best degree phd programs

• Twitter Facebook Pinterest

2024 Best Grad Schools in the United States for Doctorate Degrees

There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which grad school to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Doctor's Degree Colleges ranking is part of that endeavor.

What's on This Page: * Our Methodology

• Best Graduate Schools List

Choosing the Best Grad School for You

Our analysis looked at 691 grad schools in the United States to determine which ones have the best doctorate degree programs. Our ranking for the best grad schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. The following gives more info on what goes into our ranking factors and why we consider those factors.

Higher Than Average Earnings

To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a doctorate degree from the school. Recent students who earned a doctorate degree in the United States entered the job market making an average of $75,260 while those in the top 20 schools on our list made an average of $88,513.

Taking Out Student Loans

Graduate students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their doctorate so we factor that into our rankings as well. The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.

More Ranking Factors That Are Important

We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking. On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.

We go into more detail on these factors on our graduate school ranking methodology page.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Not quite ready to work on your doctorate? Check out our Best Master's Degree Schools ranking.

Top Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States

Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:

Our analysis found Massachusetts Institute of Technology to be the best grad school for doctorate degrees in the United States in this year’s ranking. MIT is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 568 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a doctorate degree from MIT go into careers with an average salary of $115,303 during the early years of their career.

Learn More About Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The excellent doctorate degree programs at University of Pennsylvania helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the United States. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 1,254 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from UPenn make an average of $97,555 a year.

Learn More About University of Pennsylvania

A rank of #3 on our Best Doctorate Degrees in the United States list means Stanford University is a great place for students working on their degree. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 1,105 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $98,295 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Stanford University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #4 in the United States on this year’s best doctorate degree schools ranking. Harvard is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,444 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a doctorate degree from Harvard go into careers with an average salary of $95,158 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Harvard University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Princeton University. The school came in at #5 in the United States on this year’s best doctorate degree schools ranking. Princeton, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 293 students in 2020-2021.

Full Princeton University Report

Carnegie Mellon University landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 333 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Carnegie Mellon University Report

Northwestern University landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 1,028 students in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $93,954 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Northwestern University

University of Chicago landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 755 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from UChicago make an average of $96,200 a year.

Learn More About University of Chicago

Rice University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States list. Rice is located in Houston, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 207 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.

Learn More About Rice University

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Los Angeles, California, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 1,914 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from USC make an average of $87,196 a year.

Learn More About University of Southern California

University of California - Berkeley ranked #11 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States list. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 1,187 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a doctorate degree from UC Berkeley make an average of $88,876 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on University of California - Berkeley

Vanderbilt University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States list. Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 787 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Vanderbilt make an average of $91,182 a year.

Learn More About Vanderbilt University

Georgetown University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #13. Georgetown is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Washington, District of Columbia. It awarded 1,014 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a doctorate degree from Georgetown make an average of $105,462 per year during the early years of their career.

Learn More About Georgetown University

Yale University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #14. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 742 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a doctorate degree from Yale go into careers with an average salary of $91,187 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Yale University

Teachers College at Columbia University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #15. Teachers College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 185 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a doctorate degree from Teachers College make an average of $78,856 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Teachers College at Columbia University Report

Duke University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Located in Durham, North Carolina, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 949 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a doctorate degree from Duke make an average of $92,967 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Duke University Report

Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Columbia is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 1,502 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Columbia make an average of $102,938 a year.

Learn More About Columbia University in the City of New York

Bentley University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #18. Bentley is located in Waltham, Massachusetts and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.

Full Bentley University Report

Suffolk University landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 351 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Suffolk is $56,355 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Suffolk University

Cornell University landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Cornell is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 777 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Cornell is $107,405 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Cornell University

With a ranking of #21, Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States list. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate degrees to 577 students in 2020-2021.

Full Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Report

Brown University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Providence, Rhode Island, and it awarded 293 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Brown is $60,843 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Brown University

Washington University in St Louis came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking. WUSTL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 742 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.

During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from WUSTL make an average of $72,507 a year.

Learn More About Washington University in St Louis

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #24. Notre Dame, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 422 students in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Notre Dame make an average of $78,016 a year.

Read full report on University of Notre Dame

With a ranking of #25, California Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States list. Caltech is located in Pasadena, California and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 184 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.

Those who receive a doctorate degree from Caltech go into careers with an average salary of $59,996 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on California Institute of Technology

Rest of the Top 50 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the United States

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Narrow Doctorate Degree Schools by Region

Rocky mountains, middle atlantic, great lakes, new england, plains states, far western us, other u.s. territories, rest of the top 15% doctorate degree schools in the united states.

To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:

Honorable Mentions

These schools also performed well in our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking:

More Rankings

Bachelor's degrees, returning adults, master's degrees.

More Rankings >

Notes and References

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ( IPEDS ) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s ( College Scorecard ).
• Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies .

Popular Reports

Compare your school options.

• Harvard Business School →
• Doctoral Programs →

PhD Programs

• Accounting & Management
• Business Economics
• Health Policy (Management)
• Organizational Behavior
• Technology & Operations Management

Students in our PhD programs are encouraged from day one to think of this experience as their first job in business academia—a training ground for a challenging and rewarding career generating rigorous, relevant research that influences practice.

Our doctoral students work with faculty and access resources throughout HBS and Harvard University. The PhD program curriculum requires coursework at HBS and other Harvard discipline departments, and with HBS and Harvard faculty on advisory committees. Faculty throughout Harvard guide the programs through their participation on advisory committees.

How do I know which program is right for me?

There are many paths, but we are one HBS. Our PhD students draw on diverse personal and professional backgrounds to pursue an ever-expanding range of research topics. Explore more here about each program’s requirements & curriculum, read student profiles for each discipline as well as student research , and placement information.

The PhD in Business Administration grounds students in the disciplinary theories and research methods that form the foundation of an academic career. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program has five areas of study: Accounting and Management , Management , Marketing , Strategy , and Technology and Operations Management . All areas of study involve roughly two years of coursework culminating in a field exam. The remaining years of the program are spent conducting independent research, working on co-authored publications, and writing the dissertation. Students join these programs from a wide range of backgrounds, from consulting to engineering. Many applicants possess liberal arts degrees, as there is not a requirement to possess a business degree before joining the program

The PhD in Business Economics provides students the opportunity to study in both Harvard’s world-class Economics Department and Harvard Business School. Throughout the program, coursework includes exploration of microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, probability and statistics, and econometrics. While some students join the Business Economics program directly from undergraduate or masters programs, others have worked in economic consulting firms or as research assistants at universities or intergovernmental organizations.

The PhD program in Health Policy (Management) is rooted in data-driven research on the managerial, operational, and strategic issues facing a wide range of organizations. Coursework includes the study of microeconomic theory, management, research methods, and statistics. The backgrounds of students in this program are quite varied, with some coming from public health or the healthcare industry, while others arrive at the program with a background in disciplinary research

The PhD program in Organizational Behavior offers two tracks: either a micro or macro approach. In the micro track, students focus on the study of interpersonal relationships within organizations and the effects that groups have on individuals. Students in the macro track use sociological methods to examine organizations, groups, and markets as a whole, including topics such as the influence of individuals on organizational change, or the relationship between social missions and financial objectives. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program includes core disciplinary training in sociology or psychology, as well as additional coursework in organizational behavior.

Accounting & Management  

Business economics  , health policy (management)  , management  , marketing  , organizational behavior  , strategy  , technology & operations management  .

Doctor of Education Leadership

Additional Information

• Download the Doctoral Viewbook
• Admissions & Aid

America needs transformative leaders in preK–12 education whose passion for education quality and equity is matched by a knowledge of learning and development, the organizational management skills to translate visionary ideas into practical success, and a firm grasp of the role of context and politics in shaping leadership. Graduates of the three-year, multidisciplinary Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education will be prepared to become those leaders.

The Ed.L.D Program — taught by faculty from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Business School, and the Harvard Kennedy School — will train you for system-level leadership positions in school systems, state and federal departments of education, and national nonprofit organizations. Ed.L.D. is a full-time, three-year program built on a cohort learning model. Cohorts consist of up to 25 students from diverse professional backgrounds (including district/charter management leaders, nonprofit directors, principals, teachers, and policy researchers) who progress through the program together.

All Ed.L.D. students receive a full tuition funding package plus stipends, work opportunities, and a paid third-year residency at a partner organization.

The Ed.L.D. Program prepares graduates to do work for the public good in the American public education sector, whether that be at the system or state level. Specifically, the program is designed to accelerate the progress graduates make toward achieving meaningful impact in influential roles and/or crossing boundaries in the following spaces in the public education sector:

• PreK–12 district or CMO leadership roles : superintendent of schools, chief academic officer, and/or deputy superintendent
• Foundation/philanthropy roles:  director, president and CEO, senior fellow
• Education nonprofit roles : president or executive director of backbone or collective impact organizations which support preK–12 schools. Ed.L.D. graduates will lead education nonprofits that explicitly focus on improving outcomes and opportunities for children, families, and communities.
• State or federal education leadership roles : commissioner or deputy commissioner roles. Could also include public education advocacy or education policy advisers to senior government officials.
• Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation roles:  Founder, CEO, president

Curriculum Information

The Ed.L.D. curriculum is a balance of multidisciplinary coursework and practice-based learning. Core courses and electives are taught by recognized leaders from across Harvard’s graduate programs in fields like data-based education reform, organizational change and innovation, and effective leadership strategies for urban schools. You will develop and test your leadership skills through team projects and an immersive third-year residency.

All students in the cohort take the same classes in four foundational content areas: learning and teaching, leadership and organizational change, politics and policy, adult development, and leadership inside and out (including one-on-one executive coaching). Courses taken during the first-year focus on practice-based learning and serve as the framework of your first-year experience.

Sample HGSE Courses

• Leading Change
• How People Learn
• Ed.L.D. Proseminar
• Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Learning
• Race, Equity, and Leadership
• Practicing Leadership Inside and Out
• Sector Change
• The Workplace Lab for System-Level Leaders

View  all courses  in the Academic Catalog.

Each cohort member works with program advisers to choose an individualized sequence of electives from any of the Harvard graduate schools. You will work closely with the program faculty and staff during your second year to determine the best match with a partner organization for your third-year residency. Matches are driven by mutual interest between the resident and the partner organization, and each student's career and learning goals and geographic preferences.

• Second Year Practicing Leadership Inside and Out
• Driving Change 
• Education Sector Nonprofits
• Negotiation Workshop
• Coaching with Equity in Mind
• Ethnic Studies and Education
• Deeper Learning for All:  Designing a 21st Century School System
• Institutional Change in School Organizations, Systems, and Sectors

You will take part in a 10-month paid residency at one of our partner organizations. There, you will work on a strategic project which synthesizes your experience and learning into a written Capstone project. You will stay connected to your Ed.L.D. cohort and HGSE through technology and by returning to Harvard periodically for intensive workshops.

Paid Residency 

Our partner organizations include school systems and departments of education, as well as some of the nation's most influential and dynamic nonprofit, mission-based for-profit, and philanthropic organizations.

You will be intentionally pushed out of your comfort zones and asked to work systemically and make a significant contribution to the partner organization. In addition, the residency will provide you with the professional mentoring, practical experiences, and network of connections they need to position themselves as future leaders in the education sector. 

Strategic Project 

You will define (with supervisors from your partner organization) a strategic project on which to focus. You will have the opportunity to lead one or two major efforts on behalf of the organization, such as the creation or implementation of current initiatives. The project allows you to practice and improve leadership skills, add important value to the mission and strategy of the partner organization, work systemically, and hold high-level accountability.

During the residency period, you will produce a written Capstone. The Capstone is a descriptive, analytic, and reflective account of your third-year leadership contributions to a strategic project within an Ed.L.D. partner organization. It is a demonstration of your ability to engage others, develop strategy to successfully address and diagnose challenges, work toward a vision and goals, and learn from the results.

Sample Topics

• Accountability, Coherence, and Improvement: Leadership Reflection and Growth in the Los Angeles Unified School District
• Leadership Development for Entrepreneurial Education Leaders Working to Build Public & Private Sector Support
• Disrupting Teacher Preparation: Lessons in Collaboration and Innovation Across the Learning to Teach Community of Practice
• Pursuing Educational Equality for English Language Learners

Sample Summaries 

• Breaking Down Silos in a School District: Findings from an Ed.L.D. Project in Montgomery County
• Expanding Students' Access to Meaningful STEM Learning Opportunities Through Strategic Community Partnerships
• Developing a New Teacher Leadership and Compensation System in Iowa: A Consensus-Based Process
• Finding Great Teachers for Blended-Learning Schools

GSE Theses and Dissertations from Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH)

Program Faculty

Ed.L.D. students learn with renowned faculty from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Kennedy School. Faculty from the three schools share their individual expertise in the Ed.L.D. Program and work collaboratively to provide a challenging and coherent experience for students. Faculty who teach in the Ed.L.D. core curriculum and advise Ed.L.D. students include:

Faculty Director

Frank D. Barnes

Frank Barnes is faculty director of the Doctor of Education Leadership Program. He has over 30 years experience as an educator, researcher, and organizer. As a chief accountability officer, he led turnaround efforts for large public school districts, including Boston Public Schools and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Kathryn Parker Boudett

Ebony N. Bridwell-Mitchell

Jennifer Perry Cheatham

Elizabeth City

Candice Crawford-Zakian

Marshall Ganz

Adria D. Goodson

Deborah helsing.

Monica C. Higgins

Deborah Jewell-Sherman

Lisa Laskow Lahey

Mary Grassa O'Neill

Irvin Leon Scott

Catherine Snow

Michael L. Tushman

Martin west.

Introduce Yourself

Tell us about yourself so that we can tailor our communication to best fit your interests and provide you with relevant information about our programs, events, and other opportunities to connect with us.

Program Highlights

Explore examples of the Doctor of Education Leadership experience and the impact its community is making on the field:

Combatting Chronic Absenteeism with Family Engagement 

As post-COVID absenteeism rates continue unabated, a look at how strong family-school engagement can help

Math, the Great (Potential) Equalizer

How current practices in math education around tracking and teaching can be dismantled to achieve the promise of equity in math classrooms

30 Best Online Doctoral Programs [2024 Guide]

Online doctoral programs can provide a smart, flexible path toward a top degree in your field.

For working professionals, earning online degrees can provide an invaluable way to gain expert-level knowledge and advance your career opportunities.

Editorial Listing ShortCode:

Through online doctoral study, you can become a leader in your field.

Universities Offering Online Doctoral Degree Programs

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.

1. Capitol Technology University

Capitol Technology University  is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middles States Association of Colleges and Schools.

2. City University of Seattle

The City University of Seattle is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

3. Clemson University

Clemson University  is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

4. Franklin University

Franklin University  is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

5. George Washington University

GW  is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

6. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Mercy University  is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

7. Indiana University

Indiana University  is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

8. Iowa State University

Iowa State University  is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

9. Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University  is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

10. Keiser University

Keiser University  is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

11. Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University  is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

12. Northeastern University

Northeastern University  is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.

13. Nova Southeastern University

NSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

14. Pennsylvania State University – World Campus

Penn State World Campus  is regionally accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

15. Regent University

Regent University  is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

16. Saybrook University

Saybrook University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.

17. Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University  is accredited with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

18. Touro University Worldwide

Touro University Worldwide  is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

19. Union University

Union University  is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

20. University of Alabama

The University of Alabama  is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

21. University of Florida

The  University of Florida  is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

22. University of Kansas

The  University of Kansas  is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

23. University of Missouri

The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

24. University of Nebraska – Lincoln

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

25. University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

26. University of Southern California

The University of Southern California is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

27. University of Southern Mississippi

The  University of Southern Mississippi  is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

28. University of the Cumberlands

The University of the Cumberlands  is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

29. Walden University

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission

30. Wilmington University

Wilmington University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Online Doctorate Programs

Select this list of online degrees that most interest you to jump to that section of the guide:

Business Administration

Counseling & therapy, criminal justice, healthcare administration, human services, information systems, public administration, public health, public policy.

These advanced degree fields offer plenty of opportunity for growth, a lot of different job prospects, and plenty of job security.

You may feel like you already know all of the ins and outs of financial reporting, but during a doctoral program, you can discover just how much more there is to learn about numbers and financial records. Whether your area of focus is corporate accounting, taxation or auditing, you can reap benefits from a doctoral accounting program.

Your coursework may address topics such as advanced finance theories, tax code interpretation and investigation into financial records. The curriculum can also enhance your ability to conduct research on business topics.

You may have opportunities to explore ways that contemporary developments, such as increased globalization, have influenced accounting practice.

Earning a doctoral degree may increase your chances of becoming a corporate executive, such as a chief financial officer or a finance vice president. You could also teach in a business school or hold a high position in a government revenue department.

Business leaders have the potential to shape the future of retail, manufacturing, insurance and other industries throughout the country and worldwide. A business doctorate can help you gain the knowledge and the clout to be a leader who steers companies toward innovation, growth and long-term success.

In a doctoral program, you can dive deep into studying what makes marketing work, what employees are looking for in their leaders, how to formulate a strategic growth plan and how to operate in a global era.

Part of your success will be rooted in learning from those who have gone before you — analyzing case studies and studying others’ business research. Concentration for this degree are common; options may include marketing, leadership, supply chain management or organizational strategy.

Earning a doctorate in business may prepare you for the top executive positions in large corporations. You may also be well-qualified to provide business consulting services to various companies.

You don’t typically need a doctoral degree to work as a marriage and family therapist or a licensed professional counselor; even still, earning a doctorate can give you new insights and skills for counseling practice.

In counseling, clients may sometimes come to you with issues that you haven’t dealt with before. Although you may never be entirely prepared for every situation, doctoral studies can increase your ability to deal with difficult problems.

Your program may also give you opportunities for in-depth studies about working with certain demographics, such as children or the elderly.

Earning your doctorate and conducting research on one specific area of counseling may help you focus on a particular client niche and allow you to advertise yourself as an expert in that domain. Having a doctoral degree may also give you opportunities to train and supervise counseling students in the classroom or on internships.

People hold many different views on the best ways to reduce crime and rehabilitate offenders, but research can provide key insights into what actually works.

Whether your goal is to lead initiatives based on others’ research or become a researcher yourself, a doctoral degree in criminal justice can help you become a leader who guides policy decisions and transforms communities.

Your curriculum may focus on ensuring that, in every step of the process from investigations to corrections, justice is served in the best way possible. You may also explore what it means to administer justice, support victims, empower justice professionals and improve communities.

With a doctorate, you may be ready to advance to some of the highest leadership roles in your law enforcement organization. You could also pursue work in a particular investigative or security specialty, such as hostage negotiation or intelligence analysis. Influencing public policy is another important role you could play.

Learning is a complex process, but the better you understand it, the better you will be at helping others grow and develop. If you are passionate about equipping others with knowledge, then you may be ready to earn a doctoral degree in education.

In a doctoral program, you may study how factors like family support, income level and school setting affect students’ learning processes. You may also discuss learning theories and how principles from psychology play a role in classroom practices. Other topics may include school leadership, digital technology and curriculum selection.

School administrators, such as principals, superintendents and state education directors, often hold doctoral degrees. An education doctorate can help you advance to positions of leadership in higher education as well; for example, you could become a provost or a college president.

This degree can also open doors to positions that can allow you to head up curriculum projects or shape education policies.

Without solid financial guidance, businesses can quickly fail. If you wish to be a leader who understands the relationship between financial figures and the future direction that companies should take, consider enrolling in doctoral finance studies.

The coursework for this program covers a range of topics in economics and finance. You may work with statistics and modeling while growing your ability to use those tools for making reliable business decisions. In other courses, you may refine various finance skills like asset pricing, business valuation and portfolio management.

Not only can you improve your practical skills, but you can also learn to think critically about finance theory and conduct your own research in this field.

Financial leaders can hold some of the most critical roles in a corporation; these include chief financial officer, treasurer and controller. If you choose a career in research, then government authorities, financial institutions and individual investors may rely on your insights.

Healthcare is a medical discipline, but it’s also a business discipline. Those in administrative roles must carefully balance the relationship between these two aspects of the industry. A doctoral degree in healthcare administration can help you explore the issues facing modern medical systems and consider innovative ways to move the industry forward.

Since legal regulations play an enormous role in how healthcare systems operate, developing a deeper understanding of health law may be a key component of your studies. Other classes may cover organizational leadership, global public health, quality analysis, and medical ethics.

You may also discuss how to develop your healthcare organization as a force for good in your community.

Healthcare experts can take leadership roles in hospitals or other medical systems. Your expertise may also prepare you for a role in pharmaceutical or health insurance companies. Government officials may rely on your guidance as they shape future healthcare laws.

Although most people agree that it’s important to help those who are in difficult situations, they often disagree on the best ways to go about it.

A doctoral program in human services can give you opportunities to explore current research on the topic, develop your personal views on assisting others, and become a leader whose work makes a difference for people in need.

Studying the history of human services can give you a foundation for understanding today’s systems. In your doctoral program, you will probably compare different strategies for reaching people in need and improving communities. You may also learn about overseeing teams, evaluating programs, managing budgets and securing grants.

With this advanced degree, you could pursue a management role in a public human services organization or head up a nonprofit group. Human services directors often work in government agencies, and they may conduct research that influences how public funds are allocated.

If you work in information technology, consider enhancing your skill set by earning a degree in information systems. This degree can help you learn about innovations that are making a difference in data organization and prepare you to make your own significant contributions to this field.

Your studies can help you improve your knowledge of programming languages and security procedures. Other courses in your program may cover building hardware systems, analyzing data, overseeing projects and developing policies for technology use in an organization.

You may also discuss data mining, mobile-friendly technologies, system audits and machine learning.

With your doctorate, you may be able to lead teams of data scientists or analysts. You may also head up technology departments in large organizations, taking care of network development, security measures and policy establishment.

As you do research and produce new technologies, you may influence IT practices used by organizations throughout the world.

Organizations and industries everywhere require strong leaders who understand what it takes to make wise decisions, create effective policies and motivate teams.

You can earn a doctoral degree to study the science behind smart management. This advanced degree can help prepare you to rise to organizations’ top leadership positions or contribute new research that helps others improve their management abilities.

In a management program, you can study team dynamics and read research on how people interact with one another. You can also learn how to use technology to your organization’s advantage, establish an effective chain of command and work through conflicts that arise.

You might play a powerful role in an organization as a senior-level manager. As a college professor or a business consultant, you could be well-suited to helping others become better managers. You could also work as a management analyst who advises organizations on establishing effective systems of leadership.

If you work in a religious vocation, you probably chose that profession because you felt a calling to serve God and people. By earning a doctorate, you may be able to improve your effectiveness at that calling. The program can help you learn more about theology, the Bible and working among people.

In your program, you may work on enhancing your practical ministry skills, such as preaching, counseling and starting new congregations. You may also study the history of the church and the theology of the Bible.

The school may offer program concentrations like urban ministry, spiritual formation, family ministry, pastoral leadership and global evangelism.

Some people with Doctor of Ministry degrees hold pastoral positions in local churches. You might also have opportunities to advance to positions of leadership in your denomination’s regional or national organization. At a theological school, you might serve as a professor or an administrator.

Although you can enter the nursing field with only an associate’s degree, the entry-level knowledge you can acquire in that nursing program is only the beginning.

As you move forward in your successful career, gaining more education can help you earn nursing positions with greater responsibility and higher pay. Under your leadership, newer nursing students can learn to provide excellent patient care.

Although you may take some classes on disease and healing in your nursing program, just as much of your time may be on leadership development. You may also learn to evaluate healthcare quality and use that data to improve outcomes.

Earning your Doctor of Nursing Practice can help qualify you to become an advanced practice registered nurse. That means that you can be a nurse practitioner, a nurse anesthetist or a certified nurse-midwife. With a doctorate, you may be chosen to head up the nursing department in your healthcare organization, or you might teach college nursing students.

While a master’s degree is typically sufficient for becoming a licensed counselor, working as a licensed psychologist requires a doctoral degree. By earning your psychology doctorate, you can increase your opportunities to reach patients in need or conduct scientific research about thought and behavior.

The coursework may compare and contrast various theories of personality or behavior. You can also learn about mental health disorders, client evaluations and treatment options, including pharmaceuticals and behavior-modification strategies.

Some graduate programs are designed with a focus on clinical work, and others may address additional aspects of the field, such as industrial-organizational psychology or forensic psychology.

Earning your doctorate can help prepare you to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and become licensed in your state. With licensure, you could work as a clinical psychologist in private practices, long-term care facilities or medical organizations.

You could also head up mental health initiatives in corporate or public health settings.

Government leadership is a weighty responsibility. To manage this responsibility as best you can, consider successful career development through a public administration doctoral program.

Not only will you be better suited for positions of high responsibility, but you may also improve the public’s confidence in your abilities. That’s particularly important when it comes to elected offices.

Public administrators, especially those who hold doctorates, are leaders, so a good portion of your studies may be dedicated to leadership development. Other courses may focus on analyzing, adapting and implementing policies. You may discuss ways to ensure that the work you do helps to improve equality for all people in your community.

After your doctoral studies, you may be poised to assume one of the highest leadership roles in a municipal government. State and federal positions may be available to you as well. Plus, the skills you can gain readily transfer to nonprofit work.

Matters of life and death often rest on the recommendations of public health officials. With so much riding on your policies and initiatives, it only makes sense that you’d want to acquire as much education as you can.

Through your studies and work, you’ll have opportunities to improve health outcomes and bolster the quality of life for entire communities.

The health sciences classes you take can help you become more knowledgeable about gathering and analyzing public health data. You can also strategize ways to turn that data into actionable public health initiatives. This may include learning about applying for funding, increasing community awareness and campaigning for updated public health policies.

Your doctorate may increase your eligibility for health sciences positions such as an epidemiologist or another researcher who studies community health data. It’s also possible that you could advance to a leadership role in a public health sciences organization at the state or national level.

If you believe that government regulations hold the power to help or hinder citizens’ lives, then you probably understand the importance of a career in public policy. Doctoral studies in this area can help give you an advanced understanding of what it takes to create and maintain policies that truly benefit the members of a community.

This program can equip you with skills for surveying a community and evaluating needs; this research can serve as the foundation for new policies. Your studies may help you develop a framework for evaluating the costs and benefits of policy decisions. It’s also important that your program addresses the ethical responsibilities of a policymaker.

A successful career as a senior-level political scientist may begin with a doctoral degree in public policy. You could also find success as the director of an organization that oversees public safety, community outreach, municipal government or emergency management.

Choosing an Online PhD Program

As online degree programs have grown more prevalent, prospective students have had an increasing number of reputable universities from which to choose for their studies. Consider the following characteristics when looking for a doctoral program.

• Degree Program –  Not only do you need a school that offers a doctoral degree in your general area of interest, but you may also want that degree to be in your preferred format — professional doctorate or PhD — and include appealing concentration options.
• Flexible – In general, online doctoral degrees offer increased flexibility compared to on-campus programs. Pay attention to whether online doctoral students are required to log in at certain times, come to campus for residencies or stick to a rigid course schedule.
• Accessible –  Before settling on a school, explore the range of resources that you’ll have access to as an online student, such as faculty mentoring, library access or student organizations.
• Transfer Credits –  If you already have credits from other doctoral studies, a school that allows you to transfer those in can save you both time and money.
• Admissions – Doctoral programs can vary greatly in what percentage of applicants they accept; graduate programs for professional doctorates often admit more graduate students than PhD programs.
• Required Technology – To complete your coursework, you will need a reliable computer with certain peripherals and educational programs, but some schools’ tuition fees cover the cost of laptops for their online doctoral students to use.

If you can find a few program offering online degrees that satisfy many of your preferences in these six areas, you’ll be well on your way to selecting the best doctoral program for your needs.

PhD Careers & Salaries

Earning a PhD is typically thought of as an academic track, preparing you for a university faculty position or a role as a scientific researcher in your chosen field. You may design experiments, collect data and publish your findings in industry journals. It’s also possible that you could enter higher education administration.

With a PhD you won’t be limited only to academic careers, of course. These terminal degrees may qualify you for some of the top leadership roles in your field. For example, you might become a division manager, a corporate executive, or a director in a nonprofit organization, a healthcare system or a government agency.

Some degrees can help you earn professional qualifications that you wouldn’t be able to achieve without that level of education. For example, a psychology doctorate can prepare you to become licensed as a clinical psychologist, and a nursing doctorate can allow you to become an advanced practice registered nurse.

Earning a doctoral degree can help you understand the theories and scientific concepts that underpin practices in your field. This deepens your knowledge and may qualify you to provide expert insights about public policies or legal matters that pertain to your area of study.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers that typically require a doctoral degree lead to a median annual salary of $110,200 . With your PhD or professional doctorate, you may work in one of the high-paying jobs listed below.

The figures above represent median salaries based on employment statistics from across the U.S.; your actual earnings may vary.

Admissions Requirements for Online PhD Programs

The competition to get into doctoral programs can be tough. Some schools admit only around 5% of the people who apply. To increase your chances of getting into your top graduate programs, you’ll have to compile a strong application package that sets you apart from the crowd and showcases your strengths.

• Testing –  Many schools depend on GRE or GMAT test scores to determine whether you have what it takes to succeed in the high-pressure world of doctoral studies, but you may qualify for testing waivers.
• Resume –  Work experience is required for admission to some schools. Even if a program doesn’t insist on a set number of years in the field, the committee may still look at your work history to provide insight about the knowledge and skills that you possess.
• Transcripts –  Admissions committees want to see what you’ve previously studied: the fields you majored in, the courses you took and the grades you earned. There may be a minimum GPA that’s required before even being considered for admission.
• Personal Statement –  An essay gives you the opportunity to share your goals with the admissions committee. You’ll want to present details about how your research plans align with the faculty’s areas of interest, so it’s important to customize this essay for each school.
• Letters of Recommendation –  Two or three people who have supervised you in academic or professional settings will need to write letters vouching for your suitability for doctoral studies.
• Prerequisite Courses – Doctoral students must be prepared to perform high-level work; to ensure that you’re ready, a program may only admit prospective students who have already taken graduate courses on certain topics. Some schools offer separate tracks for online learners who already have a relevant master’s degree and those who still need foundational graduate-level courses in the field. However, in rare cases, applicants may be accepted into doctoral degree programs with only a bachelor’s degree.

Admissions requirements can vary significantly from one program to the next. Always pay careful attention to the instructions before submitting your applications.

PhD vs. Professional Doctoral Degree – What’s the Difference?

Doctoral degrees come in two different forms: PhD and professional doctorate. Either one can be considered a terminal degree in most fields. Each has a different focus, though. A PhD is usually thought of as the more academic path, and the emphasis is on creating original research.

Although a professional doctorate may address research, it usually focuses more on developing high-level skills that can enhance your career as a practitioner in your field.

Despite these differences, there can be overlaps between the outcomes of these two educational programs. With a PhD, you may end up joining the professional workforce, and a professional doctorate may qualify you for teaching positions at some institutions of higher education.

Accreditation

To ensure that you earn a credible degree, you should enroll only in universities that have regional accreditation. A doctoral degree earned at a non-accredited school may not hold much value.

Regional accreditation can be granted only by an officially recognized organization. Approved accreditors in the U.S. include the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

The Council for Higher Education Association (CHEA) maintains a list of organizations that grant regional accreditation.

This type of accreditation is granted to an institution as a whole; either the entire school is accredited, or none of it is. To determine whether an a school qualifies to be an accredited institution, an accrediting association evaluates factors like academic quality, student supports and administrative structure.

National accreditation isn’t the same as regional accreditation. It’s granted by different organizations and usually requires less stringent qualifications to be an accredited institution. Because the standards are higher for regional accreditation, it is always preferable.

There’s nothing wrong with selecting a school that holds both types, though. For example, an accredited institution might have regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and national accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).

Why Does Accreditation Matter?

Being a regionally accredited institution is a testament to a university’s quality and indicates that it has what it takes to deliver a good education. By attending an accredited school, you can rest assured that your degree will mean something after graduation.

Future employers will think more highly of degrees from a regionally accredited institution, so you may have an easier time securing good jobs. Other colleges will also look more favorably on an accredited school, so you may be able to transfer your credits elsewhere.

Accreditation can also affect financial aid. Federal assistance can only be used at regionally or nationally accredited institutions.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

The sticker price on doctoral studies can be shockingly high at first. Fortunately, there are things you can do to significantly reduce your expenses.

The government has programs in place for providing college tuition financial assistance for those in need. Based on your income, you may be able to receive state or federal grants — money that you won’t need to repay.

Even if you can’t get grants, you may be able to take out low-interest government loans. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to learn more about your options for financial assistance at the graduate level.

To complement the government financial assistance you might receive, you can also apply for scholarships and fellowships from private sources, such as industry associations, philanthropic groups or even your university.

Some doctoral programs — most often, PhD tracks — offer funding or stipends to doctoral candidates who work as teaching or research assistants.

Can You Get a Doctorate Degree Online?

Yes, many universities have online educational programs for earning doctoral degrees. Both PhDs and professional doctorates are available as online doctoral degrees.

Some schools have fully online programs, and others require students to come to campus at some point for one or more residencies.

Even 100% online programs sometimes require in-person internships, but online learners may be able to work with an organization in the local area.

What Is the Best Online Doctoral Program?

Instead of looking for the single best doctoral program, strive to figure out which one is best for you. First of all, look for a school that offers a program that aligns with your goals and interests.

It’s also smart to consider factors like a school’s accreditation status and how quickly you can complete the online program. For instance, if you don’t have enough time to enroll full time, you should consider looking into PhD part time programs .

A low student-faculty ratio may increase your satisfaction as a student.

How Long Does It Take to Get a PhD Online?

How long it takes to get a PhD can vary from one school to the next, and the amount of time it takes you to complete your dissertation or doctoral project can greatly influence the overall length of your studies. As a general rule, professional doctorates may take around four years, and PhDs may take seven years.

Is an Online PhD Worth it?

Yes, an online PhD is worth it for many students. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for jobs where a doctoral degree is required is projected to grow 6% for the next 10 years.

An online PhD program can be a smart way to further your career goals, and thinking deeply about a topic of interest to you can bring great personal satisfaction. Online students may be able to keep up with family or work responsibilities without sacrificing their ambitious goal of earning a doctorate.

Are There Any 1 Year Online Doctoral Programs?

There are multiple steps to earning a doctorate. For example, you may need to take courses, pass exams, complete an internship and write a dissertation. As a result, these degrees always take more than one year.

Even still, the accelerated format of some of the shortest doctoral programs online may help you speed up the process compared to traditional on-campus studies.

Is It Cheaper to Get a Doctoral Degree Online?

The cost per credit hour of an online doctoral degree can vary a great deal from one school to the next. On average online students might expect to spend between $500 and $1,200 per credit hour.

While some online classes are priced comparably to on-campus ones, others are noticeably cheaper. Getting an online education also means that you can save on commuting, housing and relocation costs.

Are There Any 100% Online Doctoral Programs?

Many schools offer programs for earning a doctorate without ever needing to step foot on campus. You may even be able to defend your dissertation from afar.

Keep in mind that some programs have in-person internship requirements, but you may be able to find a site in your local area.

Is an Online Doctorate Degree as Good as an On-Campus Degree?

The material covered in online courses is comparable to what you’d learn in a traditional classroom, so you can count on getting a quality education through flexible online classes.

Of course, just like you would for a campus-based program, it’s important to choose a regionally accredited school offering online doctoral degrees.

Who Should Consider an Online Doctoral Degree?

Graduate students with sights set on earning a terminal degree should consider the option of online doctoral studies. Digital programs offer a smart, flexible way to take classes and engage in stimulating research without relocating to campus.

Online learning is especially beneficial for those graduate students who need to balance school with work or family responsibilities.

How Do Online PhD Programs Work?

Completing the classes for your doctorate may involve watching recorded lectures, engaging in conversations with fellow online students and submitting assignments digitally.

Once you move into the research and writing portion, you can also complete that work from afar via online learning and touch base with your faculty advisor as needed.

Even a fully online program may have you come to campus a few times throughout the program or to defend your dissertation face-to-face.

Are Online Doctoral Programs Easier to Complete?

Graduate students should expect to put just as much work into an online degree program as they would an on-campus one. The curriculum, workload and expectations should be quite similar.

In fact, to be successful with online education, you will need to make organization and self-discipline some of your top priorities.

What is an Applied Doctorate?

A professional doctorate is a terminal degree that can equip prospective students with doctoral-level insights that are directly applicable to the workforce. “Applied doctorate” is an alternative name for this type of degree. It’s not the same as a PhD, which focuses on academic research.

These doctorates are available in many fields, including business, education and psychology.

Getting Your Doctorate Online

By earning a doctorate, you can prove to colleagues, employers and yourself that you have the drive and determination to rise to the top of your field. Studying online can remove many of the obstacles that might keep you from accomplishing this impressive goal.

With hard work, you can complete your PhD or professional doctorate, and that achievement may help you to take your career to the next level. To show yourself and the world that you’ve got what it takes to succeed, research universities and send applications to the online doctoral programs of your choice.

Beyond Education. Experience.

Graduate programs.

• Professional Doctorate
• Certificate
• Professional Doctorate Programs
• Master’s Programs
• Certificate Programs
• Financial Aid
• Event Calendar

Experiential Learning

Should I Go To Grad School: 4 Questions to Consider

Global Reach

Experience our network..

Campus Locations

Career outcome.

Electrical Engineering PhD

The Electrical Engineering PhD program studies systems that sense, analyze, and interact with the world. You will learn how this practice is based on fundamental science and mathematics, creating opportunities for both theoretical and experimental research. Electrical engineers invent devices for sensing and actuation, designing physical substrates for computation, creating algorithms for analysis and control, and expanding the theory of information processing. You will get to choose from a wide range of research areas such as circuits and VLSI, computer engineering and architecture, robotics and control, and signal processing.

Electrical engineers at SEAS are pursuing work on integrated circuits for cellular biotechnology, millimeter-scale robots, and the optimization of smart power groups. Examples of projects current and past students have worked on include developing methods to trace methane emissions and improving models for hurricane predictions.

APPLY NOW >

PhD in Electrical Engineering Degree

Harvard School of Engineering offers a  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)  degree in Engineering Sciences: Electrical Engineering , conferred through the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS). Prospective students apply through the Harvard Griffin GSAS. In the online application, select  “Engineering and Applied Sciences” as your program choice and select " PhD Engineering Sciences: Electrical Engineering ​."

The Electrical Engineering program does not offer an independent Masters Degree.

Electrical Engineering PhD Career Paths

Graduates of the program have gone on to a range of careers in industry in companies such as Tesla, Microsoft HoloLens, and IBM. Others have positions in academia at the University of Maryland, University of Michigan, and University of Colorado.

Admissions & Academic Requirements

Prospective students apply through the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS). In the online application, select  “Engineering and Applied Sciences” as your program choice and select "PhD Engineering Sciences: Electrical Engineering​." Please review the  admissions requirements and other information  before applying. Our website also provides  admissions guidance ,   program-specific requirements , and a  PhD program academic timeline .

Academic Background

Applicants typically have bachelor’s degrees in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, or engineering. In the application for admission, select “Engineering and Applied Sciences” as your degree program choice and your degree and area of interest from the “Area of Study“ drop-down. PhD applicants must complete the Supplemental SEAS Application Form as part of the online application process.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Not Accepted

Electrical Engineering Faculty & Research Areas

View a list of our electrical engineering  faculty  and electrical engineering  affiliated research areas , Please note that faculty members listed as “Affiliates" or "Lecturers" cannot serve as the primary research advisor.  

Electrical Engineering Centers & Initiatives

View a list of the research  centers & initiatives  at SEAS and the  electrical engineering faculty engagement with these entities .

Graduate Student Clubs

Graduate student clubs and organizations bring students together to share topics of mutual interest. These clubs often serve as an important adjunct to course work by sponsoring social events and lectures. Graduate student clubs are supported by the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin School of Arts and Sciences. Explore the list of active clubs and organizations .

Funding and Scholarship

Learn more about financial support for PhD students.

• How to Apply

Learn more about how to apply  or review frequently asked questions for prospective graduate students.

In Electrical Engineering

• Undergraduate Engineering at Harvard
• Concentration Requirements
• How to Declare
• Who are my Advisors?
• Sophomore Forum
• ABET Information
• Senior Thesis
• Research for Course Credit (ES 91R)
• AB/SM Information
• Peer Concentration Advisors (PCA) Program
• Student Organizations
• PhD Timeline
• PhD Model Program (Course Guidelines)
• Qualifying Exam
• Committee Meetings
• Committee on Higher Degrees
• Research Interest Comparison
• Collaborations
• Cross-Harvard Engagement
• Seminar Series
• Clubs & Organizations
• Centers & Initiatives
• Alumni Stories

In a split vote, Morehouse faculty votes to award Biden an honorary doctorate

ATLANTA — Morehouse College's faculty voted in favor of conferring an honorary doctorate on President Joe Biden during its upcoming graduation ceremony, where he is slated to deliver the commencement address .

But dozens of faculty members either voted against the honor or abstained from voting amid frustrations with some of the president's policies and the school's decision to host him as its commencement speaker.

The motion to award Biden the honorary degree passed 50-38, with roughly a dozen faculty members opting to abstain from the vote, according to two faculty members on the call.

The White House declined to comment, and Morehouse did not return a request for comment.

Morehouse leadership announced plans for Biden to receive the honorary degree last month, a decision it said was first made in September, prior to the historically Black college inviting Biden to serve as its commencement speaker.

But procedurally, administration officials overlooked a key step in the process, in which the faculty must vote to authorize that decision.

“It is imperative to clarify that the recent decision to convene to vote to award Biden an honorary degree is not in question because of current political affairs. The decision to call for a faculty vote is due to a mistaken oversight in the process, which traditionally includes a faculty vote that usually takes place in September,” Morehouse said in a statement last week.

Still, the new timing of the vote — coming as college campuses nationwide saw protests over the war in Gaza — turned a typically mundane faculty vote into a vehicle for the staff members to, once again , voice their opposition to Biden’s visit.

In the week leading up to the vote, a small group of faculty members circulated a letter stating their opposition to the honorary degree, citing in part Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza.

“We recognize the honor that typically comes with having the most powerful elected person in the world speak at Morehouse. At this time, however, salient policies of the United States government are responsible for the suffering of millions of people around the planet,” the letter read.

Cedric Richmond, a co-chair of the Biden-Harris re-election campaign and a Morehouse alumnus, said Biden “deserves” to be recognized by Morehouse, citing his track record that ranged from appointing the first Black woman to the Supreme Court to overseeing the lowest level of Black unemployment in history.

“In my eyes, he’s earned an honorary degree,” Richmond said.

In response to some of the sustained opposition over Biden's visit to campus, Morehouse arranged a meeting last week between a small group of students and faculty members and Steve Benjamin, who heads the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Some attendees expressed concern over the controversy surrounding Biden’s policy toward Israel and his handling of the war in the Gaza Strip taking center stage at Sunday’s ceremony, and implored Benjamin to ensure the president's commencement address doesn't turn into a campaign speech.

A White House source familiar with Biden's commencement address plans said the president will "focus on the students" during his remarks while also using the speech to "address their concerns.”

Nnamdi Egwuonwu is a 2024 NBC News campaign embed.

Search Graduate Schools

• Request info
• Majors & Degrees
• Prospective Students
• Current Undergraduate Students
• Current Graduate Students
• Online Students
• Alumni and Friends
• Faculty and Staff

Southern Miss MBA Program jumps in Fortune Education Rankings

Fri, 05/17/2024 - 12:00pm | By: Courtney Robinson

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Master of Business Administration program (MBA) program has been ranked No. 31 nationally in the Best Online MBA programs for 2024 by Fortune Education. The current ranking represents a gain of 17 spots from its 2023 rankings.

Housed in the College of Business and Economic Development the program has restructured its curriculum in the last academic year by removing prerequisites barriers and allowing students more flexibility in their elective course selection.

Noted Dr. Bret Becton, Dean of the College of Business and Economic Development, “As the Dean of the College of Business & Economic Development, I am thrilled by our recognition as the No. 31 Best Online MBA Program by Fortune Education.”

Fortune Education ranks programs based on several factors, including price, student backgrounds, and alumni outcome. Other data factored into the decision include graduation rates, retention rates, yield rates, and average undergraduate GPA.

Dr. Steven Stelk, MBA Director, added, “ Fortune’s recognition of our MBA program is gratifying. The College of Business and Economic Development faculty and staff have continued to invest in and refine the online MBA program since it was established in 2014.”

Becton added, “ This achievement stands as a testament to the dedication and expertise of our MBA faculty and staff, whose tireless efforts have played an integral role in shaping our program into one that empowers future business leaders for success in today’s dynamic world.”

Stelk credits much of the improvement to the new curricular structure, which has attracted students with more diverse academic backgrounds.

“The recent rankings are based on the previous academic year, which gives us an opportunity to celebrate the results of our investments and provides fresh motivation to continue refining the program. We implemented novel curriculum changes in Fall 2023,” Stelk stated. “MBA students are now required to take fifteen hours of core business courses in accounting, finance, marketing, management, and strategy. They use the remaining 15 hours of focused electives to develop an area of expertise.”

Available focus areas include management, economic development, sport security management, supply chain/logistics, human capital development, instructional technology, public health, communications/public relations, non-profit studies, and public history. The MBA also now collaborates with the Sport Management MS and Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) programs to support dual programs.  

“We are continuing to develop and test new ideas to increase the value of our MBA, and I am excited to see what the future holds,” Stelk said.

Students can complete the degree fully online or in-person at the Hattiesburg campus in as little as one year, full-time. Additional information can be found   online . For inquiries about the MBA program, please contact (601) 266-266-4659.

Learn more about the Fortune Education Best Online MBA Programs for 2024.

Categories: Business and Economic Development

Recent News Articles

University libraries special collections processes sheila michaels donation, usm researchers help confirm presence of cownose rays in bermuda, usm eagle maker hub's summer camp set for june 3-27: engage in 3d printing and robotics activities.

‘There are no jobs’: PhD graduates struggle to build careers in academia

For the first time in decades, Ian Corbin has dental insurance.

Over the past 15 years, Corbin has been a doctoral student, an adjunct professor, and a postdoctoral fellow. And trying to scrape together a living has been tough. “I was always hustling,” he says.

When Corbin — who holds a PhD in philosophy from Boston College and works at the intersection of ethics and medicine — was a postdoc at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 2019, he earned about $50,000 a year and had kids to support. “So I was always teaching classes in the evening and publishing articles as fast as I could. Just taking on really anything that anyone would give me,” he says.

Advertisement

Corbin’s story isn’t unusual. For many of those with doctorates, who typically spend between four and seven years in graduate school, the employment picture is increasingly bleak, especially for jobs in academia.

Maren Wood, who founded a firm that helps those with doctorates find jobs, says that the market for full-time professors has collapsed. Between 2007 and 2020, the number of openings in philosophy dropped by roughly half. The number of openings in English fell by about 60 percent .

Universities staffed up to accommodate millennials, she says, and now they’re trying to cope with declining enrollments, which are predicted to continue indefinitely . “There’s nothing wrong with a PhD,” says Wood, chief executive of Beyond the Professoriate, whose platform is currently used by Harvard and BC . “The problem is there are no jobs.”

Wood holds a PhD in history, and her breaking point was in 2011 when she came in second place for a job thousands of miles away. The gig was a one-year position. In Reno. And she was told the pay wouldn’t even be enough to live on.

The woman doing the hiring encouraged Wood. “You came in second place!” she exclaimed.

“For what?” Wood asked.

Wood had hoped to be a professor. She had been a top student and earned her PhD from the University of North Carolina. But it didn’t take long to realize: Despite the fact that she had a prestigious degree, there were virtually no decent jobs in universities.

Often, those with doctorates serve as adjunct professors — sometimes while they look for a more permanent gig. To students, adjuncts and tenure-track faculty may appear to be the same. They have PhDs. Students call them “professor.”

But when it comes to stability, they’re worlds apart. Adjuncts rarely get health care. They’re generally paid between $3,000 and $7,000 per class, and you might have to drive considerable distances to get from one job to another.

Over 30 percent of nontenure-track educators in higher education make under $25,000 a year, according to a 2019 survey by the American Federation of Teachers . Another 30 percent make between $25,000 and $50,000 a year. But over the past few decades, the number of adjuncts has grown much faster than the ranks of full-time faculty.

The dearth of jobs has been particularly tough on those in the social sciences, humanities, and some sciences, including biology. Richard Larson, a professor of data, systems, and society at MIT, has noted that many professors churn out lots of doctoral students over the course of their careers — and a good chunk of those students would like to be professors themselves.

But the math simply doesn’t work. Only a few of those grad students — fewer than 20 percent — can get the sort of job that their advisers have. (Though there are certainly disciplines — including chemical engineering and computer science — in which graduates can find jobs fairly easily, often in industry.)

Kristina Aikens, who earned her PhD in English from Tufts University, initially tried to piece together a living as an adjunct. For a year and a half, she says, she was teaching four or five classes in two or three locations, which is a common — though brutal — workload.

Aikens doesn’t believe that doctoral students — particularly in humanities — understand the real threat of finding themselves in an unstable position. “I think people think it won’t happen to them,” she says. “It’s not because they think that they’re better than anyone else. It’s just a denial that they’re in.”

But the threat of job instability is considerable. Massachusetts is not only the state with the highest percentage of people with undergraduate degrees; it also has the highest percentage of those with graduate degrees . And while many of those degree holders are thriving, too many live in precarious situations — situations made all the more precarious by the extraordinarily high cost of housing in the Boston area.

So if the supply of academic jobs has waned, why don’t doctoral programs simply slim down and admit fewer students?

Most of the people I spoke with noted that professors may be loath to give up their graduate students because they genuinely enjoy working with them. Grad students can talk about esoteric areas of scholarship, built on years of deep study.

“I think that faculty want to believe that they’re doing good,” says Wood. “I think that graduate deans generally believe that graduate education does good. And the fact that universities have paid so little attention to career outcomes means that they don’t actually have good data to work with.”

It’s also possible that schools’ reluctance to admit fewer graduate students is financially motivated. Universities often run on the work of grad students, as the Boston University strike has demonstrated . Grad students teach sections of large classes. They work in labs. They perform in-the-field research.

“The business model only works with a lot of cheap labor,” Corbin says. “I think it’s bad. I think it’s bad for students. I think it’s bad for the classroom. I think it’s bad for the grad students and the perennial adjuncts.” But, he believes, doctoral students represent an enormous pool of untapped talent.

Corbin is now a tenure-track researcher at Harvard Medical School’s Center for Bioethics. It’s a job he likes, and life feels much more stable. “It’s becoming less desperate,” he says.

Aikens — who now serves as the program director of writing support at Tufts — says she doesn’t regret getting a doctorate, and she doesn’t think we should preclude people from pursuing that sort of intense study.

Coming from a working-class background in West Virginia, she had wanted to see if she could do it. And the six years she spent getting a PhD were hard. But she knew that success wouldn’t necessarily lead to employment:

“At my graduation, literally at the ceremony, I turned to my friend and said: ‘Should I apply to law school? Because I don’t think this is going to work out.’”

Follow Kara Miller @karaemiller .

NJIT's 2024 Master's and Doctoral Class Make Their Mark

New Jersey Institute of Technology served up a full day of fanfare as its advanced degree graduates walked across the stage in the Wellness and Events Center in three commencement ceremonies on May 15. The 2024 class comprises more than 1,400 graduates and reflects the institution’s steady growth and upward trajectory.

NJIT Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs John Pelesko, participating in his first commencement exercises as provost, called the ceremonies to order. Pelesko, himself a 1997 alumnus of NJIT as the very first Ph.D. graduate in mathematical sciences, implored students to soak in this moment as they will look back on it for many years to come.

Lim-Pelesko-crop.jpg

NJIT President Teik C. Lim encouraged graduates to seize opportunities and make a positive impact as leaders, building on the progress made by NJIT graduates before them. 

"Embrace the opportunities that await and use your talents to pursue goals that will benefit others and improve our world. Understand that you are building upon a foundation that was created by previous generations of Highlanders, and you are contributing to the great legacy of our university in your own way. … graduates of the class of 2024, congratulations!”

Master’s Ceremony for NCE, HCAD, CSLA and MTSM

Watch the 9 a.m. commencement ceremony recognizing master’s students from Newark College of Engineering, Hillier College of Architecture and Design, College of Science and Liberal Arts and Martin Tuchman School of Management at the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center

Dean Kevin Belfield of the College of Science and Liberal Arts acknowledged the importance of NJIT’s faculty in the success of the graduates. 

“These dedicated professionals have provided invaluable classroom instruction and have contributed to your intellectual growth in labs, in the field, and in the community,” he said. “They have served as teachers, mentors, and role models, guiding you towards academic achievement and preparing you for your future endeavors, whether it be further study, entering the workforce, or pursuing other post-commencement adventures.”

Dean Moshe Kam of NCE presented the ceremony’s keynote speaker Santo Politi ’89, founder and managing partner of Spark Capital. Politi is a distinguished graduate of NJIT, holding a master's degree in electrical engineering.

Commencement2024-9am-9752.jpg

Politi shared his journey from Turkey, his birthplace, to the U.S. and how the people he met at NJIT helped him to achieve all his endeavors, whether that was giving him a ride to his job or giving a recommendation to land a job. “This was the best first place I could have gone in this country. Since I got this invitation to talk to you all I've been reflecting on my experiences here,” said Politi. “So knowing what I know now I'm pretty sure I would not be talking to you if NJIT was not my first stop in the U.S.”

He gave the graduates encouragement as they look ahead to the future. “You have become experts in your chosen fields and you have already made significant scientific contributions. If it feels like technology is moving at an unprecedented pace, it is, and it is because of you. 

“There's always much to worry about, like the state of the planet, dwindling resources, war and famine. At the same time with the opportunity that is generative AI, it feels like we are all at the cusp of something spectacular,” he said. “An opportunity to make real change in our lifetime, the problems we face from climate change to sustainable energy, demand your ingenuity. The world needs your technical brilliance.” 

Gabrielle Esperdy, interim dean of the J. Robert and Barbara Hillier College of Architecture & Design, led the morning presentation of candidates for degrees — first reminding graduates of what it took to reach this moment, and the power of their potential as they venture out into their careers. 

"Whatever path brought you here today, you have fulfilled the degree requirements of a rigorous course of study, and that distinguishes you as professionals in your respective fields," she said. "Your NJIT credentials will open new doors. Know that you are limited only by your ambition and passion for the work that you will pursue. You are, and will always be, part of the NJIT family and we welcome you all with open arms.”

Commencement2024-130pm-9865-Enhanced-NR.jpg

Following the presentation, Dean Oya Tukel of the Martin Tuchman School of Management shifted the spotlight towards the graduates’ friends and family in attendance, dedicating a special moment to honor those who have played pivotal roles in their academic journey.

“This day belongs to our graduates, but I’d like everyone to stand and join me in recognizing those not wearing caps and gowns — the parents, grandparents, spouses, siblings, children and friends who have sustained you on your journey,” said Tukel.

President Teik C. Lim took to the podium to offer congratulations before closing the ceremony with the formal conferral of degrees, acknowledging the remarkable achievements of this year’s class and the challenges they overcame along the way. 

“Look around and remember this moment. When you walk out of this arena you should feel incredibly proud, because what you have accomplished did not come easily,” said Lim.

Master’s Ceremony for YWCC

Watch the 1:30 p.m. commencement ceremony recognizing master’s students from Ying Wu College of Computing

At the afternoon ceremony for graduate students of NJIT’s Ying Wu College of Computing, Interim Dean Ali Mili welcomed keynote speaker Samir Saini ’97 (B.S. Civil Engineering), who is a managing director for government clients at Microsoft.

“His deep expertise in technology strategy, operations, project delivery and product management across a broad spectrum of industries makes him an invaluable speaker for graduates entering the tech industry,” Mili stated.

Saini spoke bluntly about the massive role that artificial intelligence will play in the careers of the new alumni.

“You have navigated through arguably the toughest curriculum possible, and completed projects and published research that would baffle probably the best of us,” while working and supporting families. “These achievements are more than just commendable. They are heroic in every sense of the word,” Saini began.

However, “In the next five years or less, we should expect continued advances in AI and of course in generative AI, and in spatial computing just to name a few, that will push the boundaries of what we thought possible and enhance our human potential in ways that really we can only begin to imagine. … We will all live in a world where we will stop thinking about AI as a chatbot that requires constant human input to complete your tasks. Instead, we will use AI as our conscious agents designed to automate complex tasks with little to no human intervention. We will simply explain the task to complete and the goal to achieve and it will leverage all the tools and knowledge and its disposal to get the job done.”

Commencement2024-130pm-9854.jpg

This revolution, Saini promised, will be “even bigger than the revolution from the command line to the graphical user interface. … Yes, I am confidently saying that Tony Stark’s JARVIS will soon become a reality. And in some ways, we're already starting to see it,” he stated, referring to the popular superhero character’s lifelike assistant.

“This emerging AI revolution comes with some very profound societal risks. How do we combat AI-generated misinformation to safeguard our privacy? How do we ensure AI is fair, AI is transparent and inclusive? It's a daunting thought. And I really hope this never happens — what if we face a scenario where there is an uncontrolled, self-aware AI that emerges? Now, this isn't science fiction anymore. These are the pressing questions that we will need you to address. And you have both the responsibility and the privilege of guiding how we blend AI into our daily lives.”

“So as you move forward in your professional careers, consider the profound impact of your work. Every large language model you train, every algorithm you write, every app you build, every line of code you provide plays a critical role in shaping our shared future. Your work has the potential to eliminate barriers and to position AI as a tool to drive genuine human progress for every single person on the planet.”

Saini’s parting advice is for new alumni to embrace the unknown, keep up with technology, work in diverse sectors, live around the world, learn from failure and prioritize personal life — lessons he personally learned not just in college or on-the-job, but also from his father — himself an NJIT graduate (M.S. Electrical Engineering, ‘75), who is 87, maintains his professional engineer’s license, still consults and even still takes classes to maintain his knowledge.

“So if my dad isn't the shining example of what lifelong learning means,” Saini said, “Then honestly, I don't know who is.”

Commencement Ceremony for Doctoral Candidates

Watch the 5 p.m. commencement ceremony recognizing Ph.D. students

The evening commencement ceremony featured student speaker Bruno Bezerra de Souza. De Souza holds a Master of Science degree from NJIT and was one of the doctoral degree candidates honored tonight, earning his Ph.D. from the civil and environmental engineering department. One of Mr. de Souza’s principal interests is a family of toxic “forever chemicals” known by the acronym PFAS, and researching its properties to look for techniques to destroy them in spite of their resilience.

De Souza recollected that many of the doctoral candidates did a significant amount of their work in the shadow of the COVID pandemic. Throughout the turbulence of his academic pursuit, de Souza developed three personal pillars of advice that he shared with his peers: be humble and use your rarified distinction to make the world a better place; be ready and resilient to great changes and challenges you may face; and be persistent in your pursuits for it is “not our occasional success but our ability to bounce back from adversity that defines us.”

Commencement2024-5pm-9888.jpg

“Your journey and mine does not start today, though today is an important milestone on our long way,” de Souza said. “Let us embrace these pieces of advice and face the challenges that lie ahead of us with humility, resilience, and persistence.”

Rounding out the speakers was Dr. Carolyn Merkel, who holds a doctorate in chemistry from Columbia and master’s from NJIT in technology management, is the founding partner of Mariner Analytical, LLC. Merkel's consulting firm serves clients in regulated industries ranging from agriculture, pharmaceuticals, construction to food.

Merkel emphasized that the essence of education is not an accumulation of knowledge, “but rather a cultivation of a permanent curiosity about the world, and the resilience to adapt to whatever the future presents.

“In the years to come, you may encounter challenges that require solutions beyond the scope of your current expertise. If learning stops when you receive your degree, you may be frustrated. In these moments, a commitment to continuous learning will be tested. Embrace these opportunities. They are the crucibles in which your skills will be fire-tested, and the anvils on which your character is formed. The hallmark of greatness is not only the ability to solve problems but to anticipate them,” Merkel said.

Commencement2024-5pm-9902.jpg

Merkel’s anticipation of problems and creative solutions led her back to NJIT to become better versed in analyzing financial data. While her background in academia allowed her to decipher scientific data, her pursuit of continuous learning allowed her to be a better colleague and further develop her business.

“I urge you to uphold the values of integrity, responsibility, and empathy in all your endeavors. The impact of your work extends beyond the confines of industry and academia; it touches lives and shapes the future,” Merkel said.

During the ceremony, Ph.D. recipients Xueyu Hou and Mohammad Arif Hossain were awarded the Hashimoto Prize for their distinguished research in electrical and computer engineering. The Hashimoto Prize is part of an endowment that recognizes the generosity and vision of Dr. Kazuo Hashimoto, who is known for more than 1,000 patents and applications related to the invention of the telephone answering machine and other devices in electronics and telecommunications.

Hashimoto.jpg

Sotirios Ziavras, vice provost for graduate studies and dean of graduate faculty, presented the newest accolade, the Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Award, which is bestowed annually upon a doctoral candidate and acknowledges their exceptional scholarly achievements. In its inaugural presentation, Sumona Paul earned the award for her work in pursuing a Ph.D. in environmental science where she conducted cutting-edge research on the intersection of circular economy and resource recovery.

Commencement2024-5pm-9921.jpg

A Blend of Architecture and Engineering Helps NJIT Scholar Land in Project Management

Keynote Speakers, Honorees Announced for NJIT's 2024 Commencement Ceremonies