Are you passionate about research? Do you have a strong motivation to excel in your field? Are you seeking an opportunity to immerse yourself in a community of experts who share your passion for your area of study? If so, it may be time to pursue a PhD or other doctoral degree. However, finding the ideal degree program can be daunting. It’s important to find an affordable program that you can fit into your busy life and, most importantly, that will enable you to achieve your career goals, no matter how much research you conduct.
This guide is here to provide you with the assistance you require. We’ll introduce you to the top doctoral and PhD programs available in New York state, both on campus and online. Additionally, you’ll find an abundance of valuable advice on what to look for in an excellent degree program, how to secure financial aid for your degree, what the job market currently looks like for New York doctorate graduates, and much more.
Top-Rated PhD and Doctoral Programs in New York for 2023
Take a look at our highlights of three of the most exceptional doctoral and PhD programs available in New York state today. These selections are based on affordability, flexibility and convenience of study, and access to high-quality student support services. New York schools provide a vast array of outstanding degree programs; these spotlights provide a good overview of what to anticipate from any excellent New York PhD or doctoral program you might consider.
University at Buffalo
With a staggering 97 PhD and doctoral degrees available, including 10 fully online and four offered in a hybrid format, you’re bound to find one that meets your needs at the State University of New York (SUNY) University at Buffalo (UB). As a public institution, the tuition for PhD and doctoral programs in New York at UB are quite competitive with other schools in the state. The total cost for full-time study (12 credits) for most on-campus PhD and doctoral programs is $7,194 per semester for New York residents and $13,089 for out-of-state residents. The total semester cost for full-time online students is $6,600 for New York residents and $7,730 for out-of-state residents. Different rates apply to some doctorates, including medicine, pharmacy, and law. To help you pay for your degree, UB offers a generous array of scholarship and fellowship opportunities. Assistantships and work study jobs are available as well.
New York PhD and doctoral students at UB have access to a full range of school-sponsored academic, health and wellness, and personal support services. For example, the PhD Excellence Initiative is designed to recruit the very best PhD students and provide exceptional educational and research training.
University at Albany
The University at Albany is another SUNY campus offering quality PhD and doctoral degree programs at affordable prices. Most of the 39 doctoral-level degrees are offered in a traditional on-campus format; the exceptions are education-related PhDs in literacy and curriculum and instruction, both of which are available fully online as well as on-campus.
Current per-semester costs for full-time (12-credit) students in on-campus PhD and doctoral programs at SUNY Albany are $6,876 for New York residents and $12,771 for out-of-state residents. Semester costs for online programs are $6,426 for New York residents and $7,589.50 for out-of-state residents. Students enrolled in nine credits or less per semester pay a per-credit tuition rate. Visit the Funding Graduate Studies page for a rundown of scholarships, fellowships, and graduate and teaching assistantships. SUNY Albany also offers tuition waivers, partial tuition payments, and fellowship opportunities to encourage and support diversity in its graduate student population.
New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private research institution located in New York City. NYU has 15 graduate schools that offer over 100 different PhD and doctoral degrees. Like SUNY Albany, most doctoral programs at NYU are held entirely on campus. One exception is the online EdD in Innovation and Leadership offered by NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.
Tuition rates and fees for PhD and doctoral programs vary by program. Scholarships, assistantships, and teaching fellowships are administered through the individual NYU colleges and schools. PhD and doctoral students may also be eligible for unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS loans and work-study. To learn more, visit the Overview of Graduate Aid page.
Types of PhD and Doctoral Programs Available in New York
Doctoral and PhD programs in New York come in all different shapes and sizes, which might make it difficult to decide on the one that’s right for you. To cut down on the confusion, below are descriptions of some of the most common types of doctoral programs in New York state.
Full-Time PhD/Doctoral Programs in New York
Full-time PhD programs in New York State are quite common—maybe surprisingly so given the high level of commitment to rigorous study required in a full-time doctoral program. Program lengths vary by degree type and major; four to six years is typical. Students in full-time PhD programs at NYU’s Stern School of Business normally take five years to complete degree requirements, while the PhD in sociology at Cornell University can be completed in four years. Some programs take even less time; for more on those see the section on accelerated PhD and doctoral programs below.
Part-Time PhD/Doctoral Programs in New York
Part-time doctoral and PhD programs in New York are also common, possibly more so than full-time ones, particularly when it comes to fully online and hybrid programs. That’s because a growing number of working professionals are looking to earn their degrees while maintaining full-time jobs. Part-time programs are typically generous with program lengths, often allowing six or seven years for students to complete their PhD or doctorate in New York.
Examples of part-time doctoral and PhD programs in New York include the PhD in economics at Fordham University and the post-master’s PhD in nursing at The City University of New York. For more on part-time doctoral degrees, be sure to check out Best Part-Time PhD and Doctoral Programs (Online & Campus).
Fully Funded PhD/Doctoral Programs in New York
During your search for a PhD or doctorate program, you’re likely to encounter programs that are classified as “fully funded.” Fully funded programs indicate that the degree program’s cost is covered through a combination of resources, including in-house scholarships and grants, tuition waivers and discounts, as well as fellowship and assistantship jobs. While these programs are still uncommon, you might be surprised to discover that fully funded doctoral and PhD programs in New York State are not as rare as you may think.
Examples of fully funded New York doctoral programs include the six PhDs at Columbia Business School (fully funded for the first four years) and 12 PhD degrees offered by the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry.
No-GRE PhD/Doctoral Programs in New York
Another recent trend with graduate programs in the U.S. is eliminating Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores from admissions requirements. And while most PhD and doctoral programs in New York state still require either general or subject-specific GRE test scores, a small but growing number do not. Two examples of such no-GRE programs are the Clinical Doctorate of Social Work at Yeshiva University and the PhD in urban education at The City University of New York.
To learn more about no-GRE doctoral programs, check out PhDs & Doctorates Without GRE Requirements.
Accelerated PhD/Doctoral Programs in New York
As mentioned earlier, the program lengths for most doctoral and PhD programs in New York state range from four to seven years, depending on if you’re studying full-time or part-time. However, you might be surprised to learn that there are accelerated degree programs that allow you to earn your doctorate in less time. In fact, a few online doctoral programs in the U.S. can be completed in as little as one year. Accelerated doctoral and PhD programs in New York more commonly take two to three years. Examples include the Online Accelerated Doctor of Nursing Practice at Pace University (as few as two years) and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Columbia University (three years).
No Dissertation PhD/Doctoral Programs in New York
It’s difficult but not impossible to earn a doctoral degree in New York without completing a dissertation. PhD and doctoral programs without a dissertation typically require an alternative culminating activity, most commonly a capstone project. Two examples of such programs in New York state include the EdD in Innovation and Leadership program at NYU and the Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy online program at Utica University.
Popular Fields to Earn Your PhD and Doctoral Degree in New York
Computer Science
The PhD in computer science is for professionals interested in top-level positions in computer science industrial research or college-level academia. The focus is on advanced science leading to important and innovative technical developments in the field, not on developing computer programming skills.
Quality Examples of On-Campus Programs
Quality Examples of Hybrid/Online Programs
Education
The field of education has two basic types of doctoral degrees. The Doctorate in Education (EdD) is primarily for professionals seeking roles in education administration and leadership. The PhD in education is primarily for educators seeking advanced teaching positions (most often in postsecondary education) and roles in educational policy and research. Curricula for both often focus on specialized areas within the larger educational field.
Quality Examples of On-Campus Programs
- The City University of New York (PhD in Urban Education)
- Columbia University (PhD in Education Policy)
- Hofstra University (EdD in Learning and Teaching)
Quality Examples of Hybrid/Online Programs
Nursing
The field of healthcare is hot, and perhaps no area of healthcare is in greater need of leaders than nursing. As a result, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs are among the most popular of all doctoral programs. The DNP degree is available for experienced nurses with a previously earned MSN degree who are interested in top-tier leadership positions without giving up direct practice with patients. Most nurses interested in pursuing careers in academia find a PhD in nursing to be a better match for their goals.
Quality Examples of On-Campus Programs
Quality Examples of Hybrid/Online Programs
Physical Therapy
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree is designed for students with a bachelor’s degree who want to become licensed physical therapists. DPT programs are very popular and are offered by many New York colleges and universities. A DPT is also a good fit for students who want to pursue research in the field.
Quality Examples of On-Campus Programs
- Dominican University New York (DPT)
- Mercy College (DPT)
- New York University (PhD in Physical Therapy Research)
Quality Examples of Hybrid/Online Programs
Psychology
Doctoral degrees in psychology are popular offerings from New York colleges and universities. There are two primary doctoral-level psychology credentials. The PhD in psychology is the oldest and most common of the two and is designed for students interested in conducting scientific research and/or teaching on the postsecondary level. The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree is geared toward professionals interested in providing psychological services directly to patients. Both the psychology PhD and PsyD degrees prepare graduates for state examinations to become licensed psychologists.
Quality Examples of On-Campus Programs
Earning Your PhD or Professional Doctorate Online in New York
While the number of online PhD and doctoral programs in New York is growing, you’ll find far fewer of them than traditional on-campus programs. Still, if the degree you’re looking for is available in an online format, you’ll discover lots of good reasons to consider the online route.
The specifics of how you will study online vary from program to program. For example, some programs, like the Online PhD in Literacy at St. John’s University, are 100% online with no campus visits required. Others, like the Doctor of Ministry program at Fordham University, are presented in a hybrid format combining both online and on-campus components. Also, online programs may feature fully asynchronous coursework or combine asynchronous and synchronous elements. For example, the University at Buffalo’s Online Doctor of Social Work is 100% online but requires students to attend some class sessions via livestream on specific dates and times.
Regardless of format, the most critical aspect to remember is that, aside from the convenience of online study, your online doctoral or PhD program in New York will be nearly identical to its on-campus equivalent. You will undertake the same rigorous curriculum, complete the same coursework, be instructed by the same faculty, and meet all of the same degree requirements as students in a conventional on-campus program.
Learn about New York’s best colleges offering online and hybrid doctoral programs in our college rankings below.
Best Online Doctoral Programs in New York for 2023
New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development offers two doctoral programs in a convenient online format: a Doctor of Occupational Therapy and an EdD in Leadership and Innovation. The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program helps current occupational therapists deepen their clinical and analytical expertise. Graduates can expect to qualify for advanced clinical, administration and research positions. Meanwhile, the EdD in Leadership and Innovation helps working professionals from a variety of fields to create positive change in their organizations through an education and learning lens. Graduates can expect to pursue executive and director level roles.
Program Highlights:
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
- Credits: 27-36
- Length: 2 to 4 years
- Cost: $2,101/credit
- Mode: Fully online
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
EdD in Leadership and Innovation
- Credits: 42
- Length: 2 years
- Cost: $2,185/credit
- Mode: Fully online
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Faculty Ratio8
Recognizing the increasing demand for distance learning, Fordham University offers several online degrees that are delivered in diverse ways. The first is a Doctor of Ministry, which is delivered in a hybrid format. Designed for students who have earned a master's degree in divinity and have at least three years of pastoral work experience, this program looks at the cultural and theological challenges those in ministry face today. Fordham also offers an online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy designed for professionals looking to move into superintendent and other high-level administrative K-12 roles. The program uses an improvement science approach to help graduates become effective change leaders for their students, districts, and communities.
Program Highlights:
Doctor of Ministry
- Credits: 51
- Length: 2 to 6 years
- Cost: $979/credit
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Doctor of Education in Leadership, Administration and Policy
- Credits: 50
- Length: 3 years
- Cost: $1,560/credit
- Mode: Online with two in-person immersions
- Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Faculty Ratio14
The University at Buffalo is dedicated to offering the flexibility graduate students want from online degree programs while delivering the quality education provided by tenured faculty members. For example, the school's online information science PhD program (which is one of only two online doctoral programs in information science offered in North America) has coursework delivered entirely online. However, a one-week residency on campus is required annually. To help support students financially, the school offers assistantships so they can receive up to entire tuition reimbursement in exchange for working 20 hours a week. Also, the University at Buffalo has a Doctor of Education program offered entirely online. This degree focuses on learning and teaching in social contexts, so students become familiar with problem-solving methods for dealing with issues in diverse learning environments and strategies for promoting educational equity on campus.
Program Highlights:
Learning and Teaching in Social Contexts, EdD
- Credits: 60
- Length: 3 years
- Cost: $5,655/semester in-state; $6,785/semester out-of-state
- Mode: Fully online
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Information Science
- Credits: 72
- Length: 4 to 5 years
- Cost: $5,655/semester in-state; $6,785/semester out-of-state
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: American Library Association
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Faculty Ratio13
Saint John Fisher College has created graduate degree programs rooted in practice-oriented instruction that offer the flexibility and individual attention students need. With this in mind, the school offers an online Doctor of Pharmacy degree program that maintains small class sizes so all students receive personalized access to professors that enhances the learning experience. Students are able to strengthen their clinical skills through courses that have didactic and experiential components. This combination of theoretical and practical helps students fully develop an understanding of the concepts taught in class. When they finish their coursework, students get further hands-on training by working 2,000 clinical hours at local pharmacies.
Program Highlights:
Doctor of Pharmacy
- Credits: 151
- Length: 4 years
- Cost: $1,233/credit
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Faculty Ratio11
Since 1946, Utica University has strived to provide an education that encourages student engagement and offers the personal attention and mentorship learners need to thrive. By cultivating this formula for student success over decades, the school has brought its methodology to online education. Students of Utica University don't have to be on campus to benefit from its quality education. As a result, licensed physical therapists who enroll in the school's Doctor of Physical Therapy program receive the advanced education they need to provide higher levels of patient care. Students are able to deepen their understanding of the therapeutic process, from diagnosis to treatment delivery. They achieve this through online classes and a practicum tailored to their specific needs and career goals.
Program Highlights:
Doctor of Physical Therapy
- Credits: 19
- Length: 1.5 years
- Cost: $785/credit
- Mode: Fully online
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Faculty Ratio11
Steeped in the Vincentian education tradition of social consciousness, St. John's University-New York provides online graduate degree programs that help fulfill students both professionally and personally so they can reach their goals. On the doctoral level, you can earn a PhD in literacy, which is completed entirely online over two and a half years. The program includes two specializations: literacy and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). Those in the general literacy concentration focus their studies on the advanced literacy techniques that educators use to empower children from kindergarten through high school. To do this, the program curriculum covers how to leverage social and digital technologies to boost language arts and writing outcomes. In the TESOL concentration, students gain a deep understanding of the theoretical and applied principles of teaching non-English speaking learners, whether teachers work in the United States or overseas. The program focuses on topics like curriculum design, research assessment, educational models, and policies relevant to the TESOL classroom.
Program Highlights:
Doctor of Philosophy in Literacy
- Credits: 42
- Length: 2.5 years
- Cost: $1,470/credit
- Mode: Fully online
- Accreditation: Teacher Education Accreditation Council; American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE); University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA)
CounselingYes
PlacementYes
Faculty Ratio16
Where to Get Help Paying for Your PhD or Doctoral Degree in New York
Students in doctoral and PhD programs in New York state have access to the full range of financial aid resources available to other graduate students. These include scholarships and grants (both in-house and external), assistantships, fellowships, work-study programs, tuition installment plans, and student loans, such as Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans available through the U.S. Department of Education.
For examples of financial aid opportunities for doctoral and PhD students in New York, check out the links below.
- The City University of New York
- Clarkson University
- Cornell University
- New York Institute of Technology
- University of Rochester
How Much You Could Make with a Doctorate in New York
Making more money is far from the only reward for getting a doctoral degree. But for most people, it’s one of the biggest. Graduates of PhD and other doctoral programs in New York can safely expect to see sizable boosts to their paychecks once they’ve earned their degrees. According to 2021 median earnings figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, doctoral degree holders earned 21% more each week than master’s degree holders and 41% more than employees with only a bachelor’s degree.
The chart below offers recent annual earnings figures in New York state for a number of occupations common to PhD and doctoral degree graduates. What you’ll actually earn, of course, will depend on your specific employer and job title, your geographic location, and your level of work experience.
| Job Title | Related Doctoral Degree(s) | Median Earnings | 90th Percentile Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | Doctor of Nursing Practice | $120,680 | $163,350 |
| College Business Professor | PhD in Education | $94,360 | $198,240 |
| Clinical Psychologist | Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) | $82,510 | $167,460 |
| Middle School Principal | Doctor of Education (EdD) | $98,420 | $153,520 |
| Physical Therapist | Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | $95,620 | $121,140 |
| Human Resources Director | Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) | $163,360 | $208,000 |
| Curriculum and Instruction Director | Doctor of Education (EdD) | $77,400 | $125,560 |
| Epidemiologist | Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) | $92,040 | $208,000+ |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021