How much does a PhD cost? Before you enroll in a doctoral program, you may have this pressing question on your mind.
The price of earning your PhD can vary greatly from one school to another, so it can help to pay close attention to the average costs at different institutions.
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Once you have a better idea of the cost of earning this degree, you can make a plan for your doctoral studies and work toward achieving your goals.
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How Much Does a PhD Cost?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average doctoral student earning a research degree pays $16,526 in tuition per year.[1]
Plus, on average, there’s an additional $16,320 in non-tuition fees and expenses each year. That makes the average annual cost of a PhD $32,846.[1] It’s common to spend 3 to 5 years or more in a PhD program. That can seem like a staggering amount of money at first. You may be relieved to know, though, that you might not have to pay the entire amount yourself.
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Many PhD candidates receive a good deal of support to help with their studies. PhD students fund their educations in a variety of ways, including:
- Fellowships
- Grants
- Loans
- Program-based funding
Program-based funding may include a stipend, a tuition waiver, and even benefits like health insurance. Fully funded online PhD programs are available, and in these programs, students are not responsible for covering any of the expenses associated with their doctoral education. It’s not always necessary to go into debt to pursue doctoral studies. Many students graduate from PhD programs without having incurred any debt.
One of the biggest assets that can help you graduate debt-free is an assistantship opportunity. You may be able to secure a role as a teaching or research assistant. In exchange for your work, you might receive a tuition waiver, a stipend, and other benefits.
Both the tuition at your school and the stipend you may receive will vary depending on where you enroll. To learn more about Ivy League costs, you can review the following table.
| Ivy League Universities | Ph.D. Tuition Fee | Minimum Stipend |
| Brown University | $65,656 | $42,412 |
| Columbia University | $53,576 | $45,765 |
| Cornell University | $20,800 | $43,326 |
| Dartmouth College | $84,912 | $35,196 |
| Harvard University | $54,032 | $43,860 – $45,696 |
| Princeton University | $57,410 | $45,600 – $48,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania | $41,544 | $38,000 |
| Yale University | $48,300 | $40,530 |
Sources:
- Brown University: Tuition, stipends
- Columbia University: Tuition, stipends
- Cornell University: Tuition, stipends
- Dartmouth College: Tuition, stipends
- Harvard University: Tuition, stipends (Engineering & Biological Sciences)
- Princeton University: Tuition, stipends
- University of Pennsylvania: Tuition, stipends
- Yale University: Tuition, stipends
This chart will give you an idea of typical PhD expenses at some of the top public universities.
| Public Universities | Ph.D. Tuition Fee | Minimum Stipend |
| Arizona State University | Resident: $12,376 Nonresident: $34,290 |
$24,586 |
| Florida International University | Resident: $8,202 Nonresident: $18,030 |
$29,151.25 – $32,000 |
| Georgia State University | Resident: $10,872 Nonresident: $31,432 |
$24,000 |
| Ohio State University | Resident: $19,364 Nonresident: $45,964 |
$28,368 |
| Texas A&M University | Resident: $16,052-$17,600 Nonresident: $36,168-$39,096 |
$29,400 – $30,000 |
| University of Central Florida | Resident: $13,328 Nonresident: $43,016 |
$9,000 – $18,000 |
| University of Florida | Resident: $12,740 Nonresident: $30,134 |
$17,000 – $28,000 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Resident: $13,776 Nonresident: $29,760 |
$20,000 – $20,400 |
| University of Minnesota | Resident: $20,460 Nonresident: $30,924 |
$22,500 – $27,000 |
| University of Texas at Austin | Resident: $17,368 Nonresident: $34,624 |
$24,300 – $40,000 |
Sources:
- University of Arizona: Tuition, stipends
- Florida International University: Tuition, stipends (Business & Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship Program)
- Georgia State University: Tuition, stipends
- Ohio State: Tuition, stipends
- Texas A&M: Tuition, stipends (Chemistry & Chemical Engineering)
- University of Central Florida: Tuition, stipends
- University of Florida: Tuition, stipends (Engineering & English)
- University of Illinois: Tuition, stipends (Math & Communication)
- University of Minnesota: Tuition, stipends (Management & Public Health)
- University of Texas: Tuition, stipends (Computer Science & Biology)
These rates reflect general tuition and stipends at the above schools, but the rates may vary somewhat depending on your program and the terms of your assistantship.
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For example, you’re likely to earn more for a half-time assistantship than for a quarter-time one, and you’re likely to earn more for a 12-month assignment than for a 9-month one.
Factors That Affect the Average Cost of a Doctorate Degree
Many different elements will play into the overall price of earning your degree. One major factor is the type of school you attend. The following figures are based on data from the Urban Institute.[4]
Choice of School
- Private for-profit: $13,520 average annual tuition
- Private nonprofit: $25,160 average annual tuition
- Public in-state: $11,000 average annual tuition
- Public out-of-state: $22,590 average annual tuition
How long it takes to earn your degree can make a difference as well. The National Science Foundation offers data on how long PhD students in various fields are often in school.[5]
Program Length by Field of Study
- Education: 5.7 years
- Engineering: 5.3 years
- Humanities and arts: 6.8 years
- Life sciences: 5.5 years
- Mathematics and computer sciences: 5.7 years
- Physical sciences: 5.6 years
- Psychology and social sciences: 6.0 years
Online studies may change your costs. The tuition is often similar, but on-campus residency can be more expensive than living at home. Consider, for example, the graduate housing costs at the University of Miami.[6]
Online vs. On-Campus Housing Costs
- Living on-campus: $24,120 annually
- Living with a relative: $8,664 annually
On the other hand, teaching and research assistantships are less common for online PhD programs than on-campus ones. Even with housing costs, you may, then, spend less for on-campus studies.
Professional Doctorate Degree Cost
A PhD is not the only type of doctorate. There are also professional doctorates available, such as a Doctor of Podiatry (DPM) or a Doctor of Medicine (MD).
The following data from the National Center for Education Statistics provides an overview of the average doctoral degree cost annually.[1]
- Books and materials: $1,196
- Non-tuition costs and fees: $23,745
- Tuition: $34,910
In general, professional practice doctorates are more expensive than PhDs. According to the Urban Institute, 30% of professional practice doctoral programs have published annual tuition rates of more than $30,000.[2] Only 22% of PhD programs fall into that price category.
It’s also worth noting that doctoral students in professional programs are less likely to receive stipends, tuition waivers, and other benefits that often make school more affordable for PhD students.
Paying for a PhD
There are many ways to handle your PhD program cost. Perhaps you have the means to pay for your schooling on your own. If not, you may benefit from an assistantship, federal student aid, or the financial support of your workplace.
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According to the National Science Foundation, the majority of students fund their PhDs through assistantships.[7] Further NSF data about primary funding sources is listed here.
| Primary Source of Funding | Percent of Doctoral Students |
| Research Assistantships | 33.4% |
| Fellowships, Scholarships, and Dissertation-Specific Grants | 24.8% |
| Teaching Assistantships | 21.4% |
| Self-Pay | 15.2% |
| Employer Funding | 2.7% |
| Other | 2.5% |
Also, data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that students earning research doctorates took out, on average, $20,500 in loans.[3]
Graduate students may be eligible for Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Federal Direct PLUS Loans.
Student Loan Debt of PhD Graduates
When it comes to the cost of a PhD, what you study can be as important as any of the other factors. As a general rule, people who get research doctoral degrees in education are much more likely to graduate with debt than other doctoral students.
The following data from the Urban Institute supports this idea.[8]
| Field of Study | Percent of Students Graduating with Debt |
| Education Doctorates | 79% |
| PhDs in Non-Education Fields | 49% |
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average non-education PhD graduate had a loan balance of $98,800.[9] For those with degrees in education, the average balance was $111,900.
If you are interested in a degree in education, you may want to pay particular attention to the tuition costs and benefits available at the schools you’re considering.
Is a PhD Degree Worth It?
Yes, a PhD degree is worth it for many students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that unemployment rates are quite low among people with doctoral degrees. The overall American unemployment rate is 4.7%.
Among people with doctorates, the unemployment rate is only 1.5%.[10] Plus, a PhD can put you on the path toward a research role or a tenured career in academia. In addition, it is an impressive personal accomplishment.
If you’re considering pursuing a terminal degree, then you’ve probably been wondering, “How much is a PhD?” Now that you know, you can start your search for the accredited school that’s right for you.
References
[1] National Postsecondary Student Aid Study: 2016 Graduate Students (NPSAS:GR). US Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics.
[2] Figure 3. Baum, Sandy and Patricia Steele. The Price of Graduate and Professional Schools: How Much Students Pay (PDF). Urban Institute. NCES, NPSAS 2012.
[3] Table A-8: Average amounts of selected types of financial aid received by graduate students. US Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics.
[4] Appendix A. Baum, Sandy and Patricia Steele. The Price of Graduate and Professional School: How Much Students Pay (PDF). Urban Institute. NCES, NPSAS 2012.
[5] Table 31. Median years to doctorate, by major field of study: Selected years, 1994–2019. National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
[6] 2023-2024 Estimated Graduate Cost of Attendance. University of Miami. Graduate Professional Financial Assistance.
[7] Table 35. Doctorate recipients’ primary source of financial support, by broad field of study, sex, citizenship status, ethnicity, and race: 2019. National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
[8] Baum, Sandy and Patricia Steele. Graduate and Professional School Debt: How Much Students Borrow (PDF). Urban Institute. 2018.
[9] Trends in Student Loan Debt for Graduate School Completers (PDF). Spotlights. The Condition of Education 2018. National Center for Education Statistics.
[10] Earnings and unemployment rates by educational attainment, 2021. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
