040  and  ECON 8050 ), and Econometrics ( ECON 8070 and ECON 8080 ) sequences and to take the Microeconomic Theory, Macroeconomic Theory, and Econometrics core exams. Students must take all three exams and must pass two out of the three exams during the summer after their first year to maintain satisfactory academic progress towards their degrees. The core exams are given in June after the first year, and exam retakes typically occur in July. The exams are assessed on a pass/fail basis.

Research Focus

Students’ development towards becoming independent researchers continues with the second-year paper. By the summer after their second year of coursework, students form a second-year paper committee of three faculty members and propose a topic for their second-year paper. Over the next six months, students work under the supervision of this committee to craft a completed economic research paper. By January of their third year, successful students will have completed a paper having the potential for publication in a scholarly journal.

Progress towards becoming an independent researcher culminates in a student’s dissertation. Students should establish a thesis committee of at least three graduate faculty members by the spring of their third year. The completed dissertation must demonstrate original research, independent thinking, scholarly ability, and technical mastery. Its conclusions must be logical, its literary form acceptable, and its contribution to knowledge should merit publication.

Typical Course Sequence

• ECON 8010  Microeconomic Theory I
• ECON 8040  Macroeconomic Theory I
• ECON 8070  Statistics for Econometrics
• ECON 8000  Mathematics for Economists*
• GRSC 7001 GradFIRST Seminar
• ECON 8020  Microeconomic Theory II
• ECON 8050  Macroeconomic Theory II
• ECON 8080  Introduction to Econometrics
• ECON 8980  Department Seminars
• Microeconomics Theory Comprehensive Exam
• Macroeconomic Theory Comprehensive Exam
• Econometrics Comprehensive Exam
• Microeconomics Theory Comprehensive Exam Retake
• Macroeconomic Theory Comprehensive Exam Retake
• Econometrics Comprehensive Exam Retake
• ECON 8110 Econometrics I
• Advanced Macroeconomics
• Health Economics
• Industrial Organization
• Labor Economics
• ECON 8120 Econometrics II (optional but very strongly encouraged)
• GRSC 7770 Graduate Teaching Seminar
• Form a second-year paper committee
• Submit a 5-page proposal for the second-year paper to the Graduate Coordinator, signed by three faculty members who agree to serve on the student’s committee and approve the proposal
• ECON 8090 Research Methods
• ECON 9000 Research Hours
• GRSC 7770 Graduate Teaching Seminar (if not taken in second year)
• ECON 8980 Department Seminars

Year 4 and Beyond

• ECON 9000 (or ECON 9300 Research Hours in terminal semester)

Economics PhDs have placed at various prestigious academic institutions.

Placements include tenure-track positions at:

• Baylor University
• Bentley University
• Loyola Marymount University
• University of Arkansas-Little Rock
• University of Maine

Post-doctoral positions include:

• Centers for Disease Control
• Duke University
• National University of Singapore
• Purdue University
• University of North Carolina
• University of Pennsylvania

Our students have also placed at prominent positions in government and industry, such as:

• US Census Bureau
• US Federal Communications Commission
• US Food and Drug Administration
• Abt Associates
• Analysis Group
• Burning Glass Institute
• RTI International

Admissions and Financial Aid

Individuals holding a four-year baccalaureate degree in any discipline from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale are eligible to apply. Applicants are required to have college credit in differential calculus. Because of the necessary rigor of the curriculum, we also very strongly recommend taking courses in integral and multivariable calculus and linear algebra prior to applying.

The General Test of the GRE is required for admission into the program. The GMAT will not be accepted as a substitute for the GRE. All international applicants whose native language is not English and who wish to be considered for financial aid must submit a TOEFL or IELTS score along with their application, irrespective of their graduating institution. There are no waivers for the TOEFL or IELTS requirement. More details on English Language Proficiency requirements can be found here . All applicants to the PhD program are automatically considered for financial assistance. The Terry College of Business offers a variety of teaching and research assistantships, scholarships and fellowships. Qualified incoming graduate students are typically offered 9-month (academic-year) teaching or research assistantships from the college, as recommended by the department. The department provides these assistantships to continuing PhD students for five years of study. All assistantships carry a tuition waiver and a stipend.

Application Process

The application process is spelled out in detail on the  Terry College’s application process and materials page . All application forms and instructions for completing them are available there.

To ensure that your application receives full consideration for funding, apply no later than  January 15.  Please note that the application must be complete, with all components of the application received by the Graduate School by the deadline. Department and Terry College financial-aid decisions are typically made in late February or early March. The UGA Graduate School only accepts electronic letters of recommendation, which can be submitted through its homepage.

PhD students are admitted for the fall semester only; there are no spring or summer admissions. In addition, the department does not transfer degree credit from other graduate programs. Students already holding a Master’s degree from another program are usually asked to take all core and field courses in residence at Terry. Under certain circumstances, the mathematics and statistics preparatory classes may be waived on a case-by-case basis.

Please see the Bursars’s Office for information about tuition and fees.

• Financial Aid

All applicants to the PhD program are automatically considered for financial assistance. The Terry College of Business offers a variety of teaching and research assistantships, scholarships, and fellowships. Qualified incoming graduate students typically receive 9-month (academic-year) teaching or research assistantships from the college, as recommended by the department. The department provides these assistantships to continuing PhD students for five years of study. All assistantships carry a tuition waiver. Teaching and research assistants are expected to devote approximately 16 hours per week toward their assistantship duties, which are determined by the faculty member or members to whom the student is assigned. Renewal of funding is contingent on making satisfactory progress through the PhD program.

Departments and Program Offices

• PhD Program Office
• John Munro Godfrey, Sr. Department of Economics

UGA Resources

• Graduate School

Additional Information

• Current PhDs
• Faculty Research