About PhD Program,
Agricultural economics applies principles of economics and econometrics to the analysis of issues related to the production, marketing, distribution, and consumption of food and the supporting natural and human resource systems.
The STEM-certified agricultural economics program at Nebraska provides a foundation for professional problem solving through courses in production economics, agricultural industrial organization, international agricultural trade, agricultural development, natural resource economics, and agribusiness. Cooperation with the Departments of Economics and Statistics and the College of Business provides excellent opportunities for supplementing and complementing the courses offered through the Department of Agricultural Economics.
The broad base of the educational program supports diverse career opportunities in areas such as private, university and government research, business management, loan analysis, consulting, agricultural production, and college-level education. Graduates are employed by businesses, governments, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions around the globe.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
- A master’s degree with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Students without a master’s degree will also be considered but they must have completed core requirementsfor the master’s degree in agricultural economics.
- See all Graduate Studies admission policies.
- The GRE is not required but is recommended for students seeking an assistantship.
- If your native language is not English, verification of English proficiencyis required. Graduate Studies determines exemptions from this requirement.
- You do not need to contact a faculty member to be considered for admission or an assistantship.
- Prepare a department or a conference presentation (or paper) before the fourth year begins
- Have a paper submitted to a peer-reviewed journal before graduating
- At least 90 credit hours, including 12 to 55 hours of dissertation research
- At least half of the graduate work, including the dissertation, will be completed in the department
PhD Funding Coverage,
Graduate research assistantships are the most common form of financial assistance. A GRA consists of a stipend and benefits. Tuition is waived for students on assistantships, but fees of approximately $1,200/year must be paid by all students. A major portion of the fee for student health insurance is included in GRAs. Each year, we receive funding from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Agricultural Research Division for GRAs. These are not tied to a specific research project but support the research needs of the department and institute. There is no separate application for assistantships and applicants do not need to contact a faculty member to be considered.
Faculty often have grants or other funding to support graduate students. More information.
Each year, we receive funding from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Agricultural Research Division for graduate research assistantships. These are not tied to a specific research project but support the research needs of the department and institute. There is no separate application for assistantships and applicants do not need to contact a faculty member to be considered.
Assistantships include a competitive stipend, plus tuition waiver and the majority of health insurance costs.
Faculty often have grants or other funding to support graduate students.
Application Requirement,
- Transcripts(unofficial): Uploaded as part of application form.
- If International: Uploads must include all college- or university-level transcripts or mark sheets (records of courses and marks earned), with certificates, diplomas, and degrees plus certified English translations.
- After admission: Official documents are required from all students who are admitted and enroll. Photocopies of certified records are not acceptable. International students enrolled in other U.S. institutions may have certified copies of all foreign records sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies by their current school’s registrar office.
- If applicant’s native language is not English, verification of English proficiencyis required.
- When sending TOEFL scores, our institution code is 6877 and a department code is not needed.
- If applicant is not a US citizen and expects an F or J visa: financial information.
- Applicants must also fulfill any additional requirements the department specifies at the time of application.
Additional requirements specific to this program
- Entrance exam(s): GREnot required but strongly recommended for students seeking an assistantship.
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume
- Personal Statement: This statement should describe your goals and your reasons for pursuing this degree in three pages or less.
- Writing Sample (optional)
- Coursework Form: Prerequisite Worksheet for Ag Econ (PhD).
- Faculty (optional): Identify up to three faculty members that you are interested in working with. This information will help match admitted students with advisors and funding opportunities.
- Three letters of recommendation
Application Deadline,
Dec 31, 2024
Application Fee,
Application for Admission with $50 non-refundable application fee.
