Program Overview

• Degree: Ph.D. in Economics

• Institution: Cornell University

• Location: Ithaca, New York

• Program Duration: Typically 5–6 years

• Faculty: The program boasts a diverse faculty of 91 economists from departments across the university, including the Economics Department, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Johnson School, and other

Students can tailor their research interests across various economic fields, provided they have the support of at least two faculty members to supervise their dissertation.

Funding Package

Cornell guarantees full funding for nearly all Ph.D. students in Economics, which includes:​

• Tuition and Fees: Full coverage.

• Stipend: For the 2025–26 academic year, the minimum 9-month stipend is $35,661, with summer stipends available .

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage under the Student Health Plan.

Funding is typically provided through a combination of fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships, contingent upon satisfactory academic progress .​

Admission Requirements

• Academic Background: A strong foundation in economics and mathematics is expected. While an undergraduate degree in economics is not mandatory, applicants should have completed courses in intermediate microeconomics and proof-based mathematics up to linear algebra .

• Application Materials:

  • Completed online application through the Cornell Graduate School.

  • Three letters of recommendation.

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV).

  • Statement of purpose detailing research interests and career goals.

  • GRE General Test scores are required; GRE Subject Test is not required .

  • TOEFL or IELTS scores for non-native English speakers.

Please note that applicants may only apply to one graduate program at Cornell for a given term.

Program Overview

• Degree: Ph.D. in Accounting and Management Information Systems

• Institution: The Ohio State University

• College: Max M. Fisher College of Business

• Program Structure: Full-time, research-intensive, typically completed in 4–5 years

• Tracks:

  • Accounting

  • Management Information Systems (MIS)

The program emphasizes close collaboration with faculty, development of independent research skills, and preparation for academic positions at leading institutions. Students engage in coursework, research projects, and teaching assignments to develop their scholarly expertise.​

Funding Package

All admitted Ph.D. students receive comprehensive financial support, which includes:​

• Tuition and Fees: Full coverage.

• Stipend: Competitive annual stipend provided through Graduate Teaching Associateships (GTA) or Graduate Research Associateships (GRA).

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage funded by the university.

Funding is typically guaranteed for four to six years, contingent upon satisfactory academic progress. Additional financial support may be available through university fellowships, departmental scholarships, and research grants. Students also have access to travel grants and research funds to support their academic endeavors.​

Admission Requirements

• Academic Background: A bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution.

• Application Materials:

  • Completed online application form.

  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.

  • Three letters of recommendation.

  • Statement of purpose detailing research interests and career goals.

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV).

  • Writing sample demonstrating scholarly work.

  • GMAT or GRE scores (GMAT is strongly preferred for Accounting and MIS applicants).

  • TOEFL or IELTS scores for non-native English speakers.​

The application fee is $60 for U.S. applicants and $70 for international applicants.

Program Overview

• Degree: Ph.D. in Accounting

• Institution: University of Chicago Booth School of Business

The program emphasizes rigorous training in accounting research, preparing students for academic careers at leading institutions. Students engage in interdisciplinary research and benefit from the school’s strong emphasis on empirical and theoretical analysis.

Funding Package

All admitted Ph.D. students receive comprehensive financial support, which includes:​

• Tuition and Fees: Full coverage for five to six years of full-time study, conditional on satisfactory progress.

• Stipend: An annual stipend of $50,000 (as of Fall 2024) for five years.

• Health Insurance: Coverage for student-only premiums under the university’s student health insurance plan.

• Graduate Student Services Fee: Covered.

• Research and Travel Funding: Up to $3,000 per academic year for research and conference travel.

• Technology Support: First-year students receive either a one-time $2,000 computer stipend or, for accounting students, a high-end research-quality computer workstation or laptop.

Additionally, students have opportunities to apply for further funding to support specific research projects, data acquisition, or fieldwork. The program encourages applications for external fellowships, such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the UniCredit Foundation’s US PhD Scholarship.

Admission Requirements

• Academic Background: A bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution.

• Quantitative Skills: A strong quantitative background is essential.

• Application Materials:

  • Statement of purpose detailing research interests and career goals.

  • Three letters of recommendation.

  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV).

  • Writing sample demonstrating research capabilities.

  • GRE or GMAT scores are recommended but not required.

  • TOEFL or IELTS scores for non-native English speakers.

Program Overview

• Degree: Ph.D. in Economics

• Institution: University of Wisconsin–Madison

• Department: Economics

The program offers a firm grounding in economic theory and tools, with opportunities to specialize in fields such as labor economics, public economics, international economics, and more. Students benefit from a collaborative environment, research workshops, and access to extensive resources.

Funding Package

All admitted Ph.D. students receive comprehensive financial support, which includes:​

• Tuition and Fees: Full coverage for the duration of the program.

• Stipend: An annual stipend to support living expenses. For instance, fellowship stipends are over $26,000 and are often accompanied by departmental scholarships.

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage funded by the university.

• Assistantships: Funding is provided through teaching assistantships (TAs), research assistantships (RAs), or fellowships.

Additionally, the department offers various fellowships and scholarships based on research excellence, such as:​

• Caves Dissertation Fellowship

• Christensen Dissertation Fellowship in Empirical Economics

• David Edwin Davies Dissertation Fellowship

• Alice S. Gengler Dissertation Fellowship

• Juli Plant Grainger Institute (JPGI) Fellowships, including Summer Fellowships, Teaching Assistant Scholarships, and Outstanding Dissertator Fellowships ​

Admission Requirements

• Academic Background: A bachelor’s degree is required; it does not need to be in economics. Applicants often have backgrounds in economics, mathematics, statistics, or related fields.

• Mathematical Preparation: Applicants should have completed at least a three-course sequence in calculus, a course in linear algebra, and a course in mathematical statistics. Additional coursework in real analysis is recommended.

• Application Materials:

  • Online application through the UW–Madison Graduate School.

  • Statement of purpose outlining research interests and career goals.

  • Three letters of recommendation.

  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV).

  • Writing sample demonstrating research capabilities.

  • Math Preparation Form.

  • GRE scores (required).

  • TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores for non-native English speakers.

The average admitted applicant has a Quantitative GRE score in the 91st percentile and an average GPA of 3.85/4.0.

Program Overview

• Degree: Ph.D. in Economics

• Institution: Johns Hopkins University – Krieger School of Arts and Sciences

• Department: Economics

The program emphasizes rigorous coursework in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, followed by specialized training in various fields of economics. Students engage in original research leading to a doctoral dissertation. The department maintains strong research and teaching cores in applied microeconomics, economic theory, macroeconomics, and econometrics.

Funding Package

All admitted Ph.D. students receive a comprehensive funding package that includes:​

• Tuition and Fees: Full coverage for the duration of the program.

• Stipend: An annual stipend of $33,000 to cover living expenses.

• Health Insurance: Full coverage of student health insurance premiums.

• Duration: Guaranteed funding for a minimum of five years, contingent upon satisfactory academic progress.

• Assistantships: Financial support is typically provided through teaching or research assistantships.

Students are encouraged to apply for external fellowships and grants to supplement their funding.​

Admission Requirements

• Academic Background: A strong foundation in economics and mathematics is essential.

• Standardized Tests: GRE scores, especially the quantitative section, are considered; however, they are optional.

• Application Materials:

  • Online application through the Johns Hopkins Graduate Admissions portal.

  • Statement of purpose outlining research interests and career goals.

  • At least two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic abilities.

  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV).

  • TOEFL or IELTS scores for non-native English speakers.

Program Overview

• Degree: Ph.D. in Economics

• Institution: Duke University

• Department: Economics

The program emphasizes a strong foundation in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, with opportunities to specialize in various fields such as applied microeconomics, international economics, and financial economics. Students benefit from Duke’s vibrant research environment and access to resources like the Duke Financial Economics Center and the Duke Economic Analytics Laboratory.

Funding Package

Duke’s Graduate School guarantees all Ph.D. students five years of full financial support, which includes:

• Tuition and Fees: Full coverage

• Stipend: Annual stipend of $40,000 for 12 months

• Health and Dental Insurance: Full coverage for six years

The funding is typically provided through a combination of fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. Students are encouraged to apply for external fellowships, which can supplement their funding and provide additional research opportunities.​

Admission Requirements

• Academic Background: A bachelor’s degree with a strong foundation in economics and quantitative methods

• Application Materials:

  • Online application through Duke’s Graduate School

  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended

  • Three letters of recommendation

  • Statement of purpose outlining research interests and career goals

  • Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)

• Standardized Tests: GRE scores are optional

• English Proficiency: TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for non-native English speakers unless they have completed a degree at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction

• Institution: University of California, Davis (UC Davis)

• Department: Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE)

• Location: Davis, California

UC Davis’s PhD program in Agricultural and Resource Economics is renowned globally for its rigorous training in the economics of agriculture, international development, environmental and natural resources. The program emphasizes a strong foundation in microeconomic theory, econometrics, and applied microeconomic theory, preparing students for academic, research, and policy-making careers.​

Funding Package

All admitted PhD students receive comprehensive financial support, which includes:​

• Tuition and Fees: Full coverage.

• Stipend: Monthly stipend during the nine-month academic year.

• Summer Support: Most students receive additional funding during summer months.

• Duration: Guaranteed for a minimum of five years, contingent upon satisfactory academic progress.

Funding is provided through a combination of fellowships, teaching assistantships (TAs), research assistantships (RAs), and readerships. Students may also be eligible for various internal fellowships, such as the Erika C. H. Meng Scholarship Fund, which supports applied development research and policy engagement. Additional travel awards are available for conference presentations and fieldwork.

Curriculum Structure

The PhD program is structured to provide a robust foundation in agricultural and resource economics, with flexibility to tailor coursework to individual research interests.​

Core Components

• Coursework: Completion of nine core courses in microeconomic theory, econometric methods, and applied microeconomic theory.

• Preliminary Examinations: Two comprehensive exams in microeconomic theory and econometrics.

• Elective Fields: Two elective fields consisting of three or four courses each.

• Qualifying Examination: Comprehensive oral exam and dissertation prospectus defense.

• Dissertation: Completion and defense of a doctoral dissertation contributing to the field.

Students without a strong economics background may opt to “split the core,” spreading core courses over two years to build a deeper understanding before advancing to candidacy.

Admission Requirements

• Educational Background: A bachelor’s or master’s degree in economics, agricultural economics, or a related field.

• Application Materials:

  • Online application through UC Davis Graduate Admissions.

  • Statement of Purpose.

  • Personal History Statement.

  • Three letters of recommendation.

  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.

  • Resume/CV.

  • GRE scores (optional but recommended).

  • TOEFL/IELTS scores for international applicants, if applicable.

• Application Fee:

  • $135 for U.S. applicants.

  • $155 for international applicants.