Choosing to pursue a Ph.D. in Business Administration doctoral degree at Florida State University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Business means choosing to rigorously explore and generate new knowledge in your field. You will be challenged and transformed in a collegial atmosphere rich in opportunity. At Florida State, designated as a Carnegie Research Institution (very high research), doctoral students work alongside a distinguished faculty at one of the nation’s largest business schools to produce and apply original business thought. Our internationally acclaimed faculty consistently receives rankings and recognition for research productivity and relevance.
As early as year one, doctoral students begin forming research relationships with faculty members that provide a strong foundation for their academic careers. Small-class seminars foster discussions and idea exchanges with professors. Ph.D. students learn to emulate our faculty’s disciplined balance of scholarship and instruction, and graduates are prepared to secure career placements at leading educational institutions, as well as select research positions in industry and government.
5 BIG BENEFITS OF A BUSINESS Ph.D.
- CHALLENGE: Open to all academic backgrounds, a business Ph.D. provides an opportunity to rigorously explore and generate new knowledge alongside our internationally acclaimed faculty.
- OPPORTUNITY: Choose from a wide selection of majors to study – accounting, finance, marketing, management information systems, organizational behavior and human resources, risk management and insurance, or strategy.
- PAY: Salaries are competitive; business professors are among the top 10% of American earners.
- FLEXIBILITY: Professors handle teaching, research and service duties. The job typically provides a high level of autonomy. You decide how to manage your day and what to research. This freedom leads to a better work-life balance than many careers.
- IMPACT: Not only will you make your mark through the creation of new knowledge, you also will teach these best practices to your students. Educating the next generation of business leaders is rewarding work that ultimately shapes operations and organizations worldwide.
Priority application deadlines are December 1 for all majors. Application review begins soon after and continues until positions are filled. All other applications must be submitted by the March 1 final deadline, and all supporting materials must be received by March 15.
Application Process
Admission decisions are made by the college’s Doctoral Admissions Committee and are based on a combination of factors, including prior academic record from accepted universities; GRE or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores taken within the past five years; letters of recommendation; experience; record of accomplishments. Admission is competitive and focused on students with grade-point averages of 3.5 or higher and GMAT scores of at least 555 (600 on GMAT exams prior to 2024) or GRE scores of at least 155 on each section of the revised test.
Application Checklist
I. The following items should be submitted through the Florida State Graduate Application portal, available exclusively online at admissions.fsu.edu/gradapp:
- Non-refundable $30 application fee.
- Statement of Purpose (2-3 pages).
- Submit a current resume or C.V.
- Three (3) required references included in your application portal. This will generate an automated email sent to your references by our system to request that they submit a recommendation for you and answer a series of standardized questions.
II. The following items should be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office, 222 S. Copeland St./314 Westcott Building, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410 or to graduateadmissions@fsu.edu:
- One (1) official transcript from all colleges and universities attended (FSU transcripts are not necessary for FSU alumni, students). International applicants are required to submit an official NACES course-by-course transcript evaluation. Unofficial transcripts for U.S. institutions may be uploaded to your application for initial review. International transcripts must be an official NACES course-by-course transcript evaluation. Official test score. Please see the below section for International Applicants for more information.
- Request official GMAT or GRE scores. The code to send GMAT scores to Florida State is PN8K567, and the code to send GRE scores is 5219.
- English Language Proficiency scores are an FSU requirement for international applicants whose native language is not English or who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a U.S. institution or other institution where English is the required language of instruction; therefore, it cannot be waived). The code to send TOEFL scores to Florida State is 5219.
Test scores will only be considered official if sent directly from the testing service. The code for ETS to send (GRE and TOEFL) scores to FSU is 5219. The code to send GMAT scores to FSU is PN8K567.
Transcripts and test scores should be sent to graduateadmissions@fsu.edu or:
Graduate Admissions Office
222 S. Copeland St.
314 Westcott Building
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
USA
International Applicants
International applicants should visit gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/international-admissions for information concerning financial responsibilities, degree equivalency, etc.
English Language Proficiency ExamInternational applicants whose native language is not English or who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a U.S. institution or other institution where English is the required language of instruction are required to take an English Language Proficiency exam and submit official test results in order to be admitted to Florida State University. The College of Business accepts all of the following examinations taken within the past two (2) years:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based test and 100 on the internet-based test
- International English Language Testing System (Academic IELTS): minimum score of 7
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): minimum score of 66
- Cambridge C1 Advanced Level: minimum score of 180
- Duolingo: minimum score of 125
- Michigan Language Assessment: minimum score of 55
In addition, international graduate applicants seeking teaching assistantships are required to pass a test of spoken English.
Transcript Evaluation Requirement
The Office of Graduate Admissions requires all international students to submit an official course-by-course evaluation of all academic records from non-U.S. institutions prior to application review. This verifies degree equivalency and serves in place of additional official or unofficial transcripts. This evaluation must be done by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES): www.naces.org. FSU offers a partnership with The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran), our preferred credential evaluation service, which allows a streamlined process at a discounted rate. More information about this process is available after you submit the first part of your graduate application.
Program Costs
Ph.D. students typically take 27-33 credit hours each year. Here are the estimated program costs for the 2025-2026 academic year:
- Florida residents: $479.32 (tuition plus fees) per credit hour. Total estimated program cost is $12,941.64 - $15,817.56 per year.
- Non-Florida residents: $1,173.86 (tuition plus fees) per credit hour. Total estimated program cost is $31,694.22 - $38,737.38 per year.
The annual stipend starts at $40,000, and tuition waivers cover up to 12 hours of tuition per semester for both Florida and non-Florida residents, including international students.
Note: These costs do not include required books, supplies for courses, or required health insurance. Costs are subject to change. Fees above do not include some per-term flat fees for FSUCard and facilities use. For a breakdown of on-campus student fees and their explanations, visit the university’s Tuition Rates page.
Residency Information
The doctoral program is a full-time program that lasts five years. Students should plan to live in the Tallahassee area year-round, including summers. Our program is not set up for individuals who wish to take courses part time or online.
Financial Assistance
The Wertheim College awards financial assistance to applicants based on academic criteria and performance. The goal of the college is to provide assistantships and/or fellowships to all of our admitted doctoral students, subject to overall enrollment and fiscal limitations. Most doctoral students who request funding, who maintain a satisfactory level of academic and work performance, and who are in residence receive financial assistance from the college. Annual stipends and supplementary assistance such as travel expenses for conference attendance will vary among cohorts and programs. Students who are not Florida residents (including international students) should note that tuition waivers associated with assistantships cover the out-of-state portion of their tuition for the duration of the program. U.S. residents have the option of changing residency, if so desired. Please note that waivers do not cover all fees.
Doctoral students on assistantship are supported for four full academic years, contingent upon satisfactory performance in the program. Eligibility for fifth-year support is considered for a student having made substantial progress toward placement at a research-oriented university. For a full list of Florida State University funding and awards, visit gradschool.fsu.edu. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all completed application materials before January 15 to be eligible for additional funding opportunities at the university level.
Awards/Scholarships
There are various university and Wertheim College scholarships available for graduate students.
Visit our graduate scholarships page to learn more.
(Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all completed application materials before January 15 to be eligible for additional funding opportunities at the university level.)
- For a full list of Florida State University funding and awards, visit gradschool.fsu.edu
- For more information on Florida State University's research and research funding, visit research.fsu.edu
- For more information on Florida State University's graduate fellowships and awards, visit ogfa.fsu.edu
For an overview of FSU’s Ph.D. in Business Administration and its seven majors, click one of the below.
Begin your application today by entering the Graduate Admissions Portal.
