Department of Economics

Ph.D. Program

Graduate students have the opportunity to take courses and do research in a variety of fields, including:

  • Econometrics
  • International economics
  • Industrial organization
  • Labor economics
  • Macroeconomics
  • Public economics

Highlights of our Ph.D. program:

An excellent placement record

Graduates of our Ph.D. program have had a preference for academic employment, and they have largely been successful on the job market, with tenure track appointments at institutions such as Clarkson University, Missouri State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Seattle University, Xavier University and more. Some students have a preference for government or private sector employment. With a strong grounding in both econometrics and economic theory, they have excellent employment prospects.

Competitive funding

All applicants are considered for funding by the department and most enrolled students are funded. Funded students receive:

  • A competitive nine-month stipend.
  • A full waiver of tuition expenses.
  • Consideration for departmental scholarships to supplement the stipend. These include
    • The Wayne Nafziger Graduate Scholarship
    • The Lloyd and Sally Thomas Graduate Scholarship
    • The Edward Bagley Graduate Scholarship

Scholarships supplement the stipend by up to $4,500 annually. Domestic applicants are also considered for similarly generous scholarships provided through the Graduate School. Most of our students receive some level of summer support through work as a teaching assistant or instructor.

Rigorous, rewarding courses

Students are exposed to the frontier of economic research in their course work. Our faculty bring the latest advances in econometrics, economic theory and computation into the classroom. Our courses, while challenging, provide students with the foundation they will need to write a high-quality dissertation.

A strong research environment

Recent publications by our faculty have appeared in Journal of Econometrics, Journal of International Economics, Review of Economic Dynamics, Review of Economic Studies, The Review of Economics and Statistics, and many other top journals. Faculty members serve in editorial roles for journals, referee papers, and present at conferences. Many graduate students coauthor papers with faculty members and present their work at conferences. An active departmental seminar series and other seminars expose students to the latest research in a variety of fields. For more information, and a list of past speakers, see our seminar page.

Graduate student teaching experience

Many of our Ph.D. students are given the opportunity to teach their own classes. We work with them as they make the transition to the classroom, and some of them go on to win college- and university-wide teaching awards. The ability to teach well gives our graduates an advantage when they go on the job market.

A great place to live

Manhattan is a vibrant, fast-growing city located in the beautiful Flint Hills. It offers a low cost of living, low crime, good restaurants, and plenty of shopping. MHK provides multiple direct flights on a daily basis to Chicago and Dallas, with Kansas City a short drive away if you prefer a larger airport.

Begin the application process

All applications are done electronically on the Graduate School website. The application deadline set by the graduate school is January 8 for fall (August) enrollment and August 1 for spring (January) enrollment. While we accept applications at any time, only those students applying before the deadline are guaranteed to be considered for funding. Applications received after the deadline are considered for funding until all resources are committed.