About PhD Program,
Our Ph.D. program faculty consists of 91 economists drawn from the Cornell University Economics Department, the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Johnson School, the Department of Policy Analysis and Management, the Division of Nutritional Sciences, the Hotel School, and the Law School. The Ph.D. degree in Economics is administered by the Cornell Graduate School as the only degree offered by the Graduate Field of Economics. To view our program field faculty, click here.
The breadth of our faculty offers students many opportunities. Students can focus their doctoral research on a wide range of economics-related topics provided at least two Ph.D. program faculty members approve the topic and agree to supervise the student. The full committee consists of a chair from the Ph.D. program faculty and two or three additional members of the Cornell Graduate Faculty. This flexibility allows students to form dissertation committees that reflect very specific specializations from around Cornell.
Cornell is also what we call an open campus. Students may take courses in areas other than economics and participate in interdisciplinary work. Indeed, many doctoral-level courses in economics are offered by faculty members in colleges and schools across the campus.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Our first semester courses presume a thorough knowledge of microeconomics at the level of a rigorous treatment of undergraduate intermediate theory. More economics background is preferred, but an economics major is not required.
We admit students from a variety of academic backgrounds. Those whose prior education was primarily in economics typically excelled in advanced undergraduate or graduate (e.g., Master’s) courses, including proof-based mathematics courses at least through linear algebra. With applicants whose previous degree was not in economics, we look for especially strong technical skills as well as some economics coursework.
Courses called Mathematics for Economists, Mathematics for Social Scientists, and Econometrics are not a substitute for formal mathematics.
A mathematics review course is offered before classes in the first three weeks of August. Although it is not required, in our experience most entering students benefit significantly from this course.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Financial aid is not “need-based.” All applicants are considered for financial aid awards based on academic merit and potential success as a teaching or research assistant.
Financial aid packages for incoming students are typically guaranteed, given satisfactory performance, through the Spring semester of the sixth year of study (if six years are actually needed to complete the degree). Most of the aid packages are in the form of fellowships/assistantship combinations (approximately 15 per year). The normal package includes one fellowship year, which must be used during the first year of study and one which can be used to allow focused research toward the dissertation, typically taken in the fifth year of study. The first-year fellowship enables the student to focus on the core program. Subsequent financial aid normally takes the form of graduate research assistantships and teaching assistantships. Graduate fellowships and research and teaching assistantships cover full academic year tuition as well as a stipend and medical insurance.
Research assistantships may be available from individual faculty members. These are awarded to qualified graduate students whose research interests are clearly similar to those of the faculty member with the research funding, and generally to students with strong academic performance and/or special skills (e.g., programming).
Admissions and fellowship decisions for many students are contingent upon the acceptances or rejections of those who have the initial offers. Applicants are advised to make certain we know how they can be reached quickly (by e-mail, or if necessary fax or telephone) between April 1 and April 15.
Application Requirement,
- Required Tests
- Recommendations
- Academic Statement of Purpose
- Personal Statement
- Transcript Requirements
- English Language Proficiency Requirement
- International Degree Equivalencies
Application Deadline,
Jan 15, 2025
Application Fee,
a nonrefundable application fee of $105 is required at the time you submit your online application.
