How Long Does it Take to Get a Ph.D. Degree and Should You Get One?

Each spring across the U S thousands of students don academic hoods symbolizing the completion of their Ph D undertaking after years of inquiry The number of people earning doctoral degrees in the U S has grown over the decades with more than in the - academic year and projections of nearly in - according to Statista a global business intelligence and facts platform What s a Ph D A Ph D or Medical practitioner of Philosophy degree follows bachelor s or master s degrees indicating the highest completion of an academic journey That s why along with other doctorates it s often referred to as a terminal degree A Ph D shows specialization in an academic field that includes adding new knowledge says Pierre Huguet CEO and co-founder of H C Learning a college admissions consulting firm Obtaining a Ph D typically begins with a scant years of coursework in a subject followed by original research identifying a unique question inspecting it through rigorous methods and writing a dissertation that presents your findings Huguet who has a Ph D in literature from Yale University in Connecticut wrote in an email The final step is defending your dissertation in front of a panel of experts who evaluate whether your work makes a meaningful contribution to the field READ What Is a Doctorate or a Doctoral Degree How Long Does it Take to Get a Ph D Doctoral students typically take four to seven years to complete their degree according to Coursera a worldwide online learning platform The Tuition Material Initiative says it can range from five to years depending on various factors such as the type of doctorate the venture s length and the trainee s pace A Ph D degree takes longer than the traditional four years needed for a bachelor s degree and the one to two years for a master s plan because of differing purposes according to Huguet This is because Ph D s focus on creating new knowledge through research whereas bachelor s and master s programs focus on teaching existing knowledge he says It took years and six months frustration angst and sometimes guilt for Heatherlee Sittler to complete her Ph D degree in counselor teaching and supervision at Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania She took twice as long as her initiative s estimated finish time because of major life events the births of two children three bicycle accidents and her mother s evaluation with pancreatic cancer Sittler became the primary caregiver for her mother who died in March Life kept on happening Sittler says There was so much going on I had to put my Ph D on the back burner I don t even think I touched my dissertation for the two years that I was helping my mother and also nurturing a premature baby Is Getting a Ph D Worth the Time and Cost The cost of a Ph D degree varies depending on factors such as the institution field of analysis specific undertaking and length of venture according to the Mentoring Material Initiative For example an eight-year Ph D effort at the University of Florida may cost between and while an eight-year activity at New York University may cost The majority doctoral students receive financial assistance and the average Ph D degree recipient finishes with more than in aspirant loan debt according to the EDI Whether a Ph D is worth it depends on an individual s personal professional and financial goals Courtney Wiersema senior director of professional enhancement and external relations at UChicagoGRAD wrote in an email Wiersema notes that the cost can be offset with programs that provide tuition remission full funding a stipend and soundness insurance Ph D applicants should also evaluate the career services or professional progress programs that prospective schools offer she adds Related Ph D Programs That Prepare You for Work Beyond Academia Productive doctoral students are usually driven self-starters who draw immense personal satisfaction from generating new knowledge about their topic of survey Wiersema says For them the payoff of doing their research is vital though perhaps not easily quantified in dollars and cents Nevertheless a Ph D can be a life-changing professional credential that opens the doors to new careers This is especially true for Ph D candidates who seek faculty careers or any role in which research skills and technical expertise are prized Although Sittler spent years battling guilt as she pursued her Ph D guilt from her campaign taking away from her children and guilt when family time took away from her schoolwork she says in the end it was worth the time and cost I believe I became a better person a better professional and better mom to my kids because of my Ph D campaign Sittler had another reason for completing her arduous Ph D journey I promised my mom on her deathbed that I would finish Importance of Good Assistance Huguet says having backing throughout the process including evolving a good relationship with your adviser can shape your Ph D experience This relationship provides direction for your research and can help guide your dissertation topic in the right direction making the Ph D one of the most of enriching experiences of your life Huguet says These mentors also often open doors to professional networks and job opportunities It is crucial for students to select an adviser who is supportive and available throughout the process Sittler says a strong backing system helped her cross the finish line Make sure you have people around you who can patronage you and help you through life s challenges Sittler says Have a mentor to help you understand what s going on In addition to finding good mentors Huguet says aspiring Ph D students should define their research project early to articulate it to prospective advisers and reach out to faculty members who match their interests in their bachelor s or master s operation Building connections early on is key Huguet says If a faculty member supports your application your chances of admission increase significantly Read Why Go to Graduate School The Best and Worst Reasons Jobs for Ph D Recipients Ph D programs traditionally provide a pathway for college faculty jobs but there are opportunities outside academia such as in industry and the nonprofit and authorities sectors Wiersema says While these faculty roles are still the ambition of countless Ph D candidates those earning doctorates are increasingly finding work beyond the professoriate due to their wide-ranging ambitions and the limited number of college faculty jobs Wiersema says Here are certain examples of other practicable careers according to Wiersema Scientific Fields Science agenda Clinical trials management Strategy consulting Input science Quantitative finance Biotech research Humanities and Social Science Fields Plan research Territory research Strategy consulting Nonprofit advance Communications Publishing Higher coaching administration To get a sense of the career possibilities Ph D applicants should review the outcomes evidence for any doctoral programs that they are considering Wiersema advises Sittler decided to pursue a Ph D because she craved to be better in her job as a drug and alcohol counselor However because of her project Sittler is considering pursuing teaching at the university level Teaching was something that I didn t necessarily think I would be drawn to until I indeed did it Sittler says I was given an opportunity to teach a class and I fell in love with it I enjoyed the students that I worked with and I realized it was a bigger passion to me More from U S News Should You Go to Grad School Critical Policies to Find the Right Grad School Tips for Preparing to Start Graduate School How Long Does it Take to Get a Ph D Degree and Should You Get One originally appeared on usnews com Source