Doctoral Degree Scholarships and Grants: A Comprehensive Guide

Pursuing a doctoral degree, also known as a PhD or Doctor of Philosophy, is a significant academic undertaking. It represents the highest level of academic qualification awarded by universities and requires a substantial investment of time and resources. While a PhD is a major achievement, the cost of tuition can be a significant barrier. The average annual cost of a PhD is $96,800. Fortunately, there are various funding options available, including scholarships and grants that do not require repayment. This article provides a comprehensive guide to doctoral degree scholarships and grants, exploring eligibility requirements, application processes, and valuable resources to help aspiring PhD students finance their education.

Understanding PhD Funding Options

Before diving into specific scholarships and grants, it's essential to understand the different types of financial aid available for PhD students.

Scholarships: These are financial awards that you don’t need to repay, often based on merit, demographics, or career goals. To win one of these you need to be amongst the best students who apply, based on your transcripts, GPA, and research experience.
Grants: Grants are similar in that they don’t require repayment, but they are often awarded based on financial need, academic merit, or your field of study. Grants for graduate school are like graduate school scholarships in that you don’t have to pay them back. If you withdraw from school or otherwise fail to maintain eligibility for the grant, you may have to refund part or all the grant, so know the individual grant’s rules.
Fellowships: A fellowship is a special kind of merit scholarship that often covers all tuition expenses. Fellowships are usually granted by the school itself, not a third-party provider. They often have competitive applications and a limited number of spots. Awarded for academic excellence, graduate fellowships can be found in many fields and often include an internship or other service commitment. A primary benefit of a graduate fellowship is the exposure to research and experts in your field. Graduate student fellowships can be highly competitive. They can also involve an extensive application process that includes nominations, interviews, and presentations. Fellowship programs look for highly motivated individuals with demonstrated leadership, knowledge, and drive.
Assistantships: Many universities offer assistantships, usually involving teaching or research roles in exchange for a stipend and tuition waiver, to support PhD students. The majority of Ph.D. students offset the cost of their degree with teaching and research assistantships.

Fully Funded PhD Programs

Many universities offer fully funded PhD programs, which can significantly alleviate the financial burden of doctoral studies. These programs typically waive the cost of tuition and fees and provide an annual stipend, money that can often be used for qualifying living expenses. Some also offer health insurance and other support. These financial benefits typically require students to maintain satisfactory academic progress and a certain enrollment status.

Here are some examples of universities offering fully funded PhD programs:

University of Chicago (IL): Anthropology Ph.D. students can receive funding for up to eight years of study, including a full-tuition scholarship, health insurance, and a living stipend.
Harvard University (MA): The T.H. Chan School of Public Health offers a fully funded Ph.D. in biological sciences in public health, including a stipend, tuition, and health insurance for five years.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Ph.D. students at the Sloan School of Management receive a full-tuition scholarship, a monthly stipend (later replaced by a teaching or research assistant salary), medical insurance, new laptops, and funding for conference travel and research expenses.
Rice University (TX): The Jones Graduate School of Business provides full financial assistance, including a research or teaching assistantship, tuition waiver, and an annual stipend.
University of Iowa: The Tippie College of Business offers full funding to "virtually all admitted students" in its Ph.D. programs, including tuition and fees, an annual stipend, and comprehensive health insurance.
Cornell University (NY): All students admitted to the chemical engineering Ph.D. program receive full tuition and a stipend.
Brown University (RI): Doctoral students in any program are guaranteed financial support, including tuition remission, a stipend, health services fees, and a subsidy for health insurance.
Georgetown University (DC): The Ph.D. program in computer science provides financial aid and assistantships that cover tuition and include a stipend and health insurance for the first five years.
Washington University in St. Louis (MO): Ph.D. students in computer science or computer engineering receive fully paid tuition and health insurance.
Emory University (GA): Students enrolled in the economics Ph.D. program receive a stipend of $40,324 per year for five years, a full tuition scholarship, and an annual subsidy for health insurance.
New York University: The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development offers a funding package to full-time Ph.D. students, including an annual stipend, tuition coverage, and student health insurance for five years.
University of Pennsylvania: The Graduate School of Education provides full funding to Ph.D. students as part of the Dean's Fellowship and Research Apprenticeship package, including a living stipend, health insurance, and coverage of tuition and fees for four years.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: All engineering doctoral students are guaranteed full funding, a monthly living stipend, and health insurance.
Boston University (MA): Doctoral students studying English receive a stipend annually plus full tuition, fees, and basic health insurance.
University of California-Los Angeles: Students accepted to the Ph.D. in English program are automatically considered for various funding options, including tuition, fees, and health insurance coverage.
American University (DC): Doctoral students in international relations who do not have external funding receive a renewable four-year Dean's Fellowship that includes tuition, fees, and a stipend earned via a part-time role as a teaching or research assistant.
Binghamton University-SUNY: Every student admitted to the management Ph.D. program receives a teaching or research assistantship for each academic year, up to four years, that comes with a full-tuition scholarship and a stipend.
Duke University (NC): Doctoral students in materials science and engineering receive full tuition and fees and a 12-month stipend for the first five years, along with health and dental insurance.
Johns Hopkins University (MD): The School of Nursing provides most full-time doctoral students with three fully funded years of study, including graduate assistantships, targeted fellowships, nursing-specific funding, and need-based relocation grants.
University of Virginia: All students admitted to the Ph.D. in Nursing program are eligible for four years of scholarship funding to cover tuition, fees, insurance, and annual stipends tied to a graduate teaching assistantship.
Yale University (CT): The School of Nursing offers full funding to its Ph.D. students, including a monthly stipend for four years, paid tuition, and health care.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities: Students admitted to the psychology Ph.D. program are guaranteed full funding for five years, including full-time tuition, a nine-month stipend, and subsidized year-round health insurance.
University of Notre Dame (IN): Doctoral students in Romance languages and literatures are guaranteed five years of funding that includes tuition remission, a stipend, and health benefits.
Bryn Mawr College (PA): Students admitted to the Ph.D. program in social work receive full tuition waivers and stipends toward living expenses.
Vanderbilt University (TN): Funding is guaranteed for all doctoral students in the special education Ph.D. program, including full tuition, a "competitive" monthly stipend, and health insurance for four years.

This is not a comprehensive list, and interested students should conduct their own research to identify fully funded PhD programs in their field of interest.

Read also: Applying to USF Doctoral Programs

External Scholarships and Grants

In addition to university-based funding, numerous external organizations offer scholarships and grants to support doctoral students. These awards can be based on various criteria, including academic merit, financial need, research interests, and demographic factors.

General Graduate Scholarships and Grants

Bold.org: This platform offers a variety of scholarships for graduate students, including those pursuing PhDs.
Scholarships.com: This website helps you find graduate school scholarships you are eligible for.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): Graduate students can still benefit from filling out the FAFSA, as it makes them eligible for Federal Work-Study benefits and may be required for certain scholarships.
Ford Foundation Fellowship Program: This program is open to predoctoral, dissertation, and postdoctoral students.
Jacob J. Javits Fellowships: These fellowships are for MFA and Ph.D. students.

Discipline-Specific Scholarships and Grants

Education:
- AFT Robert G. Porter Scholars Program: Provides one-time $1,000 grants to members of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
- American Educational Research Association (AERA) Grants Program: Provides research funding and professional training and development for students working on education-related research.
- Children’s Literature Association (ChLA) Hannah Beiter Graduate Student Research Grants program: Offers individual awards ranging from $500 to $1,500 for dissertation research.
- NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program: Provides $27,500 fellowships for EdD students whose dissertations show unique perspectives on education.
- PDK Educational Foundation Scholarships: Offers one-time and renewable awards ranging from $500 to $4,000 for students pursuing a career in public education.
- AASA, the School Superintendents Association, Educational Administration Scholarships: For graduate students pursuing an educational administration degree.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics):
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program: For Master’s and Ph.D. students.
- NSF's Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship program: Supports summer research internships for doctoral students in the mathematical sciences.
- AFCEA Educational Foundation STEM Teacher Graduate Scholarships: Awards $2,500 each to students pursuing graduate degrees for teaching STEM in grades K-12.
Arts and Humanities:
- Alfred P. McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience: For Master’s and Ph.D. students.
- Intercollegiate Studies Institute Fellowships: Offers fellowships of up to $15,000 for graduate students who intend to teach in the social sciences or humanities.
- Antonio Cirino Memorial Scholarship: For Rhode Island residents pursuing arts education.
Social Work:
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP): Provides financial support, training, and mentorship to doctoral students in social work who are committed to serving underrepresented populations.
Literacy:
- The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Grants program: Grants of up to $2,500 to Phi Kappa Phi members working on literacy projects.
- Steven A. Stahl Research Grant: A $1,000 award granted to one recipient annually by the International Literacy Association (ILA).
- Carmelita K. Williams VSRA Scholarship: Up to $1,000 for EdD students studying at an accredited university or college in Virginia with a degree program focused on reading.
Special Education:
- The Donald and Verna Duncan Special Education Scholarship: Offered through the PDK Educational Foundation for graduate students whose field of study has a major emphasis in special education/rehabilitation and mental health counseling.

Grants for Specific Research Areas

Organization for Autism Research: Offers a $2,000 grant for doctoral candidates focused on autism research.
SHAPE America Research Grant Program: Provides annual awards of up to $2,000 for graduate students studying physical activity in natural environments.
Esther Katz Rosen Fund Grants program at Duke University: These grant amounts range from $1,000 to $5,000. Grants are available to SAI members, and most are focused on supporting music education.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM): Offers math-focused grants with award amounts ranging from $1,500 to $24,000 for math teachers.
Department of Health & Human Services Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation: Offers various grants, which support research in areas including childcare, Head Start and Early Head Start, child welfare and other topics.

Scholarships for Underrepresented Groups

John E. Young Ph.D. Scholarship: The goal of this scholarship is to increase graduation rates for African American Ph.D. students in business.
McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program: Covers up to $5,000 in annual tuition for each of three academic years, plus an annual stipend of $12,000, for African American and Hispanic students who are interested in teaching at universities and colleges in the state of Florida.

Other Funding Opportunities

Industry-Sponsored PhDs: Allow students to pursue their research while developing excellent transferrable skills and providing you with business experience.
Tuition Reimbursement from Employers: If you're currently employed and plan to keep working while you’re in school, you may be able to receive tuition reimbursement through your employer.
Federal Work-Study Program: Provides students with part-time employment while you are enrolled in school.

How to Find and Apply for PhD Scholarships and Grants

Start Early: Securing funding takes time, so begin your search as soon as possible. You can begin applying for scholarships as early as high school.
Be Thorough and Organized: Managing multiple funding applications can become overwhelming quickly.
Tailor Your Applications: Customize each application to the specific sponsor or funding organization.
Leverage Your Network: Tap into your academic network-professors, colleagues, and alumni can be invaluable resources.
Search Online: Utilize online scholarship databases and search engines to identify relevant funding opportunities.
Contact Your Prospective School's Financial Aid Department: Ask them how to apply for grants, scholarships, and fellowships.
Check Professional Associations and Non-profit Organizations: Be sure to reach out to related professional associations and other nonprofit research organizations that support your area of study.
Create a Strong Profile: When you apply for scholarships, keep in mind that there are certain ways to increase your chances of winning, such as having a detailed profile, earning as many bold points as possible, and writing impressive essays.
Write Compelling Essays and Research Proposals: Doctoral scholarships are incredibly competitive, so in order to get fellowship programs and grants, you will have to stand out. You can do this by writing compelling essays or research proposals that will impress the scholarship committees.

Eligibility Requirements for PhD Scholarships

In order to get a PhD scholarship, you must be getting your Doctor of Philosophy at an accredited university. PhD students can also qualify for more general scholarships for graduate or doctoral students in addition to PhD scholarships. If you're a student who is about to get your PhD, you can also apply for PhD scholarships.

Some scholarships have additional requirements beyond just being a PhD student. Students could need to have a certain field of study, education level, or career goals in order to get financial assistance. Student eligibility may also depend on the types of extracurricular activities that a student participates in. Make sure you check all of the eligibility criteria for scholarships before you apply. In order to get a PhD, many programs require students to have a college GPA of at least 3.0. For students who want to get a scholarship, and especially to get a merit scholarship, students will have to have a GPA far above the minimum GPA. A GPA above 3.5 is usually an excellent GPA to have in order to get a PhD scholarship, but there are scholarship options for students with a lower GPA.

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