PhD in Finance

Class Profile

Class Size

25

Average Age

27

Average Work Experience

2 Years

Diversity

Others:

15%

Illinois:

10%

Ohio:

50%

Indiana:

20%

Michigan:

5%

Career Outcomes

Median Earnings After Graduation

$1,10,000 / year

Graduation Rate

88%

Job Placement

94%

Top recruiters

Deloitte

JPMorgan Chase

Goldman Sachs

Bank of America

Morgan Stanley

McKinsey

Aetna

Dell

BAE Systems

Visa

AECOM

McGill University

Marsh McLennan

McAfee

Dell Technologies

Mastercard

Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

$44,310 / year

Overall Cost

$59,310 / year

FAQs

• What resources and opportunities are available?
  
  Students have access to top faculty, advanced research facilities, and connections to the business community in Columbus. The program size is intentionally small for personalized mentorship and high-quality research training
• Is funding available for PhD students?
  
  Yes, all admitted students are fully funded, including a stipend and tuition. Funding is available for four to six years and may come in the form of fellowships, research assistantships, or teaching assistantships
• What are the admission requirements?
  
  Applicants should have strong aptitude, motivation, and preparation for rigorous study. Students without a master’s degree or relevant coursework may need to take extra courses. The program is full-time with entry only in the Autumn Semester
• What are the coursework requirements?
  
  Students are required to complete PhD-level courses in finance, economics, and statistics. Those without a master’s degree in business or finance may need to take additional master-level courses, such as Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Restructuring, Fixed Income Analysis, Derivatives Valuation, and accounting courses
• What is the structure and timeline of the program?
  
  The program typically takes 4–6 years and is structured as follows: First Year: Graduate-level courses in microeconomic theory, econometrics, asset pricing, and corporate finance. Students must pass the Microeconomics Qualifying Exam (administered by the Economics Department) and the Asset Pricing and Corporate Finance Qualifying Exams (administered by the Finance Department) at the end of the first year. A research paper must be completed by November 15 of the second year. Second Year: Advanced PhD-level courses in asset pricing and corporate finance, finance research reading, further econometrics/statistics, and electives. After year two, students must pass the Candidacy Examination (written and oral), which is scheduled before the third academic year. Third Year: Students take the Finance Research Seminar and must submit and present a thesis proposal by April 15 of the third year. Subsequent Years: Focus on dissertation research and completion.
• What is the main objective of the PhD in Finance program at Ohio State?
  
  The primary goal is to educate students of exceptional promise to become outstanding researchers and university-level teachers in finance. Graduates are expected to have deep knowledge of finance theory, financial instruments and markets, and the ability to analyze models and evaluate financial decisions using data