736 Best PhD Programs in the United States

736 PhD courses are taught at 204 universities in the United States — most run 4–6 years. Courses from Princeton University, University of California, Berkeley and Georgia Institute of Technology come first, because those universities rank highest.

Subject

Level

University type

Location

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Universities 204 Programs 736 Scholarships 0

337PhD / Doctorate

#301 in United States United States

Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources

University of Maine — The PhD program in Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources at the University of Maine offers an in-depth exploration of sustainable aquatic farming practices and the conservati...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Agriculture & Environment

View program → About the university

338PhD / Doctorate

#308 in United States United States

Business Intelligence

Marymount University — Program OverviewThe PhD in Business Intelligence at Marymount University is designed for professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of data management, analytics...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Business & Management

View program → About the university

339PhD / Doctorate

#308 in United States United States

Counselor Education and Supervision

Marymount University — The PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Marymount University is an advanced program designed for individuals who aspire to become leaders in the counseling fiel...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Education

View program → About the university

340PhD / Doctorate

#308 in United States United States

Cybersecurity

Marymount University — The PhD in Cybersecurity at Marymount University delves deep into the complex world of protecting information systems from cyber threats. The program covers critical area...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Computer Science & IT

View program → About the university

341PhD / Doctorate

#308 in United States United States

Educational Leadership and Organizational Innovation

Marymount University — The PhD in Educational Leadership and Organizational Innovation at Marymount University is designed to prepare students for advanced roles in educational settings. This c...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Education

View program → About the university

342PhD / Doctorate

#308 in United States United States

Nursing

Marymount University — Course OverviewThe PhD in Nursing program at Marymount University is designed to advance nursing knowledge while preparing scholars for leadership roles in research, educ...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Medicine & Health Sciences

View program → About the university

343PhD / Doctorate

#308 in United States United States

Physical Therapy

Marymount University — The PhD in Physical Therapy at Marymount University offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to develop advanced knowledge and research skills in the field of physical...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Science

View program → About the university

344PhD / Doctorate

#312 in United States United States

Biomedical Sciences

Wright State University — The PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Wright State University-Main Campus is designed to prepare students for advanced research and professional careers in various fields of...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Medicine & Health Sciences

View program → About the university

345PhD / Doctorate

#312 in United States United States

Engineering

Wright State University — The PhD in Engineering at Wright State University is designed to prepare students for advanced research and scholarship in the engineering field. This program covers vari...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Engineering

View program → About the university

346PhD / Doctorate

#312 in United States United States

Environmental Sciences

Wright State University — Course OverviewThe PhD in Environmental Sciences at Wright State University delves into advanced topics related to the environment, addressing critical issues such as cli...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Agriculture & Environment

View program → About the university

347PhD / Doctorate

#319 in United States United States

Biomedical Sciences

Texas Tech University-Health Sciences Center — The PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center provides a robust and comprehensive education for students looking to advance their knowled...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Medicine & Health Sciences

View program → About the university

348PhD / Doctorate

#319 in United States United States

Rehabilitation Science

Texas Tech University-Health Sciences Center — The PhD in Rehabilitation Science at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a rigorous program designed to advance your knowledge and skills in the fields of reh...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Medicine & Health Sciences

View program → About the university

349PhD / Doctorate

#324 in United States United States

Business Administration (PhD)

The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley — The Doctorate in Business Administration at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is designed for students who seek advanced knowledge and research skills necessary f...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Business & Management

View program → About the university

350PhD / Doctorate

#324 in United States United States

Business Administration (PhD)

The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley

PhD / DoctorateLevel

—Duration

Full TimeMode

—Intake

Business & Management

View program → About the university

351PhD / Doctorate

#324 in United States United States

Clinical Psychology (PhD)

The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley — The Clinical Psychology PhD program at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley offers a rigorous and comprehensive training in the science and practice of psychology. S...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Medicine & Health Sciences

View program → About the university

352PhD / Doctorate

#324 in United States United States

Clinical Psychology (PhD)

The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley

PhD / DoctorateLevel

—Duration

Full TimeMode

—Intake

Medicine & Health Sciences

View program → About the university

353PhD / Doctorate

#324 in United States United States

Computer Science with Interdisciplinary Applications (PhD)

The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley

PhD / DoctorateLevel

—Duration

Full TimeMode

—Intake

Computer Science & IT

View program → About the university

354PhD / Doctorate

#331 in United States United States

Anatomy

Howard University — The PhD program in Anatomy at Howard University is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the complex structures of the human body. This progr...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Medicine & Health Sciences

View program → About the university

355PhD / Doctorate

#331 in United States United States

Biochemistry

Howard University — The PhD program in Biochemistry at Howard University delves deep into the chemical processes that underpin biological systems. This rigorous course combines extensive lab...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Life Sciences

View program → About the university

356PhD / Doctorate

#331 in United States United States

Biology

Howard University — The PhD program in Biology at Howard University engages students in rigorous research and training in various biological disciplines, emphasizing both theoretical underst...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Life Sciences

View program → About the university

357PhD / Doctorate

#331 in United States United States

Civil Engineering

Howard University — The PhD program in Civil Engineering at Howard University is designed for those who seek to push the boundaries of knowledge in the field and contribute significantly to...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Engineering

View program → About the university

358PhD / Doctorate

#331 in United States United States

Computer Science

Howard University — The PhD in Computer Science at Howard University offers an advanced understanding of computational theory, algorithms, programming languages, software engineering, and sy...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Computer Science & IT

View program → About the university

359PhD / Doctorate

#331 in United States United States

Economics

Howard University — The PhD in Economics at Howard University provides an in-depth understanding of economic theory, policy, and applied economics. This rigorous program encompasses various...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Economics & Public Policy

View program → About the university

360PhD / Doctorate

#331 in United States United States

Electrical Engineering

Howard University — The PhD in Electrical Engineering at Howard University is designed to provide students with a profound understanding of the principles and practices of electrical enginee...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Engineering

View program → About the university

Programs at other levels

Bachelor's Programs Diploma Programs Foundation Programs Master's Programs Professional Programs

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How these courses are ranked

18 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #15 (Princeton University) to #575 (University of South Carolina); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. University of California, Berkeley has the largest research record in this group, with 58,388,527 citations and an h-index of 1,903. 10 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Inside the course list

The most common subjects are Medicine & Health Sciences (151), Education (93), Engineering (85) and Social Sciences & Psychology (80). The usual length is 4–6 years and null. 94% are full-time and 32 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (0% of courses with a stated intake). New Mexico State University offers the widest choice, with 29 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in the United States for PhD?

Princeton University (QS World #15), University of California, Berkeley (QS World #28) and Georgia Institute of Technology (QS World #123) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for PhD in the United States?

Of those with published fees, Universidad del Sagrado Corazon is the least expensive at about USD 6,410 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How long does a PhD course take in the United States?

Most listed courses run 4–6 years, with null the next most common.

When do PhD courses start in the United States?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study PhD online with a university in the United States?

32 of these courses are listed as online.

Which university has the most PhD courses in the United States?

New Mexico State University, with 29, ahead of National University (29).

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