is doing a phd expensive

How Much Does a Ph.D. Cost?

Data Summary

How much does it cost to get a Ph.D.? On average, the total cost comes out to $40,900 per year, including tuition and living expenses. Note Reference [1] Students typically take 4-8 years to finish a Ph.D. program, so a doctoral degree can cost anywhere from $163,600-$327,200 before grants and assistantships.

But you won’t necessarily end up paying that total cost yourself. Ph.D. students typically receive more financial support than master’s degree or other professional graduate degree students. Programs often offer tuition waivers and stipends in exchange for teaching or research.

In this report we’ll explore the average cost of a Ph.D. program, common student debt amounts, and how much students typically receive in funding for their doctoral programs.

Table of Contents

Average cost of a ph.d., factors that influence ph.d. cost, ph.d. student loan debt, cost of professional doctorates.

• According to 2020 data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the average cost of tuition for a Ph.D. program is $20,600 per year. Note Reference [1]
• Non-tuition related expenses, such as room and board, books, and supplies, amounted to $20,300 on average. Note Reference [1]
• Together, the total cost per year for a doctoral program equals $40,900. Note Reference [1]

But programs often offer packages that include a tuition waiver and living stipend in exchange for an assistantship. With an assistantship, graduate students may work part time teaching or researching.

• The average amount of a graduate research assistantship is $1,833 per month. [6]
• The average amount of a teaching assistantship is $2,391 per month. Note Reference [6]
• 70.5% of male doctoral students and 64% of female students reported having an assistantship, which often includes a tuition waiver and health insurance. [7]

Keep in mind that some schools have higher tuition but more competitive stipends and benefits, while others have lower tuition rates and lower stipend amounts. Some programs offer full tuition waivers while others cover partial tuition. It is important to note the wide range of package types that are offered to incoming doctoral students.

Costs can also vary between programs and even between departments at the same school. For example, Cornell University’s humanities and social science departments offered a stipend of $32,494 per year in 2023 while its technology department offered a stipend of $40,294 (in part due to the Cornell Tech campus being located in New York City). [8] Business Ph.D. students at Cornell received an even higher stipend of $44,885. [9]

Some schools increase stipend amounts with a student’s time in the program. Other schools reduce the tuition amount each year.

Ph.D. programs may also offer graduate fellowships or scholarships, which may cover all or some of the costs of the program and may come with some work responsibilities.

Other factors that can affect doctoral programs include whether a school is public or private, the location of a school, and program length.

Most Ph.D. programs provide limits as to the number of years of funding they will provide, often 4-5 years. When students take longer to complete their degree, they may be able to find additional graduate student employment doing teaching or research or apply for a “finishing fellowship.”

Student loan and debt amounts for Ph.D. students differ widely between fields. Math and computer science doctoral students, for example, graduate with $10,686 in debt on average while education students graduate with $47,672 in debt. Note Reference [4]

Overall, roughly one quarter (23%) of doctoral recipients graduated with over $30,000 in debt. However, percentages varied by field. [12]

• Only 8% of engineering students and students in the physical sciences and earth sciences graduated with over $30,000 in debt.
• Around 40% of psychology and social sciences (36.9%) and education (40.3%) doctoral recipients, on the other hand, finished with over $30,000 in debt.

Broken down by race and ethnicity, Black or African American doctoral recipients graduated with the highest percentage of debt over $30,000 and Asian doctoral recipients graduated with the least. [13]

• Over half of Black or African American doctoral recipients (56%) received their degrees with over $30,000 in debt.
• Hispanic or Latina/o students placed second with 30% graduating with debt over $30,000.
• 1 in 5 white students graduated with debt over $30,000 and only 1 in 10 Asian students.

While this article focuses on research doctorates, there are also professional doctorates such as Doctor of Medicine (MD), Juris Doctor (JD), and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). These doctorates are intended towards practice and often come with higher price tags.

According to 2016 data from the National Center for Education Statistics: [14]

• The average cost of a professional doctorate is $58,656 per year.
• The average price of tuition and fees is $34,910 per year.
• Non-tuition expenses, such as housing and textbooks, come out to $23,746 per year on average.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Cost

Unlike a Ph.D. in education, a Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) is also a professional doctorate and geared towards practice rather than teaching and research.

The Ed.D. program is also much shorter than a Ph.D., typically 2-3 years, which may result in a lower cost of attendance. Tuition for some of the best Doctorate of Education programs can range from around $500 per credit to over $2,000 per credit, with a total of 60 credits required to graduate. That amounts to a total tuition cost of $30,000-$120,000 depending on the school.

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) Cost

A doctor of psychology degree (Psy.D.), not to be confused with a doctor of philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in psychology, is designed for students who want to go into practice, especially as a licensed clinical psychologist or psychotherapist.

While program length varies from school to school, you can generally expect the degree to take you 5-7 years. Tuition for some of the best online Doctorate of Psychology programs ranges from around $600-$1,600. Programs often require 60-90 credits.

EXPLORE SMU

Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies

Do phd students pay tuition unpacking the cost of a phd.

Choosing to pursue a PhD is a major milestone, but it comes with a host of concerns and questions. As a prospective doctoral student, you might wonder if you pay tuition for a PhD and how much that will cost.

In many cases, the answer is no, PhD students do not pay tuition. Instead, universities often provide their doctoral students with tuition waivers and funding packages to carry them through their years of study. 

However, it's important to bear in mind that this isn't always the case and the specifics can vary greatly. Navigating PhD funding can seem daunting at first, but understanding how tuition, stipends and other sources affect the out-of-pocket cost of a PhD can help you feel more confident in your decision.

How Much Does a PhD Cost?

Contrary to popular belief, the costs of a PhD program aren't set in stone. Factors like the institution, geographic location, field of study and funding support all play a role in how much you’ll actually pay for a doctoral program. Depending on your field, some PhD programs pay you . 

To give you a clearer picture, let's break down expenses and potential support.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are typically the most substantial expense. How much you pay depends on the institution offering the program and the field of study you choose. According to the Education Data Initiative , the average cost of a PhD specifically is $106,860, while the average cost of a doctorate degree in general is higher at $150,835.

You can expect a lower cost at public institutions ($93,670 on average) compared to private universities ($129,395 on average). Considering the time to complete a doctorate degree ranges from approximately 4 to 8 years, the duration of your studies can influence the total price.

While figures like this seem substantial, it's important to remember that scholarships, grants, fellowships and assistantships significantly reduce the out-of-pocket expenses for most PhD students. For instance, the average grant aid for a doctoral degree is $16,502 annually, and 21.4% of PhD students surveyed by the Education Data Initiative offset their costs with teaching assistantships. 

As a result, actual paid expenses are often much lower than the listed tuition and fees.

Books and Materials

The cost of study materials, including textbooks and research supplies, varies depending on the specific requirements of your field of study.

For example, PhD students in Earth Sciences or Chemistry might need to invest in lab equipment and materials, while students in Humanities may require numerous books and subscriptions to academic journals.

However, it's essential to note that many programs provide funding resources that help offset or eliminate these costs. Universities often offer subsidies or funds for research materials, and there are numerous grants and scholarships specific to different fields of study. Libraries and interlibrary loan systems can also be a valuable resource for accessing required books and academic journals.

Healthcare and Living 

Cost of living and healthcare can vary greatly depending on your circumstances and location. Major cities, for example, tend to have higher living costs than smaller towns or rural areas. 

The higher expenses in cities often correlate with increased access to resources, research opportunities and a wide variety of entertainment and lifestyle choices. On the other hand, smaller towns or rural areas might offer lower cost of living and fewer distractions but may limit access to extensive resources or opportunities.

Luckily, many universities offer annual stipends as part of their financial aid packages for PhD students. These stipends are designed to help you manage your living and healthcare expenses, allowing you to concentrate on your studies and research. Some universities may also provide budget-friendly on-campus housing options to help mitigate overall costs. 

Navigating the Financial Landscape of a PhD

The path to earning a PhD isn't just an academic journey, but a financial one too. While it's true that in many cases, PhD students don't pay tuition, it's crucial to understand that it’s ultimately variable depending on where and what you choose to study. Financial aid packages and stipends can be a substantial help, providing relief to both domestic and international students.

At the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, we pride ourselves in providing an environment that fosters academic excellence, research innovation and professional development. With the generous support of the Moody Foundation, we have expanded our funding opportunities, enabling a diverse range of talented students to become part of our community.

Our suite of financial resources, including fellowships, assistantships, and travel grants, aim to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations and reduce financial barriers. By helping our students focus on their academic and research pursuits, we build a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive environment that sets the stage for future leaders to thrive.

learn more about

PhD funding at the Moody School.

Request more

Information.

Complete the form to reach out to us for more information

Published On

More articles, recommended articles for you, is getting a phd worth it.

Perhaps you’re finishing up a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or maybe you’ve hit a wall in your...

How Do You Get a PhD? A Guide to the PhD Timeline

Everyone who considers a doctoral degree knows a PhD is a big commitment. 

Not only will it require...

Unlocking Possibilities: What Can You Do With a PhD in English?

The world of academia has long been associated with the pursuit of knowledge, scholarly research...

Browse articles by topic

Subscribe to.