Table of Contents
- Top Fully Funded PhD Programs and Universities
- The University of Chicago, The Department of Anthropology
- Harvard University, T. H. Chan School of Public Health
- Stanford University, Graduate School of Education
- Duke University, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
- Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business
- Northwestern University, The Graduate School
- Columbia University, Teachers College
- California Institute of Technology, Division of Engineering & Applied Science
- Emory University, College of Arts and Sciences
- IICSE University
- How to Earn a Free PhD Degree Online
- What Does Fully Funded Mean?
- Key Takeaways
- Fully Funded PhD FAQs
Paying for a PhD out of pocket is expensive, especially at a renowned US university. Even with financial aid, many graduate students find themselves accumulating large amounts of student debt. However, some options can cover most, if not all, of your doctorate costs.
Many top universities offer fully funded PhD programs for eligible students. This funding completely covers tuition and other expenses for the entire program. In fact, some schools even offer a stipend for living expenses.
Several recognized institutions also offer completely free PhD programs online. While fully funded programs have tuition and other fees covered by funding, free doctoral programs don’t charge tuition at all. Read on to learn about the top fully funded and free PhD programs in the USA!
Top Fully Funded PhD Programs and Universities
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The University of Chicago, The Department of Anthropology
With a culture that encourages independent thinking, the University of Chicago has produced more than 90 Nobel Prize winners and produced defining research in several fields. In this interdisciplinary PhD in Anthropology program, students can also study with many of the university’s other departments, such as Political Science, History, and Comparative Human Development.
- Courses: Development of Social/Cultural Theory, Archeological Theory & method, and archeological data sets.
- Credits: 18 courses
- Delivery: On-campus
- Full funding: Full tuition, health insurance, and stipend (up to 9 years).
- Other support: Grants, fellowships, and teaching opportunities.
- Acceptance rate: 7%
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
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Harvard University, T. H. Chan School of Public Health
PhD Program in Biological Sciences in Public Health (BPH)
The US News & World Report ranked Harvard University second in the country among the best national universities. Its T. H. Chan School of Public Health has several specialized public health departments, including Environmental Health, Health & Population, and Epidemiology. This program also offers the flexibility to choose courses not only from the Department of Public Health, but also from other schools, such as HILS (Harvard Integrated Life Sciences) and even the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
- Courses: Biological sciences communications, principles of biostatistics & epidemiology, and computing environments for biology.
- Duration: 3 years +
- Delivery: On-campus
- Full funding: Stipend, tuition, and health insurance.
- Other support: Fellowships, awards, and grants.
- Acceptance rate: 5%
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts
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Stanford University, Graduate School of Education
PhD in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education (CTE)
Stanford University tops the list of the best universities for Education Policy Studies, making this one of the best options if you want to earn a PhD in Education. This doctorate is one of the top fully funded PhD programs in education and offers six specializations, including elementary education, teacher education, and science & environmental education.
- Courses: Introduction to statistical methods in education, research in curriculum & teacher education, and statistical analysis in education.
- Credits: 135 units
- Duration: 4-5 years
- Delivery: On-campus
- Full funding: Tuition aid, assistantship salary, and fellowship stipend (for 5 years).
- Other support: Grants, travel fellowships, and emergency funds.
- Acceptance rate: 5%
- Location: Stanford, California
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Duke University, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
Duke University is one of the country’s most renowned private research institutions, with ten Nobel Laureates to its credit. This program allows students to pursue both independent studies and inter-institutional courses, where students take courses from other affiliated universities. Students can also study as many programs outside literature as they wish.
- Courses: Special topics in literature, introduction to African American Studies, and modern European short fiction.
- Duration: 6 years
- Delivery: On-campus
- Full funding includes: Tuition, fees, stipend, and health insurance.
- Other support: Grants, loans, childcare subsidies, and financial hardship aid.
- Acceptance rate: 8%
- Location: Durham, North Carolina
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Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business
Rice University is a well-known institution for business studies and has been recognized as the best school for graduate entrepreneurship programs for the last three consecutive years. As part of its PhD in Business program, you can choose between one of four different concentrations: accounting, marketing, finance, and strategic management.
- Courses: Microeconomics, econometrics, theory, and dynamic optimization.
- Duration: 4 years +
- Delivery: On-campus
- Full funding: Tuition waiver and stipend.
- Other support: Scholarships, grants, loans, and student employment.
- Acceptance rate: 11%
- Location: Houston, Texas
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Northwestern University, The Graduate School
Northwestern University is known for its excellence in many disciplines and has ranked among the US News & World Report’s top 10 universities for the past four consecutive years. The school offers this program as a collaboration between three major schools: the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, and the Feinberg School of Medicine.
- Courses: Experimental design & measurement, biological performance of materials, and advanced physical & applied optics.
- Credits: 12 courses (for BS holders) or 9 courses (for MS holders)
- Delivery: On-campus
- Full funding: Tuition scholarship and stipend.
- Other support: Fellowships, grants, assistantships, loans, and veteran benefits.
- Acceptance rate: 9%
- Location: Evanston, Illinois
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Columbia University, Teachers College
Columbia University’s Teachers College is a specialized research institution that focuses on three areas: education, psychology, and health. The school offers many high-quality programs at the intersection of these disciplines. This PhD program is based on the scientist-practitioner model, preparing students to perform empirical research or apply their cutting-edge knowledge in a clinical environment.
- Courses: Brain & behavior, social problems for clinical psychologists, and personality & behavior change.
- Credits: 95
- Duration: 5 years
- Delivery: On-campus
- Full funding: Tuition, stipend, and health fees (up to 4 years).
- Other support: Scholarships, grants, fellowships, federal work-study, assistantships, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 7%
- Location: New York City, New York
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California Institute of Technology, Division of Engineering & Applied Science
Graduate Degree in Computer Science
Caltech is a big name in technology education, with over fifty cutting-edge research centers and laboratories, including NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and astronomical observatories around the globe. This graduate computer science program is highly flexible, with no specific core courses. Instead, students can design their own curriculum from available courses and in consultation with advisors.
- Courses: Functional programming, computability theory, and advanced digital systems design.
- Credits: 54 units
- Duration: 3 years +
- Delivery: On-campus
- Full funding: Tuition charges and stipends.
- Other support: Grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study.
- Acceptance rate: 7%
- Location: Pasadena, California
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Emory University, College of Arts and Sciences
Emory University provides a liberal arts college’s atmosphere and opportunities combined with an urban research university’s facilities — a win-win. This cross-registration program allows students to take classes at the university’s partner institutions, including Georgia Tech and Georgia State University, alongside their in-house courses.
- Courses: Microeconomic theory, health economics, and market structure & imperfect competition.
- Credits: 55
- Duration: 4-6 years
- Delivery: On-campus
- Full funding: Tuition, stipend, health insurance subsidy, and professional development support.
- Other support: Grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment.
- Acceptance rate: 19%
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
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IICSE University
PhD in International Business Administration
IICSE University is a tuition-free university offering undergraduate and graduate-level programs across various disciplines online. To complete the school’s free online PhD program in International Business Administration, you just need to pay the application fee and a nominal fee for each exam or assessment.
- Courses: Multinational business, business environment, and human capital management.
- Credits: 180
- Duration: 3 years
- Delivery: Online
- Full funding: Tuition, books, and lecture materials.
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Location: Wilmington, Delaware
How to Earn a Free PhD Degree Online
While many on-campus PhD programs with full funding, fully funded online PhD programs are much less common. However, you will find some free online PhD programs from institutions like IICSE University. These free programs do not charge tuition at all; on the other hand, fully funded programs have tuition fees that can be covered by a full funding option if you meet the school’s criteria.
Although they do not charge tuition, free online PhD programs typically involve some fees. For example, IICSE University charges application and exam fees.
What Does Fully Funded Mean?
Fully funded doesn’t usually mean zero tuition or other fees. Instead, the university offers sufficient funding to cover tuition fees if you meet their criteria (usually based on academic performance and merit).
This means students who don’t meet these often strict criteria must pay for tuition and other study expenses. If you aren’t eligible for a fully funded program, consider exploring some of the cheapest online PhD programs.
In other cases, PhD programs offer full funding for all students they accept. Of course, the admission process is usually strict and highly competitive for such programs.
Fully funded programs generally pay for deserving students’ tuition and provide a stipend to cover other expenses. Bottom line? If you qualify for a fully funded program, the school will cover almost all of your tuition, fees, and study expenses. Many institutions also offer additional support to cover gaps, such as grants, scholarships, loans, and employment opportunities.
Key Takeaways
Many US universities, including some of the country’s top institutions, offer fully funded PhD programs and tuition-free online programs in various disciplines. You’ll just need to demonstrate that you’re eligible for the program through your academic history, performance, and merit.
Once you qualify for full PhD funding, all your tuition and most or all of your study expenses will be covered, usually for the duration of the program. Make use of this extremely valuable feature offered by many prestigious universities that strive to ensure no deserving student misses out on a doctorate for want of funds.
Still not sure what program is right for you? Take a look at our guides to the best 1-year PhD programs online and the easiest master’s degrees.
Fully Funded PhD FAQs
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Can a PhD be Free?
Yes. Eligible students can obtain a doctorate for free from universities offering tuition-free or fully funded PhD programs.
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How Do I Get a Fully Funded PhD?
To qualify for a fully funded PhD you’ll need to meet certain criteria and put in a strong application. You’ll need to have an excellent undergraduate academic record, good recommendation letters, and present a persuasive personal essay.
Fully funded PhDs from the best universities are highly competitive, so it’s important to plan well ahead. As an undergraduate student, identify your dream fully funded PhD programs, and check the requirements and eligibility criteria. This way, you can work hard to meet these requirements throughout your undergraduate studies.
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Can I Study a PhD in the USA for Free?
Yes. Many USA universities offer opportunities to study a PhD for free. These include fully funded doctoral programs that cover your tuition and expenses and free PhD programs that don’t have tuition fees at all.
However, if you aren’t successful in securing a fully funded PhD and don’t like the free options, there are plenty of other ways to pay for grad school.
Lisa is a full-time writer specializing in career advice, further education, and personal development. She works from all over the world, and when not writing you'll find her hiking, practicing yoga, or enjoying a glass of Malbec.
