Although education is rewarding, it is incredibly costly. According to CNBC, one million American students now have a school debt of more than $1.7 trillion[1]. It’s no wonder students are reluctant to pursue a doctorate. What if getting a PhD was something free of charge? It’s possible by submitting an application to wholly funded doctoral programs. To learn more, search online.
Depending on your chosen program, you can complete your doctorate without paying a significant fee. Do an online search to learn about fully financed PhD programs.
If you would like to earn your doctorate, here’s everything you should consider.
What Does a Fully-Funded Doctoral Degree Entail?
On average, fees for a doctoral degree ranges between $28,000 and $40,000 annually[2]. This amount can vary depending on many factors, like the type of program, choice of university, and grants or scholarships awarded to students. However, if you join a PhD program that is fully funded, you won’t have to worry about paying anything.
Indeed, they give students the opportunity to earn their doctorate without tuition fees[3], and additional funding may even be provided to cover living expenses and other costs. Aside from the fact that your education is free, the benefits of enrolling in such a program are numerous.
Students can focus on their studies without borrowing a lot of money. Also, since they don’t need to work on top of their studies, they can keep their focus to become a well-trained professional in their field.
Key Programs to Know
Regardless of your major (business, health care, STEM or other education), you have many options when selecting a university degree. Several schools provide fully-funded training that gives you the necessary skills to earn a degree.
In this section, we’ll show you a selection of the best programs in the United States that you can enroll in with total funding.
University of Pennsylvania
In case you’re interested in studying business, look into the courses offered by The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The annual scholarship of $39,370 covers tuition, healthcare insurance and monthly living expenses.
For students pursuing a full-time degree, it takes 2 years of academic learning plus 3 years of experiments and research-based projects.
“Students pursuing a full-time degree, the academic learning component typically takes two years to complete,” said Greg Massey, professor of foundations in multinational management at the University of Pennsylvania. “Also, students can expect to spend an additional three years working on experiments and research-based projects in order to fully complete their degree program.”
Among the doctoral concentrations given at this school are:
- Accountancy;
- Applied Economics;
- Ethical and Judicial Studies;
- Finance;
- Medical Administration and Economics;
- Administration;
- Marketing;
- Business Operations, Information, and Decisions,
- Statistics.
Columbia University
Those interested in pursuing a doctorate in the field of clinical psychology may want to look into Columbia University seriously. In addition to 100 percent funded tuition, those in Teachers College also qualify for a $25,000 annual allowance[4].
PhDs may choose to serve as teaching or research assistants. This program, which typically lasts 5-7 years, is designed to prepare students for positions in places such as:
- Academic settings;
- Institutes of research;
- Health care facilities, and;
- Community organizations.
Harvard University
Among the top schools offering a 100 percent funded doctoral program is the University of Harvard[5]. More accurately, it is the T.H. Chan School of Public Health. There, students have the opportunity to earn a PhD in Biology with a concentration in illness prevention and cure.
Full funding for this program involves a stipend, academic fees, and healthcare insurance. Assuming students are successful in their academic pursuits, they can benefit from a 100% Harvard-funded education. At this time, the program provides access to research opportunities on illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, malaria, as well as kidney disease.
University of Southern California
Get ready to enter the business world by joining a PhD at this university. Whoever enrolls in the Marshall College of Business is granted automatic financial aid that covers full tuition and a monthly allowance[6].
Occasionally, financial support is also provided to some students beyond the maximum five-year period if circumstances permit. In this school, all applicants are expected to cooperate with the academic staff in advanced technology research occupations.
“It is occasionally possible for financial support to be extended to some students beyond the maximum five-year period if circumstances allow,” said Eric Ridgeway, professor of economic foundations of research in management at University of Southern California. “All applicants are expected to work with the academic staff on advanced technology research projects as part of their studies.”
Various concentrations are possible in this academic school, which include:
- Accountancy;
- Administration and Management;
- Data Sciences and Operations;
- Financial Markets;
- Marketing.
Conduct an Online Search to Find Other Programs for a Doctorate
Undertaking a PhD does not have to be costly. Many universities sponsor complete funding PhD programs, allowing you to devote full attention to your academic work instead of worrying how much you’ll be paying.
Browse the web to find out the requirements for enrolling in these types of programs. You’ll find the numerous campuses, majors, and options that a PhD will offer you after you graduate. Put together the curricula of several schools to determine which one will work best for you academically and in terms of career prospects.
“To learn about the requirements for enrolling in a PhD program in business, it is advisable to research the various options available online. You will find that there are many universities and colleges offering these types of programs, with a range of majors and specializations to choose from,” said Ridgeway. “As you consider your options, it may be helpful to compare the curricula of different schools to determine which program aligns best with your academic and career goals.”
