What Is the Easiest Ph.D. to Get?

Many dream of earning a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, but only around 2% of Americans achieve that goal. Students may choose to end their academic careers due to family obligations, career advancement, or other responsibilities. Eventually, however, you might start looking for short, focused online programs to help you reach your ambitions.

While no doctorate is easy, universities are making them more accessible. Use our guide below to find the easiest Ph.D. and learn more about alternative doctoral programs.

A Ph.D. program typically takes 4-6 years to complete and requires 60 or more credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. These credits usually include advanced studies in the discipline and a series of research courses, usually incorporating quantitative and qualitative research. You may also get credit for independent study under a faculty mentor.

Once you complete these courses, you write a dissertation, which must make an original contribution to the field. After defending your dissertation before a committee of academics, you will be awarded your doctorate.

Some programs may require comprehensive exams and a doctoral residency. Traditional, in-person doctoral programs often expect students to complete additional responsibilities, such as work in a research lab, teach undergraduates, and write grants for departmental projects. However, online Ph.D. programs usually don’t make the same demands.

Although the Ph.D. is probably the best-known doctoral degree, it is not the only one. Historically, universities have also awarded doctorates in law, medicine, and theology.

Today, schools also offer practice-oriented doctoral degrees in modern disciplines like education, healthcare, and engineering. These degrees are often more experiential — and perhaps easier to earn — than the traditional Ph.D.

Around one in five doctoral program applicants gets accepted, but this rate varies dramatically according to discipline. As you can see from the table above, getting accepted into a social science doctoral program is much more challenging than an education one.

Doctoral admissions rates vary for several reasons. First, this data includes not just Ph.D. programs but also Ed.D., DNP, and other applied doctorates. Getting accepted to a non-Ph.D. doctoral program may be easier than gaining admission to a Ph.D program.

Second, some fields require a relevant bachelor’s degree for admission, while others, such as public administration, may accept candidates with any academic background. Finally, admissions committees in highly competitive fields often expect more prerequisites and higher GPAs.

Although getting into a Ph.D. program can be challenging, you can improve your chances of acceptance by applying to programs where you meet the qualifications, considering applied doctoral programs, and avoiding degrees with large applicant pools.

The easiest Ph.D. to get doesn’t require less rigorous intellectual performance or a smaller workload. Instead, it’s a flexible, accessible, and affordable degree with a streamlined curriculum designed to take you from application to graduation in 3-5 years.

Studying online and part-time makes it possible to earn your Ph.D. while juggling work, family, and community obligations. While online programs require as much diligence as on-campus degrees, you can complete your assignments on your own time. Many schools offer Ph.D. programs in organizational leadership, psychology, education, business, or nursing in online and part-time formats.

Traditional Ph.D. admissions committees look for a background in the discipline when making decisions. Online colleges may accept a more diverse array of applicants — it depends on the field. For example, to get a Ph.D. in nursing, you need to be a registered nurse, but earning a Ph.D. in leadership may only require a master’s degree in any field.

The easiest Ph.D. programs start you out with a cohort of learners, that is, a group of students earning the same degree at the same pace. You stick with your cohort throughout all your classwork, only separating at the dissertation phase. By working together, you ensure you don’t miss a course or assignment and get peer support when you need it.

Some universities offer fast-track options for Ph.D. students. These accelerated programs may provide flexible deadlines, assessments based on real-world work, and a direct path to graduation. You may not have to complete a set number of courses or credits; instead, you may need to prove that you have mastered specific knowledge and skills.

In the 2022-2023 school year, U.S. universities awarded 89,320 doctorates. The largest percentage of those doctorates was in health sciences — a real contrast with master’s degrees, which saw business as the most popular field, followed by education. Using this data, we can see that some fields reward master’s-level education, while in others, a doctorate offers a more robust payoff.

Knowing the relative costs and benefits of earning a doctorate in your field can help you determine what level of higher education is right for you. In some fields, such as counseling, a master’s degree qualifies you for licensure, but you may need a Ph.D. to serve as core faculty in that subject at the university level.

Keep your goals in mind as you consider what doctorate, if any, is the best choice for you and your career.