Why Pursue a PhD at Simon?

Simon Has Much to Offer

Our students are among the best trained graduates in their fields. They are highly sought for academic positions for their strong analytical skills and research performance. From the very beginning of their academic training, there is an emphasis on creating a strong foundation from which new ideas and effective research can grow. The first year consists of a heavy course load in mathematics, economics, and statistics. The important skills our students learn from these courses are hard to acquire later if not learned before research training. Further, this allows students in subsequent years to acquire a deeper understanding of the state-of-the-art concepts in their chosen discipline and to quickly develop strong skills necessary to conduct original research.

Our Training is Complete

We admit a diverse student body from a variety of academic backgrounds, including finance, mathematics, economics, statistics, engineering, computer science, law, physics, accounting, business administration, and management undergraduate and graduate programs. Students possessing strong backgrounds in quantitative and technical fields will have a competitive advantage in our PhD Program, though degrees in these fields are not required. We provide all the necessary training beyond the basic baccalaureate degree.

All of an applicant’s abilities are consided for admittance. We look for students who are analytical, creative, and interested in studying business problems and trends. We carefully evaluate each application to find candidates who might prove to be "diamonds in the rough." Find out more about the application process.

Our Job Placement is Outstanding

Most of our graduates are employed before they defend their dissertations. 91 percent of these placements are in academic positions, with a 58 percent majority of our graduates in top business schools (as ranked in U.S. News & World Report 2006).

Twenty percent of our graduates get their first job in a top-10 ranked business school.

Lifelong Benefits

A career in research and academia provides a satisfying lifelong career with outstanding intellectual, social, and economic benefits. Economic benefits are substantial. Business school professors are the highest paid in academia. According to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-International (AACSB), starting salaries for new doctorate assistant professors by concentration are $105,800 in accounting, $91,900 in computers and information systems, $108,800 in finance, $91,800 in marketing, $101,200 in operations/statistics, and $93,300 across the disciplines. These averages apply to all AACSB member school graduates. Graduates from the Simon School earn between 40 and 50 percent above the average since most of our graduates receive positions at business schools with competitive positioning.