Media Guidance

PhD Project Data Points

The PhD Project’s Vision

A broader talent pipeline of current and future business leaders committed to excellence and to each other.

The PhD Project’s Mission
To expand the pool of workplace talent by developing business school faculty who encourage, mentor and support tomorrow’s leaders.

About Us
For more than 30 years, The PhD Project has worked to foster a broader talent pipeline of current and future business leaders committed to excellence and to each other.

Our mission is to expand the pool of workplace talent by developing business school faculty who encourage, mentor and support tomorrow’s leaders.

  • PhD Project membership provides doctoral students with access to networking, mentorship and unique events that help position them for success in their programs and in their academic careers.
    • Programming covers such topics as navigating the publishing process and strategies for teaching success.
  • In early 2025, we opened The PhD Project application to anyone who shares our vision.
    • We require applicants to hold American citizenship or permanent U.S. resident status to make it easier for partner academic institutions to hire PhD Project members after graduation.

PhD Project members choose to earn a doctoral degree so they can be mentors and role models for students, bring real world experience into the classroom, and conduct impactful research.

  • They pursue doctoral degrees in accounting, finance/economics, information systems and sciences, management, and marketing.
  • More than 80% of PhD Project members had careers in corporate America before pursuing a doctoral degree.
    • In 2024, our new members had an average age of 35 and five years of corporate experience.
  • Members who come to The PhD Project from undergraduate programs average a 3.4 GPA and those from graduate programs average a 3.6 GPA.
  • PhD Project members’ involvement and engagement on college campuses across the country helps enrich education for everyone.

The PhD Project’s annual conference helps business professionals and students decide if pursuing a PhD is right for them.

  • The PhD Project accepts about 150 – 200 applicants for its conference every year.
    • Application criteria includes: educational background, U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status, standardized entrance exam scores, and a proven desire to mentor and educate the next generation of business leaders.
  • Conference sessions are designed to give attendees a realistic view of the PhD experience – from what it takes to apply for a program to what life looks like for a doctoral student.
  • About 10-15% of conference attendees pursue a PhD within two to three years of attending the annual conference.
  • The PhD Project provides universities with a framework for PhD candidate success and a pipeline of well-prepared business school faculty.
  • Ninety percent (90%) of members complete their PhD, compared to the national average of 70%.
  • PhD Project doctoral students have opportunities to participate in practical professional development on teaching strategies, navigating publishing and more to prepare them for academic careers.

Over the last three decades, The PhD Project has built a model for member success.
• Since 1994, more than 1,500 members have earned a doctoral degree; we currently have 250 student members in PhD programs.
• In 2024, we capped 30 new PhDs and welcomed 40 new doctoral candidates into the business PhD pipeline.
• Ninety percent (90%) of members complete their PhD, compared to the national average of 70%.
• Most of our members go on to work in higher education upon graduation, with a 97% retention rate, compared to the national average of 60%.
• PhD Project members become leaders in their institutions. Today we have eight presidents and 71 deans among our ranks.
• Our members publish in top tier academic journals and are frequently called on as experts by the media and other organizations.
• Because of this track record, organizations around the world – from Canada to South Africa to the U.K. – have connected with The PhD Project over the years for counsel on creating programs to cultivate a successful PhD pipeline.

 

This document is intended to serve as a personal reference for PhD Project members to help as you field questions about The Project from your institution. This internal document should only be shared with PhD Project members, board members, strategic partners and advisory group members. Inquiries from external parties should be directed to Alfonzo Alexander, aalexander@phdproject.org or The PhD Project team, info@phdproject.org.