05/02/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/02/2025 14:55
A doctorate is the most advanced degree that can be earned in a field of study (except for the Fine Arts, where a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is the most advanced degree). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), occupations that require a doctoral or professional degree are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033.1 Pursuing a doctorate is an opportunity to develop expert knowledge in your chosen field and potentially unlock new or more advanced professional opportunities.
If you do decide to pursue a doctoral degree program, you will not be alone. According to the Survey of Earned Doctorates 2023 (SED), an annual census of research doctorate recipients from U.S. academic institutions, the number of research doctoral degree (PhD) recipients in academic year 2023 was 57,862-the highest number recorded since the survey began in 1958.2 The prior year, academic year 2022, saw the greatest year-over-year increase in research doctorate recipients since the survey's inception-10.1 percent.3 Importantly, the SED's numbers don't include recipients of professional doctorates, such as MD, DDS, DVM, JD, DPharm, DMin and PsyD3-meaning that the total number of doctoral-level degree recipients is even higher.
But just because an increasing number of people are earning a doctoral degree does not necessarily mean that you should. While there are potential benefits to pursuing one-greater knowledge in a field of study, prestige, additional career path opportunities-there are also potential downsides. For one thing, doctoral programs are time consuming. And for another, not all career paths require doctoral-level education. At the end of the day, only you can decide whether it is worth it for you to pursue a doctorate.
There are two general types of doctorate degrees: research doctorates and professional, or applied, doctorates. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research-based doctoral degree. Professional doctorates, on the other hand, come in many forms. For example:
Neither type of doctorate degree-research or professional-is more advanced than the other, and neither type of program is more rigorous than the other. The main distinction between these types of doctorates is that the former is focused on research and the latter is focused on developing skills that can be applied (hence, the term "applied doctorate") in practice. Whether someone chooses to pursue one or the other will depend on various factors discussed below.
Pursuing a doctoral degree program might not be right for everyone-but is it right for you? The following are some considerations that can help you make a more informed decision about your academic future.
What are your reasons for wanting to earn a doctoral degree? Do you want the prestige that comes along with earning an advanced degree? Do you hope that it will help you to advance in your current career path or embark on a new one? Are you passionate about the field of study you wish to study at such an advanced level? All of the above? Something else?
Before committing to a doctoral degree program, you should calculate the expected cost of tuition, fees and living expenses for the duration of the program and then determine if you are able to/how you will finance your education. Possible financial aid options for those who qualify could include federal loans, grants and scholarships, or employer tuition assistance. Another factor to consider is whether you will be able to work as you pursue your PhD or applied doctorate. Many Trident University International doctoral students work full time, relying on the flexibility of our 100% online doctoral programs to help them balance their academic and professional responsibilities.
To pursue a doctoral degree, it's typically necessary to hold a master's degree in the same field of study or a closely related one. This applies to any type of doctoral degree program, whether research or applied. Moreover, some programs also have professional experience requirements; this is particularly true of applied doctoral degree programs. It is not unusual, for example, for a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree program to require applicants to have a certain amount of teaching experience.
To pursue a doctoral degree requires a significant time investment. Courses are rigorous, and dissertations are time-consuming. Devoting sufficient time to your studies while simultaneously balancing personal and professional obligations requires dedication and commitment. In 2023, the median time to earn a doctoral degree (PhD) since starting a doctoral program was 5.7 years, for all fields.4 At Trident, the normal time to degree completion is:
As we already mentioned, a common characteristic among doctoral degree programs is the requirement to hold a master's degree in the same field of study or a closely related one. But, as with any post-secondary degree program, there are other admissions requirements that will need to be met in addition to holding a particular master's degree.
Some institutions require applicants to submit standardized test scores along with their applications. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a common required entrance exam. There are also field-specific standardized tests, such as the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) for medical school applicants or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) for law school applicants. Applicants to Trident's online doctoral degree programs are not required to submit graduate exam scores as part of the admissions process.
A number of professional doctorate degree programs have work experience requirements in addition to academic ones. Those without work experience may be limited in terms of the type of doctorate degree program they can apply to. At Trident, for example, applicants who want to pursue a doctoral degree program in business but do not have a minimum of five years of professional experience in business or another professional field could apply to the PhD in Business Administration degree program but not the Doctor of Business Administration degree program.
There will be a number of other admissions requirements that vary from school to school-GPA requirements, letters of recommendation, writing sample, etc. Good advice is to do your research and then keep track of the various admissions requirements for each of your chosen schools (creating checklists for each of the doctoral degree programs you plan on applying to could help you to stay organized and minimize eleventh-hour surprises).
Online doctoral degree programs offer a number of potential advantages:
Importantly, however, the first bullet point-the flexibility to move through the online doctoral degree program at your own pace-while generally considered an advantage, might be something of a disadvantage for those who struggle with self-discipline or time-management. Before committing to pursuing a doctorate online, you should consider whether you will be able to manage yourself and your time in a self-paced program.
Trident's affordable, 100% online doctoral degree programs are designed to offer working professionals the flexibility and convenience needed to pursue their academic goals while continuing to fulfill their professional and personal responsibilities. Whether you choose to pursue an online PhD or applied doctorate at Trident, individualized guidance will be available to you during the program's research phase. Additionally, you will be assigned a Student Success Advisor who can offer personal assistance with administrative matters that may arise as you move through the online doctoral degree program.
Trident offers the following doctoral degree programs:
Explore or request more information about our online doctoral degree programs today.
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, "Occupations that Need More Education for Entry are Projected to Grow Faster Than Average," Table 5.2 Employment, Wages, and Projected Change in Employment by Typical Entry-Level Education, https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-summary.htm (last visited March 6, 2025).
2 The population for the 2023 SED consists of all individuals receiving a research doctorate from a U.S. academic institution in the 12-month period beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2023. National Science Foundation (NSF), National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), "Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) 2023," Table 1-1 Research Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Colleges and Universities: 1958-2023, https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/earned-doctorates/2023#data (last visited March 6, 2025).
3 National Science Foundation (NSF), National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), "Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) 2023," Survey Design, https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/earned-doctorates/2023#methodology (last visited March 6, 2025).
4 National Science Foundation (NSF), National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), "Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) 2023," Table 1-12 Median Years to Research Doctorate, by Trend Broad Field of Doctorate: Selected Years, 1973-2023, https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/earned-doctorates/2023#data (last visited March 6, 2025).
Trident University International cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ2106900 3/2025