PhD in USA: Colleges, Deadlines, Fees 2023, Jobs & Salaries

PhD in USA: Fees 2023, Top Colleges, Placements & Salaries

PhD in USA is offered as a 3-5 year full-time program in various popular specialisations such as Engineering, Applied Sciences, Computer Science, and Management. Students enrolled in US universities have 10 years to complete their doctoral thesis, despite the fact that the course duration is 6 years. What distinguishes PhD in USA from other countries is that you don't necessarily need a master's degree to enrol for the programs.

For PhD admission in USA, applicants need to have a 4-year Bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.6 on a 4.0 scale (90%) or a Master’s degree in a relevant stream. Furthermore, international candidates must produce English proficiency scores such as IELTS: 6.5 to 8 overall score and a TOEFL iBT overall score of 79 to 110.

The average cost of PhD in USA varies from USD 26,500 to USD 109,000, which is equivalent to INR 21.9 Lakhs to INR 89.9 Lakhs for Indian candidates. In return, graduates of PhD programs in USA become capable of bagging an impressive average annual salary range of USD 55,200 to USD 101,100 (INR 45.5 Lakhs to INR 83.4 Lakhs).
Check
:
Highest paying jobs in USA for international students

PhD in USA: Highlights

Popular Courses Available Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering | Ph.D. in Business Administration | Ph.D. in Applied Physics | Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering
Course Type Full-time | Part-time
Program Duration 3-5 Years
Degree Requirement 4-year Baccalaureate degree or equivalent from a recognized university OR Master’s degree in a relevant stream from a recognized university
GPA Requirement A minimum GPA of 3 to 3.6 out of 4
English Proficiency Requirements IELTS: 6.5 to 8 overall score | TOEFL iBT: 79 to 110 overall score
Annual Tuition Fees USD 26,500 to USD 109,000 (INR 21.9 Lakhs to INR 89.9 Lakhs)
Annual Salary Range USD 55,200 to USD 101,100 (INR 45.5 Lakhs to INR 83.4 Lakhs)

Top universities for PhD in USA

Some of the top PhD universities in USA are represented in the following table along with their application deadlines, popular programs, and tuition fees:-

University Program Application Deadlines Tuition Fee per year (USD)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Aeronautics | Chemical Engineering | Biology | Mathematics | Physics 1 Dec 2023 | 15 Dec 2023 | 7 Jan 2024 28,800
Stanford University Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education (CTE) | Developmental and Psychological Sciences (DAPS) | Social Sciences, Humanities, and Interdisciplinary Policy Studies in Education 2 Dec 2022 (Closed) 56,500 | 66,300
Harvard University Business Economics | Business Administration | Applied Mathematics Varies 52,500
California Institute of Technology Astrophysics | Mathematics | Geophysics 15 Dec 2022 to 1 Jan 2023 (Closed) 60,650
University of Pennsylvania Engineering | Nursing | Biomedical Sciences | Design | Arts and Sciences | Education | Social Sciences and Practices 15 Dec 2023 39,900
Yale University Architecture | Applied Physics | Biomedical Engineering | Computer Science 15 Dec 2023 46,900
Columbia University Biostatistics | Environmental Health Sciences | Epidemiology | Sociomedical Sciences 1 Dec 2023 52,000 - 67,900
Princeton University Molecular Biology 1 Dec 2023 57,400
University of Michigan Computer and Information Sciences | Industrial and Systems Engineering | Mechanical Sciences and Engineering | 1 Dec 2023 | 15 Dec 2023 26,500
John Hopkins University Applied Mathematics and Statistics | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Civil and Systems Engineering 15 Dec 2022 (Closed) 46,600 - 60,500
Northwestern University Finance | Economics | Clinical Psychology | Health Sciences | 15 Dec 2022 (Closed) 37,400
University of California, Berkeley Accounting | Finance | Marketing | Real Estate 1 Dec 2023 36,000
New York University Accounting | Economics | Management | Information Sciences | Operations Management | Statistics 15 Dec 2023 39,350 - 109,000
Duke University Biological and Biomedical Sciences | Humanities | Physical Sciences and Engineering | Social Sciences 3 Oct 2023 31,300
University of Arizona Aerospace Engineering | Applied Mathematics | Audiology 1 July 2023 34,000

Why study PhD in USA?

PhD in USA is offered by several well-ranked and globally accredited universities. Here are some of the reasons why one should pursue PhD in USA:-

  • It is the highest level of education one can pursue. Therefore, it offers extensive knowledge in the preferred field of study.
  • Around 15 universities in USA, offering a Ph.D. program, are ranked among the top 50 institutions of the world.
  • Candidates can opt for a Ph.D. program in USA directly after completing their Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
  • PhD in USA is accompanied by several funding options such as stipends, fellowships, etc.
  • PhD in USA caters to high-paying jobs and a lower unemployability rate. The unemployment rate of USA as of February 2023 is only 3.6%, indicating abundant job opportunities for graduates of PhD programs in USA

Popular PhD programs in USA

PhD in USA is available in several STEM courses (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as well as other fields of study such as Humanities, Education, Psychology, etc. The following table shows some of the popular PhD programs in USA:-

Stream Popular Programs Popular Universities
Engineering Aeronautics and Astronautics, Biochemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, MIT, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Yale University
Business and Management Economics, Accounting, Marketing, Financial Economics, Organization and Management Yale University, MIT, University of California, Berkeley
Science Computer Science, Applied Physics, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Cell Biology, Environmental Health Sciences, Mathematics Princeton University, MIT, University of Michigan, The University of Arizona, Stanford University
Humanities American Studies, History, Philosophy, Medieval Studies, Music, Religious Studies, Italian Studies Yale University, University of California, Berkeley, Harvard University, Stanford University

Admissions to PhD in USA

The procedure for getting admission to Ph.D. programs in USA starts from selecting the field of study and shortlisting top universities or colleges for the same. Then, candidates must keep a check on the application deadlines, application requirements, Visa requirements, and English proficiency requirements. The following sections elaborate about these criteria in detail:-

PhD in USA: Eligibility Criteria

As the entry requirements vary within the field of study, it becomes very difficult to group this data into a piece of the overall information. However, the following eligibility criteria are followed by a majority PhD universities in USA:-

  • 4-year Baccalaureate degree or equivalent from a recognized university OR
  • Master’s degree in a relevant stream from a recognized university
  • A minimum GPA of 3 out of 4.
  • 2 academic and 1 professional Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
  • A 500-750 word Statement of Purpose (SoP)
  • Official transcripts or certified copies of transcripts
  • Writing Samples
  • Updated Resume or CV
  • Portfolio
  • Personal Interview
  • A valid passport
  • F-1 or J-1 US Student Visa
  • Proof of English Proficiency:-
    • IELTS: 6.5 to 8 overall score
    • TOEFL iBT: 79 to 110 overall score
  • Valid Passport
  • Student Visa

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PhD in USA: Admission Requirements

The various requirements for PhD admission in USA in some of the popular universities is tabulated as follows:-

University Degree Requirements English Language Requirements
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 3 out of 4 GPA IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 100 (at least 25 in each section)
Stanford University Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 3.5 out of 4 GPA IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 100 (at least 25 in each section)
Harvard University Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 3.6 out of 4 GPA IELTS: 8 (with at least 7.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 110 (at least 28 in each section)
California Institute of Technology Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a recognized university with at least 3.5 out of 4 GPA IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 100 (at least 25 in each section)
University of Pennsylvania 4-year Baccalaureate degree or equivalent from a recognized university IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 100 (at least 25 in each section)
Yale University Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a recognized university with at least 3.5 out of 4 GPA IELTS: 7.5 (with at least 7 in each band) | TOEFL: 100 (at least 25 in each section)
University of Columbia Master’s degree from a recognized university IELTS: 7.5 (with at least 7 in each band) | TOEFL: 100 (at least 25 in each section)
Princeton University Master’s degree from a recognized university IELTS: 8 (with at least 7.5 in each band)
University of Michigan Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 3 out of 4 GPA IELTS: 6.5 (with at least 6 in each band) | TOEFL: 84
John Hopkins University Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 3.5 out of 4 GPA IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band)
Northwestern University Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 3 out of 4 GPA IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 100
University of California, Berkeley Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 3 out of 4 GPA IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 90
University of California, Los Angeles Master’s degree from a recognized university with at least 3.5 out of 4 GPA IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 87
New York University Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 3 out of 4 GPA IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 100
Duke University Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a recognized university IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 90
The University of Arizona Master’s degree in a relevant stream from a recognized university with at least 3 out of 4 GPA IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 79

PhD in USA: Costs

The entire cost of PhD in USA is a combination of tuition fees and cost of living in USA. The section below provides a detailed description of the expenses to study in USA.

PhD in USA: Tuition Fee

The cost of PhD in USA varies with the specialisation or the preferred field of study. However, on average, the annual tuition fees range from USD 26,500 to USD 109,000, equivalent to INR 21.9 Lakhs to INR 89.9 Lakhs. The following table presents the university-wise distribution of the average tuition costs for opting PhD in USA:-

cost of PhD in USA

University Tuition Fee per year (USD) Tuition Fee per year (INR)
University of Michigan 26,500 21.9 Lakhs
MIT 28,800 23.8 Lakhs
Duke University 31,300 25.8 Lakhs
UCLA 33,250 27.4 Lakhs
University of Arizona 34,000 28 Lakhs
University of California, Berkeley 36,000 29.7 Lakhs
Northwestern University 37,400 30.8 Lakhs
New York University 39,350 32.5 Lakhs
University of Pennsylvania 39,900 32.9 Lakhs
John Hopkins University 46,600 38.4 Lakhs
Yale University 46,900 38.7 Lakhs
University of Columbia 52,000 42.9 Lakhs
Harvard University 52,500 43.3 Lakhs
Stanford University 56,500 46.6 Lakhs
Princeton University 57,400 47.3 Lakhs
California Institute of Technology 60,650 50 Lakhs

Cost of Living in USA

USA is the most popular as well as the costliest study abroad destination for PhD in USA as well as other programs. This corresponds to the quality of education, safety, ambiance, and health services the country offers. The following table shows the average expense and the cost of living in USA for international students:

Expense Type Cost Per Month (USD) Monthly Cost Equivalent (INR)
On-campus Accommodation 2,450 to 2,775 1.99 to 2.26 Lakhs
Books and stationary 500 to 1,000 40,600 to 81,300
Food 2,500 2 Lakhs
Clothes 500 40,600
Public Transport 500 to 1,200 40,600 to 97,600
Miscellaneous 2,000 1.63 Lakhs

Cost of Living in USA

PhD in USA: Scholarships

Candidates who find the cost of living in USA and paying the tuition fees for PhD in USA unaffordable may look forward to applying for funding options such as fellowships, stipend, scholarships, etc. The following table contains some of the major scholarship options along with their eligibility criteria:-

Scholarship University Eligibility Award
Assistantship in Research Princeton University Candidates pursuing Ph.D. in Finance with academic excellence 40,000
Curtis B. Smith Cybersecurity Fellowship University of California, Berkeley Students pursuing MIMS, MIDS, MICS, and PhD with academic excellence 3,000 per year
First-year Matriculant Stipend Duke University Candidates pursuing Ph.D. with academic excellence USD 29,000
Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarships US Government Citizen of a country with Rotary clubs | 2 years of college course work or equivalent Up to 25,000 USD
Fulbright Scholarships for Indians US Government Indian citizen | Academic excellence | English proficiency Monthly stipend, Tuition and cost of attendance coverage
Inlaks Scholarship US Government Indian citizen | Minimum 65-75% marks 100,000 USD
AAUW International Fellowship US Government Non-US-based women pursuing master’s and doctoral programs in USA 20,000-50,000 USD
Richard A. Freund International Scholarship US Government Minimum GPA of 3.25 (~87-88%) in UG and PG, member of ASQ 5,000 USD per year
Josephine de Karman Fellowship US Government Academic excellence 25,000 USD per year for tuition and fees

Also Check: Education Loans to Study in USA

PhD in USA: Placements

Candidates can pursue PhD in USA in STEM or non-STEM fields, depending on which they may choose their profession. Here are some of the most popular job profiles for individuals who have completed a PhD in USA:-

PhD in USA: Placements

Job Profile Annual Salary (USD) Equivalent Salary (INR)
Postdoctoral Research Associate 55,200 45.5 Lakhs
Assistant Professor 72,300 59.7 Lakhs
Business Analyst, IT 72,300 69.7 Lakhs
Biomedical Scientist 82,850 68.4 Lakhs
Professor 89,900 74.2 Lakhs
Consultant 91,000 74.9 lakhs
Data Scientist 98,800 81.5 Lakhs
Physicist 101,100 83.4 Lakhs

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PhD in USA: Return on Investment

With a high tuition cost, PhD programs in USA, generally, cater to a high return on investments. Here are the average annual salaries received after graduating from the popular universities offering PhD in USA:-

PhD in USA Return on investment.

University Tuition Fee per year (USD) Graduate Salary (USD)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 28,800 117,000
Stanford University 56,500 91,000
Harvard University 52,500 95,000
California Institute of Technology 60,650 117,000
University of Pennsylvania 39,900 66,000
Yale University 46,900 95,000
University of Columbia 52,000 76,000
Princeton University 57,400 75,000
University of Michigan 26,500 61,000
John Hopkins University 46,600 92,000
Northwestern University 37,400 87,000
University of California, Berkeley 36,000 94,000
University of California, Los Angeles 33,250 88,000
New York University, Stern 39,350 111,000
Duke University 31,300 68,000
The University of Arizona 34,000 78,000

PhD in USA vs PhD in UK

When it comes to pursuing a PhD, deciding where to study can be a challenging task. The table below compares the differences between pursuing a PhD in USA versus a PhD in UK.

Parameters PhD in USA PhD in the UK
Degree Requirement 4-year Baccalaureate degree or equivalent from a recognized university OR Master’s degree in a relevant stream from a recognized university First class or upper second class undergraduate degree in relevant stream OR Master’s degree in a relevant stream from a recognized university
GPA Requirement A minimum GPA of 3 to 3.6 out of 4 (90%) 70% or above aggregate
Duration 3 to 5 years 3 to 5 years
Cost of Living USD 1,050 (INR 86,650) GBP 700 (INR 70,850)
English Proficiency Test Scores IELTS: 6.5 to 8 overall score | TOEFL iBT: 79 to 110 overall score IELTS: 7 (with at least 6.5 in each band) | TOEFL: 100 (at least 25 in each section)
Annual Tuition Fees USD 26,500 to USD 109,000 (INR 21.9 Lakhs to INR 89.9 Lakhs GBP 20,000 to GBP 50,000 (INR 20 to 50 Lakhs)
Graduate Salary USD 55,200 to USD 101,100 (INR 45.5 Lakhs to INR 83.4 Lakhs) GBP 40,000 to GBP 60,000 (INR 40 to 60 Lakhs)

PhD in USA is a highly prestigious program to pursue as it stands at the highest level of studying. It offers theoretical expertise, excellent research opportunities and high employability rate to the individual who pursues it.

FAQs

Ques. How much does PhD cost in USA?

Ans. The precise cost of studying PhD in USA varies with the specialisation. However, talking about the extremities, it ranges from USD 26,500 to USD 109,000, equivalent to INR 21.9 Lakhs to INR 89.9 Lakhs for Indian applicants.

Ques. What is the eligibility for PhD in USA?

Ans. Candidates possessing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant stream from a recognized university with at least a 3.0 out of 4.0 GPA (85%) are considered eligible to apply for a Ph.D. program in USA. Furthermore, for some of the specialisations, candidates will be required to submit GMAT or GRE scores.

Ques. Can I work while pursuing a PhD in USA?

Ans. Individuals pursuing a Ph.D. in USA are allowed to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week on a part-time basis. They may start full-time working during vacations or holidays.

Ques. What are the top Ph.D. programs to study in USA?

Ans. The following are some of the popular streams for pursuing a PhD in USA:-

  1. Business
  2. Economics
  3. Engineering
  4. Medicine
  5. Education
  6. Biological Sciences
  7. Psychology

Ques. What can I do after completing a PhD in USA?

Ans. After pursuing a Ph.D. program in USA candidates may work under the following job profiles:-

  1. Research Scientist
  2. Data Analyst
  3. Assistant Research Engineer
  4. Teaching Assistant Professor
  5. Lecturer
  6. Field Biologist
  7. Economist, etc.

Ques. Is post graduation necessary for pursuing PhD in USA?

Ans. For a majority of institutions, postgradation or a Master’s degree is not required for studying Ph.D. in USA. Only an undergraduate degree with at least a 3.0 GPA (85%) is sufficient for applying to these colleges.

Ques. What is the salary after PhD in USA?

Ans. Graduates of PhD programs in USA can earn an impressive average annual salary ranging from USD 55,200 to USD 101,100 (INR 45.5 Lakhs to INR 83.4 Lakhs).

Top Institutes To Study
Harvard University
Harvard UniversityCambridge,Massachusetts
Stanford University
Stanford UniversityStanford,California
University of California
University of CaliforniaBerkeley,California
Columbia University
Columbia UniversityNew York City,New York
University of Chicago
University of ChicagoChicago,Illinois

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