statistics phd no gre

Graduate Student Handbook (Coming Soon: New Graduate Student Handbook)

Phd program overview.

The PhD program prepares students for research careers in probability and statistics in academia and industry. Students admitted to the PhD program earn the MA and MPhil along the way. The first year of the program is spent on foundational courses in theoretical statistics, applied statistics, and probability. In the following years, students take advanced topics courses. Research toward the dissertation typically begins in the second year. Students also have opportunities to take part in a wide variety of projects involving applied probability or applications of statistics.

Students are expected to register continuously until they distribute and successfully defend their dissertation. Our core required and elective curricula in Statistics, Probability, and Machine Learning aim to provide our doctoral students with advanced learning that is both broad and focused. We expect our students to make Satisfactory Academic Progress in their advanced learning and research training by meeting the following program milestones through courseworks, independent research, and dissertation research:

By the end of year 1: passing the qualifying exams;

By the end of year 2: fulfilling all course requirements for the MA degree and finding a dissertation advisor;

By the end of year 3: passing the oral exam (dissertation prospectus) and fulfilling all requirements for the MPhil degree

By the end of year 5: distributing and defending the dissertation.

We believe in the Professional Development value of active participation in intellectual exchange and pedagogical practices for future statistical faculty and researchers. Students are required to serve as teaching assistants and present research during their training. In addition, each student is expected to attend seminars regularly and participate in Statistical Practicum activities before graduation.

We provide in the following sections a comprehensive collection of the PhD program requirements and milestones. Also included are policies that outline how these requirements will be enforced with ample flexibility. Questions on these requirements should be directed to ADAA Cindy Meekins at [email protected] and the DGS, Professor John Cunningham at [email protected] .

Applications for Admission

• Our students receive very solid training in all aspects of modern statistics. See Graduate Student Handbook for more information.
• Our students receive Fellowship and full financial support for the entire duration of their PhD. See more details here .
• Our students receive job offers from top academic and non-academic institutions .
• Our students can work with world-class faculty members from Statistics Department or the Data Science Institute .
• Our students have access to high-speed computer clusters for their ambitious, computationally demanding research.
• Our students benefit from a wide range of seminars, workshops, and Boot Camps organized by our department and the data science institute .
• Suggested Prerequisites: A student admitted to the PhD program normally has a background in linear algebra and real analysis, and has taken a few courses in statistics, probability, and programming. Students who are quantitatively trained or have substantial background/experience in other scientific disciplines are also encouraged to apply for admission.
• GRE requirement: Waived for Fall 2024.
• Language requirement: The English Proficiency Test requirement (TOEFL) is a Provost's requirement that cannot be waived.
• The Columbia GSAS minimum requirements for TOEFL and IELTS are: 100 (IBT), 600 (PBT) TOEFL, or 7.5 IELTS. To see if this requirement can be waived for you, please check the frequently asked questions below.
• Deadline: Jan 8, 2024 .
• Application process: Please apply by completing the Application for Admission to the Columbia University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences .
• Timeline: P.hD students begin the program in September only.  Admissions decisions are made in mid-March of each year for the Fall semester.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the application deadline? What is the deadline for financial aid? Our application deadline is January 5, 2024 .
• Can I meet with you in person or talk to you on the phone? Unfortunately given the high number of applications we receive, we are unable to meet or speak with our applicants.
• What are the required application materials? Specific admission requirements for our programs can be found here .
• Due to financial hardship, I cannot pay the application fee, can I still apply to your program? Yes. Many of our prospective students are eligible for fee waivers. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers a variety of application fee waivers . If you have further questions regarding the waiver please contact  gsas-admissions@ columbia.edu .
• How many students do you admit each year? It varies year to year. We finalize our numbers between December - early February.
• What is the distribution of students currently enrolled in your program? (their background, GPA, standard tests, etc)? Unfortunately, we are unable to share this information.
• How many accepted students receive financial aid? All students in the PhD program receive, for up to five years, a funding package consisting of tuition, fees, and a stipend. These fellowships are awarded in recognition of academic achievement and in expectation of scholarly success; they are contingent upon the student remaining in good academic standing. Summer support, while not guaranteed, is generally provided. Teaching and research experience are considered important aspects of the training of graduate students. Thus, graduate fellowships include some teaching and research apprenticeship. PhD students are given funds to purchase a laptop PC, and additional computing resources are supplied for research projects as necessary. The Department also subsidizes travel expenses for up to two scientific meetings and/or conferences per year for those students selected to present. Additional matching funds from the Graduate School Arts and Sciences are available to students who have passed the oral qualifying exam.
• Can I contact the department with specific scores and get feedback on my competitiveness for the program? We receive more than 450 applications a year and there are many students in our applicant pool who are qualified for our program. However, we can only admit a few top students. Before seeing the entire applicant pool, we cannot comment on admission probabilities.
• What is the minimum GPA for admissions? While we don’t have a GPA threshold, we will carefully review applicants’ transcripts and grades obtained in individual courses.
• Is there a minimum GRE requirement? No. The general GRE exam is waived for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. 
• Can I upload a copy of my GRE score to the application? Yes, but make sure you arrange for ETS to send the official score to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
• Is the GRE math subject exam required? No, we do not require the GRE math subject exam.
• What is the minimum TOEFL or IELTS  requirement? The Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences minimum requirements for TOEFL and IELTS are: 100 (IBT), 600 (PBT) TOEFL, or 7.5 IELTS
•  I took the TOEFL and IELTS more than two years ago; is my score valid? Scores more than two years old are not accepted. Applicants are strongly urged to make arrangements to take these examinations early in the fall and before completing their application.
• I am an international student and earned a master’s degree from a US university. Can I obtain a TOEFL or IELTS waiver? You may only request a waiver of the English proficiency requirement from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences by submitting the English Proficiency Waiver Request form and if you meet any of the criteria described here . If you have further questions regarding the waiver please contact  gsas-admissions@ columbia.edu .
• My transcript is not in English. What should I do? You have to submit a notarized translated copy along with the original transcript.

Can I apply to more than one PhD program? You may not submit more than one PhD application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. However, you may elect to have your application reviewed by a second program or department within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences if you are not offered admission by your first-choice program. Please see the application instructions for a more detailed explanation of this policy and the various restrictions that apply to a second choice. You may apply concurrently to a program housed at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and to programs housed at other divisions of the University. However, since the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences does not share application materials with other divisions, you must complete the application requirements for each school.

How do I apply to a dual- or joint-degree program? The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences refers to these programs as dual-degree programs. Applicants must complete the application requirements for both schools. Application materials are not shared between schools. Students can only apply to an established dual-degree program and may not create their own.

With the sole exception of approved dual-degree programs , students may not pursue a degree in more than one Columbia program concurrently, and may not be registered in more than one degree program at any institution in the same semester. Enrollment in another degree program at Columbia or elsewhere while enrolled in a Graduate School of Arts and Sciences master's or doctoral program is strictly prohibited by the Graduate School. Violation of this policy will lead to the rescission of an offer of admission, or termination for a current student.

When will I receive a decision on my application? Notification of decisions for all PhD applicants generally takes place by the end of March.

Notification of MA decisions varies by department and application deadlines. Some MA decisions are sent out in early spring; others may be released as late as mid-August.

Can I apply to both MA Statistics and PhD statistics simultaneously?  For any given entry term, applicants may elect to apply to up to two programs—either one PhD program and one MA program, or two MA programs—by submitting a single (combined) application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.  Applicants who attempt to submit more than one Graduate School of Arts and Sciences application for the same entry term will be required to withdraw one of the applications.

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences permits applicants to be reviewed by a second program if they do not receive an offer of admission from their first-choice program, with the following restrictions:

• This option is only available for fall-term applicants.
• Applicants will be able to view and opt for a second choice (if applicable) after selecting their first choice. Applicants should not submit a second application. (Note: Selecting a second choice will not affect the consideration of your application by your first choice.)
• Applicants must upload a separate Statement of Purpose and submit any additional supporting materials required by the second program. Transcripts, letters, and test scores should only be submitted once.
• An application will be forwarded to the second-choice program only after the first-choice program has completed its review and rendered its decision. An application file will not be reviewed concurrently by both programs.
• Programs may stop considering second-choice applications at any time during the season; Graduate School of Arts and Sciences cannot guarantee that your application will receive a second review.
• What is the mailing address for your PhD admission office? Students are encouraged to apply online . Please note: Materials should not be mailed to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences unless specifically requested by the Office of Admissions. Unofficial transcripts and other supplemental application materials should be uploaded through the online application system. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Office of Admissions Columbia University  107 Low Library, MC 4303 535 West 116th Street  New York, NY 10027
• How many years does it take to pursue a PhD degree in your program? Our students usually graduate in 4‐6 years.
• Can the PhD be pursued part-time? No, all of our students are full-time students. We do not offer a part-time option.
• One of the requirements is to have knowledge of linear algebra (through the level of MATH V2020 at Columbia) and advanced calculus (through the level of MATH V1201). I studied these topics; how do I know if I meet the knowledge content requirement? We interview our top candidates and based on the information on your transcripts and your grades, if we are not sure about what you covered in your courses we will ask you during the interview.
• Can I contact faculty members to learn more about their research and hopefully gain their support? Yes, you are more than welcome to contact faculty members and discuss your research interests with them. However, please note that all the applications are processed by a central admission committee, and individual faculty members cannot and will not guarantee admission to our program.
• How do I find out which professors are taking on new students to mentor this year?  Applications are evaluated through a central admissions committee. Openings in individual faculty groups are not considered during the admissions process. Therefore, we suggest contacting the faculty members you would like to work with and asking if they are planning to take on new students.

For more information please contact us at [email protected] .

For more information please contact us at  [email protected]

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50 Best PhD Programs That Don’t Require GRE Scores [2024 Schools Guide]

Check out PhD Programs that don’t require GRE scores for admission. Compare PhD programs without the GRE (Campus & Online).

We’ve identified a number of accredited universities that don’t require the GRE as part of their PhD application process.

Editorial Listing ShortCode:

List of Online PsyD Programs No GRE

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format. In addition, the universities included in this list offer online psychology doctoral programs and either do not require the GRE or offer GRE waivers for qualified students.

Adler University

Founded in 1952, Adler strives to develop professionals and practitioners who will better their local communities and the world. Driven by the work of physician and psychotherapist Alfred Adler, the school values fairness, equality and civil rights and helps students learn to put these concepts into practice.

• Online Doctor of Psychology in Industrial & Organizational Psychology

Adler University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Alliant International University

Recognized as a top school for minorities by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and for military veterans by College Factual, Alliant values diversity in the classroom and the workforce. Students are encouraged to have a global perspective, a desire for community service and a commitment to equality.

Believing that hands-on experiences are essential for a well-rounded education, the school connects students to the community throughout its degree programs.

• Online Doctor of Psychology

Alliant is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Antioch University

Equal rights, equal pay and equal educational opportunities for minorities and women have long been important at Antioch. In the 1800s, Antioch was one of the first institutions of higher education that admitted both whites and African-Americans, and the school’s list of famous alumni includes Coretta Scott King.

• Online Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Antioch University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

California Southern University

Since its beginnings in 1978, the mission of California Southern University has been centered around the idea of providing flexible educational experiences for adult learners.

Throughout the school’s 30 programs, there is a continual focus on establishing strong, supportive relationships between staff and students.

California Southern University is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Capella University

Enrolling over 37,000 students each year, Capella University offers educational opportunities for working professionals. Through distance-learning programs, the university reaches students from every state and over 50 different countries. Of the school’s more than 1,500 faculty members and administrators, 88 percent hold doctoral degrees.

Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Felician University

Since 1942, Felician University has been providing educational experiences based on the Catholic Franciscan values of service, compassion and respect. Over 2,000 students take classes from this school each year. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 13:1, and 73 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students.

• Online Doctor of Counseling Psychology

Felician University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Grand Canyon University

Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University seeks to educate students from a Christian perspective so that they will become service-minded professionals whose faith permeates their lives and directs their work. The university enrolls over 19,000 on-campus students and more than 60,000 online students each year.

• Online Doctor of Performance Psychology

Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Meridian University

At Meridian University, the goal is for students to gain a transformative education. Through their schooling, students should grow personally and learn to affect change in their fields and in their communities. Approximately 91 percent of Meridian students complete their degree programs within the allotted time.

Meridian University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Northwest University

Affiliated with the Assemblies of God denomination, Northwest University is a Christian school with a desire to engage students who are committed to both scholarship and service. Graduates go on to work in a variety of fields, including ministry, business, medical and educational settings.

Northwestern University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Pepperdine University

U.S. News has ranked Pepperdine University at No. 46 on its list of Best Value Schools, and Forbes has placed the school at No. 8 on its list of the Most Entrepreneurial Universities. The university opened in 1937, and the school’s alumni group today boasts over 100,000 members. 84 percent of Pepperdine students serve in internships or other hands-on experiences.

Pepperdine is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.

Saybrook University

Saybrook University was established in 1971 and offers a PhD in Clinical Psychology. The degree is designed for those students who are looking for a program that will equip them with the practical skills necessary to start their professional practice.

The program covers multi-cultural psychology, psychotherapy, child and adolescent psychology, and more.

• PhD in Clinical Psychology

Saybrook University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.

Touro University Worldwide

Touro University Worldwide is the online branch of the Touro College and University System. Altogether, Touro schools include around 19,000 students and more than 95,000 alumni. Founded on Jewish principles and traditions, the group’s roots date back to 1970.

• Online Doctor of Psychology in Human & Organizational Psychology

Touro University Worldwide is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

University of Hartford

With over 6,500 enrolled students, the University of Hartford issues more than 1,500 diplomas each year. The student body is made up of people from nearly every state and over 40 different countries. Creativity, diversity, responsibility and integrity are some of the highest values of this school, which was founded in 1957.

University of Hartford is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

University of the Cumberlands

The Baptist roots of the University of the Cumberlands date back to 1888. The university reaches over 10,000 learners each year and has a 17:1 ratio of students to faculty. Hands-on learning is highly valued at this school, and all students engage in service opportunities while attaining their degrees.

University of the Cumberlands is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Walden University

Over 57,000 students are studying with Walden University at any given time. The faculty members are leaders in their areas of expertise, and almost 90 percent of them hold doctoral degrees. The university’s status as a certified B Corporation shows its commitment to operating ethically and motivating students to be positive change-makers in their communities.

Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Western Kentucky University

U.S. News has ranked Western Kentucky University No. 24 in Best Colleges for Veterans and No. 34 in Best Regional Universities South. Both Sierra Club and Princeton Review have applauded this university for its environmental efforts. The school has over 20,000 students, and the average class has around 24 students in it.

Western Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

List of Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs No GRE

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format. In addition, the universities included in this list either do not require the GRE or offer waivers for qualified students.

Baylor University

Baylor University holds fast to its Baptist roots while welcoming a diverse student body from many religious and geographic backgrounds. Founded in 1845, the school is committed to serious scholarship, community service, and the integration of faith and life. Baylor has over 17,000 students and a 14:1 student-faculty ratio.

• Online Doctorate of Education

Baylor University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

City University of Seattle

• Online Doctor of Education in Leadership

CityU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Colorado State University

Founded in 1870, Colorado State University has awarded over 230,000 degrees. The school was involved in the establishment of the Peace Corps, and still today, many students choose to spend time serving through this organization. In addition to global service and responsibility, CSU values innovation, respect, diversity and academic excellence.

Colorado State is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

Concordia University

Since 1805, Concordia University has been educating students in the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, tradition.

Although based on Christian faith and principles, and university welcomes a diverse student body made up of people from many religious backgrounds. The school enrolls over 5,000 students each year and boasts a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

This is an online doctorate in education no GRE required.

• Online Doctor of Education

Concordia University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Creighton University

Considered U.S. News ’ No. 1 school in the Regional Universities Midwest category and the Best Colleges for Veterans category, Creighton University educates nearly 9,000 students yearly.

The school was founded in 1878 by Jesuit Catholics and many members of the Jesuit tradition still work at Creighton. Within six months of degree completion, 99 percent of graduates are successful at landing a job or a satisfactory next step.

Creighton University is accredited by Higher Learning Commission.

East Tennessee State University

Founded in 1911, East Tennessee State University today educates more than 14,500 students each year. The university values respect, diversity and academic excellence, and well-rounded student experiences are essential to an ETSU education. There are over 100 degree programs at this school, and the student-faculty ratio is approximately 16:1.

East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Florida State University

Florida State University offers over 300 degree programs, and the Carnegie Commission has bestowed on this school the distinction of Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity. With over 41,000 members, the student body includes people from more than 130 countries around the world. Six Nobel Laureates have taught at this university.

Florida State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Johns Hopkins University

Since its beginnings 1876, Johns Hopkins has highly prized both teaching and research, and the school considers itself the first research university in the United States. Although particularly well-known for its School of Medicine, this university also awards degrees in public health, education, physics, business and other disciplines.

The programs listed above are online EdD programs no GRE required.

The Johns Hopkins University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Lamar University

A member of the Texas State University System, Lamar University has about 15,000 enrolled students and over 75,000 alumni. Approximately 30 percent of the university’s classes are taught online. The school was founded in 1923 and today employs over 1,200 people and offers more than 100 degree programs.

• Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

Lamar University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Liberty University

Since 1971, over 250,000 people have received an education from Liberty University. Currently, about 30 percent of the school’s students are active-duty members of the military or veterans. Liberty University has Baptist affiliations and seeks to develop students’ Christian worldview. Volunteerism is valued, and the student body puts about 500,000 hours into service each year.

Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Maryville University

Over 9,000 students take classes from Maryville University each year. The school has a 14:1 student-faculty ratio, and about 90 percent of the faculty members have received doctoral degrees. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, Maryville was one of the top three fastest-growing universities in the United States.

Maryville University of Saint Louis is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

National University

Founded in 1971, National University is a network of nonprofit educational institutions dedicated to providing flexible, quality education to help students meet their educational and career goals. NU’s programs are taught by 100% doctoral professors.

National University has over 30,000 students enrolled and more that 220,000 alumni from around the world.

National University is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Northwest Nazarene University

Although Northwest Nazarene University began as an elementary school in 1913, the school quickly expanded its educational offerings and awarded its first college degrees in 1917. Today, more than 8,000 students take NNU classes each year. Although the Church of the Nazarene sponsors the school, students come from a diverse mix of religious backgrounds.

Northwest Nazarene University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Oakland City University

U.S. News ranked Oakland City University at No. 7 on its list of Best Colleges for Veterans. The publication also grants it the No. 39 spot on its Regional Colleges Midwest list. Affiliated with the General Association of General Baptists, the college pursues both academic and spiritual development for students.

Oakland City University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Saint Leo University

Famous alumni of Saint Leo University include Desi Arnaz and Stephen Stills. U.S. News gives this university the No. 14 spot on its list of Best Value Schools. Founded in 1889, Saint Leo University is rooted in the Benedictine Catholic tradition and values excellence in academics, relationships, personal growth and integrity.

Saint Leo University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Samford University

According to U.S. News , Samford wins the No. 4 spot on the list of Regional Universities South. This school has graduated 8 state governors, 60 members of Congress and a number of other high-profile citizens. The university has been educating students since 1841 and currently enrolls over 5,500 learners each year and has a student-faculty ratio of 13:1.

Samford is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Texas A&M University

In 1876, Texas A&M University became the first public college in Texas. Over 70,000 students currently study with Texas A&M, which offers over 400 degree programs. The school values leadership in both its staff and its students and seeks to develop strong leaders who will make a difference in their communities.

Texas A&M University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission.

Texas Tech University

According to the Center for Measuring University Performance, Texas Tech University ranked in the top 50 public research schools in the United States. There are more than 38,000 students currently taking Texas Tech classes and over 1,700 faculty members. More than 8,000 students graduated from this university in 2018.

Texas Tech University is accredited with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Trident University

Ranked No. 19 on the list of Best Colleges by The Military Times, Trident University has been the school of choice for over 27,000 students. The university’s goals for students include strong critical thinking skills, an understanding of how to gather and use information, the ability to communicate clearly, and a commitment to integrity.

Trident University accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Union University

At Union University, there’s a 10:1 student-faculty ratio for the more than 3,000 learners who study there. 85 percent of the faculty members hold terminal degrees. In the past year, Christian Universities Online gave this university the top spot on its Best Christian Colleges and Universities in the South list.

• Online Doctor of Education – Leadership in School Reform

Union University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

University of Arkansas

The Carnegie Foundation recognizes the University of Arkansas as one of the country’s top research universities, and the Chronicle of Higher Education has commended the school for having one of the country’s fastest-growing doctoral programs. With over 27,000 students and over 1,401 faculty members, there’s a student-faculty ratio of 19:1.

The U of A has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission without interruption since 1924.

University of Findlay

Since 1882, the University of Findlay has been equipping students with academic knowledge and spiritual development. Hands-on experiences help students put their classroom learning into practice throughout their schooling. The university has ties to the Church of God, and College Factual has named it the denomination’s best school.

University of Kentucky

Founded in 1865, the University of Kentucky maintains a commitment to producing graduates who influence communities throughout the world. The school has more than 2,000 faculty members and over 29,000 students. Forbes has placed this university at No. 63 on its list of the best colleges in the southern United States.

The University of Kentucky is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

University of Massachusetts

As New England’s top public university, the University of Massachusetts values academics, research, and professional excellence. Reuters includes UMass on its list of the World’s Most Innovative Universities. Currently, the school has over 70,000 enrolled students, and more than 500,000 people have graduated from this university since its beginnings in 1863.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

University of New England

The University of New England, founded in 1939, has campuses in Biddeford and Portland, Maine and Tangier, Morocco. It’s a relatively small university, with a total of approximately 7,000 students, less than a third of which are doctoral students.

The EdD at UNE is a 51-credit course of study that can be completed entirely online and requires no GRE scores for acceptance. You can start in the Fall, Spring, or Summer and finish within 3 years.

The University of New England is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

University of Southern California

U.S. News gives the University of Southern California the No. 22 ranking on its list of National Universities. Over 47,000 students are enrolled at this college, and there are more than 4,000 faculty members. The school grants about 10,000 advanced degrees each year.

The University of Southern California isy accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

William Carey University

True to its Baptist heritage, William Carey University’s goal is to prepare students for professional work that is guided by faith-based principles. In the early 1900s, it was a college for women only, but coed instruction began in 1954. U.S. News has given William Carey the No. 3 spot on its list of Best Value Schools.

William Carey University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

List of Online DBA Programs No GRE

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format. In addition, the universities included in this list either do not require the GRE or offer a GRE waiver for qualified students.

Baker College

Desiring to turn out leaders who excel in their fields, Baker College encourages critical thinking, effective communication, personal growth and hands-on experiences throughout all of its academic programs. The school traces its history back to 1888, and its Center for Graduate Studies awarded its first doctoral degree in 2011.

Baker College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

• Online DBA in Accounting
• Online DBA in Global System and Supply Chain Management
• Online DBA in Human Resource Management
• Online DBA in Information Technology Management
• Online DBA in Intelligence
• Online DBA in Leadership
• Online DBA in Project Management
• Online DBA in Strategy and Innovation

Concordia University – Chicago

Since 1805, Concordia University has been educating students in the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, tradition. Although based on Christian faith and principles, and university welcomes a diverse student body made up of people from many religious backgrounds. The school enrolls over 5,000 students each year and boasts a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Concordia University Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Drexel University

• Online Executive DBA

Drexel is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Florida International University

FIU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

• Online DBA – Management

Johnson & Wales University

JWU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Since 1971, over 250,000 people have received an education from Liberty University. Currently, about 30 percent of the school’s students are active-duty members of the military or veterans.

Liberty University has Baptist affiliations and seeks to develop students’ Christian worldview. Volunteerism is valued, and the student body puts about 500,000 hours into service each year.

University of Dallas

UD is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University of Maryland

UM is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

University of Missouri – St. Louis

UMSL is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

University of Phoenix

UOPX is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Wilmington University

Wilmington is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

List of Online Doctor of Social Work Programs No GRE

• Online Doctor of Social Work

Kutztown University

Kutztown is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Millersville University

Millersville is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Southern Connecticut State University

SouthernCT is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Tulane University

Tulane is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University of Alabama

UA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University of Pennsylvania

• Online Doctorate in Clinical Social Work

Penn is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The University of Southern California is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

University of St. Thomas

St. Thomas is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

List of Online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs No GRE

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format. In addition, the universities included in this list either do not require the GRE or offer GRE waivers for qualified students.

Arkansas State University

• Online of Nursing Practice

Arkansas State University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

Barry University

• Online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Anesthesiology

Barry is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

DePaul University

• Online Doctor of Nursing Practice

DePaul is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Duke University

Duke is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Duquesne University

Duquesne is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Georgia College

GCSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Indiana State University

Indiana State is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

New Mexico State University

NMSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Oklahoma City University

OKCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Pace University

Pace is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Palm Beach Atlantic University

PBA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Penn State University

Penn State is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Saint Francis Medical Center

Saint Francis is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Texas Wesleyan University

• Online Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice

Texas Wesleyan is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University of Arizona

UA is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

University of California – Irvine

• Online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner

UCI is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

University of Central Arkansas

UCA is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

University of Iowa

UI is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

UK is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University of Massachusetts – Boston

As New England’s top public university, the University of Massachusetts values academics, research and professional excellence. Reuters includes UMass on its list of the World’s Most Innovative Universities. Currently, the school has over 70,000 enrolled students, and more than 500,000 people have graduated from this university since its beginnings in 1863.

The University of Massachusetts Boston is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

University of Minnesota

UMN is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

University of Nevada – Las Vegas

UNLV is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

University of North Dakota

UND is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

University of South Alabama

South is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University of Texas

UT is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

List of Online PhD Without GRE Requirements

Enrolling over 37,000 students each year, Capella University offers educational opportunities for working professionals.

Through distance-learning programs, the university reaches students from every state and over 50 different countries. Of the school’s more than 1,500 faculty members and administrators, 88 percent hold doctoral degrees.

Capella offers an Online PhD no GRE.

• Online PhD in Business Management
• Online PhD in Systems Engineering

Johnson University

• Online PhD in Leadership Studies

JU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Nova Southeastern University

PhD programs no GRE required.

• Online PhD in Computer Science
• Online PhD in Conflict Analysis & Resolution
• Online PhD in Criminal Justice
• Online PhD in Health Science
• Online PhD in Nursing – Nursing Education
• Online PhD in Occupational Therapy

NSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Texas Woman’s University

Online PhD programs no gre requirement.

• Online PhD in Nursing Science

TWU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

• Online PhD in Business
• Online PhD in Information Technology

University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee

This is a PhD no GRE required program.

• Online PhD in Nursing

UWM is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Over 57,000 students are studying with Walden University at any given time. The faculty members are leaders in their areas of expertise, and almost 90 percent of them hold doctoral degrees.

The university’s status as a certified B Corporation shows its commitment to operating ethically and motivating students to be positive change-makers in their communities.

• Online PhD in Management
• Online PhD in Public Health
• Online PhD in Social Work

PhD Programs that Don’t Require the GRE

The following doctoral programs do not require the GRE for admission:

• Business & Management
• Computer Science
• Criminal Justice
• Healthcare Administration
• Human Services
• Information Technology
• Occupational Therapy
• Public Administration
• Public Health
• Public Policy
• Theology & Ministry

A growing number of universities offering PhD programs or professional doctorates no longer require the GRE.

Doctor of Business Administration – DBA or PhD

A Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is an applied doctorate or a professional doctorate.

Many students enroll in a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program because they are entrepreneurs, potential business owners, or current managers who want to move into executive leadership .

You will learn about business practices, economics, finance, accounting, entrepreneurship, management, and many other important topics within specialized business tracks. For example, you may choose a track in finance or marketing to complete your DBA studies .

With a PhD in Business Administration , students learn about a specific focus within business, choosing a specialized track within business to focus on while they study. They may develop new theories in public administration, economics, entrepreneurship, management, marketing, or other aspect. Most students go on to become professors, researchers, or business analysts.

With the PhD in Business , a dissertation may be required, but there are a growing number of doctorate degrees with no dissertation requirements.

Doctor of Computer Science – DCS

A Doctor of Computer Science program teaches students about data analytics, computer networking, programming, enterprise information systems, and information technology topics. Most programs can be customized so that you pick the track that most relates to your field of interest.

If you have strong science skills, you may want to pursue this applied doctorate in computer science that provides a scientific foundation for understanding technology.

Since many different industries rely on technology and computer science, graduates may find work in a wide variety of fields.

Criminal Justice Doctorate – PhD

Earning a PhD in Criminal Justice teaches students about law enforcement, laws, ethics, community leadership, and cyber security at the local, state, and federal level.

You will learn about improving safety through justice, as well as criminal investigation tactics through PhD criminal justice degree programs.

Doctor of Education – EdD or PhD

Want to become a thought leader in the field of education?

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) is an applied doctorate for those who work in the education field. Many graduates work in schools, but others serve in government agencies, nonprofit organizations and more.

A Doctor of Education is an interdisciplinary program that helps graduates learn about applied theories when it comes to teaching different subjects and helping students learn. You may want to specialize in different education topics to take your career to the next level, such as educational leadership , early childhood development, or special education.

If you are currently teaching in a K-12 school, an EdD may broaden your career options. Potential uses of this degree would be teaching at the university level or entering school administration.

Doctor of Healthcare Administration – PhD or DBA

For those who want to work in a leadership position in a healthcare organization , a doctoral program in healthcare administration or management can be a good choice.

This degree program is suited toward those who want to make business decisions for a hospital rather than practicing medicine. Graduates of these programs often work as hospital CEOs or Chief Financial Officers.

PhD in Human Services

Working in social services can be a rewarding career, especially if you want to be a community leader.

Earning a PhD in Human Services offers students the opportunity to work in criminal justice, education, social work , community leadership, and housing, among others with the goal of helping families and individuals in local and global communities.

Doctor of Information Technology – DIT, DBA, or PhD

The workforce is becoming increasingly dependent on technology, and obtaining a doctorate in information technology will help you stay up on the latest developments in this area. You will explore ways that information technology can benefit society.

This degree can also be quite useful in business settings. Graduates may lead IT departments or serve as tech consultants.

Doctor of Nursing Practice – DNP or PhD

Many people holding this degree serve as nurses in medical settings. It’s worth noting that the education provided in this type of program is quite different from the doctorate-level training that physicians receive.

Obtaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice or a PhD in Nursing will not qualify you to work as a physician. Graduating with a doctorate in Nursing is one way to achieve the highest level of nursing education and certification.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy – DOT or PhD

To take the test for licensure as an occupational therapist, you must earn either a master’s degree or a doctoral degree in this field.

A doctoral-level education may provide a greater variety of career or leadership options than a master’s-level education in occupational therapy.

An entry-level DOT program is designed to help you enter the occupational therapy field for the first time.

PhD in Psychology

Graduates with a PhD in psychology typically go on to own their own clinical counseling practices, helping others to work through mental illness, difficult traumatic experiences, and early childhood development problems.

Graduates may wish to attain a license to practice psychology, or they may pursue careers in sociology, education, and social work.

This degree program is often recommended for people who want to work directly with clients. It can be useful in a clinic, hospital or school setting, and it may be an essential step toward getting licensed in your state .

If you haven’t already completed a psychology graduate program , you can also earn your master’s in psychology online (no GRE required) .

Doctor of Public Administration – DPA

This professional doctorate equips you to serve in careers related to public affairs .

When you graduate with a doctorate in public administration, you may work in government settings or organizational leadership positions with non-profit entities.

The degree may be helpful for working in public administration , policy analysis, federal jobs, or as a local government leader.

Doctor of Public Health – DPH or PhD

Like a PhD in Healthcare Administration, a Doctor of Public Health degree is an applied doctorate for students with a desire to work in the healthcare sector. You may want to choose this particular option if your career plans involve crafting healthcare policies or working as an administrator.

The goal of this doctorate is often to help improve health at a large-scale level: for whole populations rather than individual people.

You may also be interested in a no-GRE online MPH .

PhD in Public Policy

Earning a PhD in Public Policy helps students move into careers at a high level within government agencies, business, political roles, and community leadership.

Whether you want to become a social work leader or you have international leadership in mind, you can customize a public policy program to suit your career interests.

Doctoral Programs in Ministry or Theology

A Doctor of Ministry or Theology program helps students learn advanced principles of ministry, theology, and leadership within the Church.

Most students are able to study on an independent project that is approved by their school.

Graduates go on to become professors, ministry leaders, and higher officials within the Church.

What are GRE Waivers?

Minimum undergraduate gpa.

Some universities allow GRE exemptions for students who demonstrated academic competency during their undergrad years. These schools may set a minimum GPA that students must have achieved during their earlier education to be considered for this type of academic waiver.

GPA requirements may vary among a school’s many programs. Waivers may be subject to approval on an individual basis.

Previously Earned Graduate Degree

The GRE is intended to demonstrate preparation for higher education. However, if you’ve already earned an advanced degree, the school’s admission department may consider that sufficient proof that you can handle the rigors of their PhD program.

For this waiver, some schools may require not only that you have an advanced degree but also that you achieved a particular GPA.

Professional Experience

Because extended employment in a field may demonstrate competency, some schools consider work experience in their area of focus just as valuable as high scores on the GRE.

If you have several years of relevant work experience, that may earn you a GRE waiver. Some schools specifically include relevant military service in their rules about qualifying for waivers.

Some Programs Have No GRE Requirement

If the program for which you are applying has no GRE requirement, then you won’t need a waiver. The school isn’t looking for test scores, so you won’t need to furnish them.

Just be sure to read all admission requirements closely. Some schools require GRE scores for only a few of their doctoral programs.

GMAT or GRE?

The GMAT, also known as the Graduate Management Admissions Test, is similar to the GRE but it has a more specific focus. The GMAT is an exam designed expressly for those entering business school.

Some business schools do accept GRE scores. However, if you are applying only to business programs, you should opt for the GMAT.

If GRE Scores are Optional, Should I Send Them?

To some faculty, GRE scores carry a lot of weight. Therefore, high marks on this test may elevate you in their eyes. In other words, even if the GRE is optional, furnishing a good score may be beneficial.

On the other hand, low scores may have the opposite effect. When the GRE is optional, rather than required, it may be best to keep your low marks under wraps so that your other merits take center stage.

If you’ve never taken the GRE, is it worth it to try, just so you can submit your results to a GRE-optional program? There’s no cut-and-dry answer to that question, but current program participants may be able to lend insight.

Should I Apply to PhD Without GRE Programs?

Your decision to apply to a PhD program should have nothing to do with whether or not they require the GRE. The main consideration should be the university’s accreditation.

Here are a few points to consider…

GRE is a Poor Predictor of Performance in Graduate School

If a doctoral program doesn’t require GRE scores, it’s an indication that the school understands the limitations of this exam.

The GRE won’t provide clear evidence about whether you will succeed in the classroom, get good grades, make it to graduation or be a leader in your professional field someday.

Accredited Universities Offer No GRE PhD Programs

Not having GRE requirements is not a sign that a program will be weak or substandard. Many respected, accredited programs don’t require that you take this test before you can be admitted.

Instead of using GRE requirements to evaluate a school’s strength, consider whether the program has received accreditation. Also, gather reviews from current or recent students, and get advice from the school’s graduate coordinator.

You Still Have to Meet Other Admissions Standards

All PhD programs are selective about their candidates. So, whether or not they require that you submit GRE scores, they all have admissions requirements that you must meet in order to get into the school.

Other factors considered for acceptance may include:

• Your resume
• Letters of recommendation from people familiar with your work
• Your transcripts from other higher education endeavors.
• A statement from you about your goals
• Your proficiency in the English language

Your Master’s Degree Might Be Enough

If you’ve already completed a master’s program , that shows that you’re able to perform at the graduate level.

Therefore, your school of choice may not require GRE scores as additional proof, especially if your degree is paired with a master’s thesis, a high GPA or years of professional experience.

GRE Scores: What They Tell Us, What They Don’t

GRE scores are not as helpful as you may have been led to believe. Let’s take a look at some recent studies on the reliability of GRE results.

GRE Scores Do Not Predict Classroom Performance

Creativity, interpersonal skills and internal motivation are just a few of the components that contribute to how well you do in the classroom.

However, the GRE measures none of those. It focuses only on your test-taking skills.

So, doing well on the test doesn’t guarantee classroom success.

GRE Scores Lose Impact over Time

Researchers have discovered that your scores on this test may give a school an idea of what kinds of grades you’ll achieve during the first year in their program.

However, your scores do nothing to predict your academic success after that first year.

The GRE Lacks Reliability in Predicting Final Outcomes

The GRE can’t determine whether a first-year doctoral student will end up completing the program.

Some high-scoring students may not possess enough tenacity to stick with school until graduation. On the other hand, some low-scoring students may have been the ones most likely to persevere.

Applying to Graduate School with No GRE Test Scores

There are some things that you should consider before specifically seeking out a no GRE required doctoral program:

• While some high-profile schools may admit you without this test, not taking the GRE will automatically close many prestigious schools to you.
• Some fields are more likely to require the test than others.
• Sometimes, it’s easier to find a no-GRE-required online program than an in-person one.

Consider your motivation for not submitting scores:

• Because you’ve already settled on a program that doesn’t require this test? Great!
• Because you’re too busy to study? Think hard about whether you have time for a doctoral program.
• Because you received a low score? According to an ETS survey, nearly 25 percent of test-takers improve their results second time around.

If one of your primary concerns is the amount of time required , you may be interested in our article discussing accelerated PhD programs online .

What is the GRE, and Who Needs to Take It?

The GRE is a test designed to show that you learned enough during your undergrad years to be ready for the rigors of grad school. The exam includes sections on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. You may need to take it if you’re applying to graduate programs.

Is the GRE Test Required for Graduate School?

No, not always. There are some graduate schools that don’t require GRE or GMAT scores. Some offer alternative options, and others simply have no GRE (or other entrance exam) requirements. Some schools require that you submit exam scores for only some of their graduate programs.

Is the GRE Required for PhD Programs?

Many doctoral programs require applicants to take the GRE, but not all do. Others allow waivers or base their admissions decisions solely on other criteria. In particular, some of the best-ranked online PhD programs may allow you to enroll even if you’ve never taken the GRE.

What’s the Difference Between GRE vs. GMAT?

While the GRE is used for a variety of different graduate programs, the GMAT is designed specifically for admission to business schools. However, some business schools accept GRE scores as well. Even still, those who have their hearts set on business school would do best to take the GMAT.

Is There Any Reason to Take the GRE for a PhD Program?

If your top school choice requires GRE scores, then you should take the test. Also, if you are planning to apply to quite a few programs, then there’s a good chance that you’ll need to submit test scores with some of those applications.

What is a GRE Waiver?

Some schools require GRE scores for admission to their doctoral programs, but they will make an exception if you meet other qualifications.

These qualifications may include:

• High GPA scores during undergraduate studies
• Relevant work or military experience
• Related master’s degree

Which PhD Programs May Waive the GRE?

Online doctoral programs across a variety of fields may admit students without requiring GRE scores. Commonly, this may include programs related to education, healthcare, human services and technology, and you may have options for PhD or applied doctoral degrees.

Despite the name, a Doctor of Philosophy degree is not limited to the study of philosophy. You can earn a doctor of philosophy degree in many areas, including science, the humanities or education. Your coursework will involve completing a dissertation.

A PhD program is often recommended for students interested in pursuing research or teaching.

Can You Get Into a PhD Program Without GRE Scores?

There are quite a few universities that no longer require the GRE as part of the admissions process. Some don’t require it at all, while others offer GRE waivers if you have a decent GPA, previous graduate-level courses, and similar criteria.

Some PhD Programs Have No GRE Requirement

The Graduate Record Examinations have come to be recognized as synonymous with grad school acceptance. Despite that, there are many schools that will admit you to their doctoral programs even if you’ve never taken this test. In fact, the number of PhD programs that don’t require GRE scores is growing.

In particular, online PhD programs often base their admissions decisions on factors other than exam scores.

Therefore, you may want to start your school-selection process by identifying programs that do not include GRE scores as one of their admissions factors.

Some PhD Programs Offer GRE Waivers

High marks from your last educational endeavor — your master’s degree, for example — may be enough to get you into a PhD program without needing to provide GRE scores.

If you already have work history in your intended field of study, this may also serve as sufficient proof of your competency for the school’s PhD program.

Waiver requirements can vary between schools and may be determined on a case-by-case basis.

List of Doctoral Programs without the GRE

The following doctorate programs do not require the GRE at some universities.

• Doctor of Psychology
• Doctor of Education
• Doctor of Business Administration
• Doctor of Social Work
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Doctor of Philosophy

To provide a more comprehensive list, we’ve also included universities that offer GRE waivers.

Key Takeaways

You may be able to get a PhD or a professional doctorate without ever taking the GRE.

Options include:

• Choosing a program with no GRE requirements
• Qualifying for a waiver

Skipping GRE test prep may allow you to speed up the process of beginning a fulfilling and challenging doctoral education .

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How to Apply

Program information.

On this page you will find information on how to apply for the Statistics Ph.D. Program. For further information on the program, including funding, eligibility, curriculum, and more, please visit the Statistics Ph.D. Program page.

The Statistics Department understands that the Covid-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges, including the disruption to coursework, research, and access to standardized tests, and will take this into account in our holistic application review.

Application Deadline 

Applications for Fall admission to the PhD program in Statistics are due  December 15 .  The department does not accept applications for Winter admission. A completed application must be submitted by December 15 to be considered for admission.

Applications must be submitted  online . Applicants are strongly encouraged to review Rackham's Checklist for Completing the Application Process for an overview of the application process. If an applicant or recommender experiences technical difficulties while using the application or recommendation system please contact  [email protected]  (allow 24 hours for a response).

Please review our  Frequently Asked Questions Page  for answers to specific questions regarding the application process. If you have additional questions, please contact the PhD Program Coordinator at [email protected]. 

Program codes to use in the application:

• Code 00483 — Statistics Ph.D.

Application Checklist

• Application form
• Recommender names and email addresses
• Transcripts (scan of official transcript)

Statement of Purpose

Personal statement.

• Resume or CV
• TOEFL scores (if applicable)
• Arrange for official transcripts to be sent to the Rackham Graduate School Admissions Office. See  Rackham's transcript policy  for address and information.

For additional details, please see  Rackham's Checklist for Completing the Application Process . Do not send anything to the Department of Statistics. Materials sent directly to the Department by regular mail or email will not be reviewed with your application.

Application Requirements

The University of Michigan’s Rackham Graduate School will discontinue the use of the Graduate Record Examination general test in Rackham Ph.D. admissions decisions, beginning with the 2022-2023 admissions cycle.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is no longer required to apply for admission. Students who have taken the GRE may include the test result as additional information in their application if they wish. The GRE scores that we do receive play a minor and supporting role in a holistic evaluation of the application. If you wish to submit your GRE score, include a copy of your GRE score report from ETS with your optional application materials.  

Dates and places to take the examination may be obtained from the Educational Testing Service by creating a GRE account.  The University of Michigan code for the GRE is 1839.  The GRE scores are automatically added to applicant records as long as name and birth date can be matched.  Applicants must request that their scores be sent to the University of Michigan using the code above, on the GRE website

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

An English test is required of all non-native speakers except those who hold a degree from an institution where instruction was exclusively in English. Most commonly this requirement is satisfied by the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) The University of Michigan requires a minimum TOEFL score of 84.

Non-native speakers have to take the TOEFL or IELTS unless the official language of instruction at the institution where they received their undergraduate degree was English. Applicants can qualify for an exemption from taking an English proficiency examination if one of the following criteria are met:

• You are a native speaker of English.
• You completed all of your undergraduate education and earned an undergraduate degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English only.
• You completed all of your graduate education and earned a graduate degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English only. NOTE: If you completed a Master’s degree that was strictly research and no academic classes, that degree does not meet the exemption. This type of Master’s degree is generally awarded at a non-U.S. institution.
• You are a current U-M student.

Applicants must request that their scores be sent to the University of Michigan (code 1839), on the TOEFL website. For more details on the English test requirements and alternatives to TOEFL, please refer to Rackham's  English proficiency requirements .

Transcripts

A scanned/electronic copy of the official transcript will be used for initial review by our admissions committee.  You will be required to have your official transcript sent to the Rackham Graduate School only if you are recommended for admission; please see  Instructions for Submitting Transcripts .  Be sure to include your  University of Michigan ID number  on all documents.  If there is anything you wish to explain about your transcript, please do so in the Statement of Purpose.

Letters of Recommendation (3 Required)

Three (3) letters of recommendation in support of the student's application must be submitted. The admissions committee puts great weight on concrete letters of recommendation from people who are in a position to judge your potential for successfully completing graduate studies in statistics. Often these letters reveal strengths and interests that might not be reflected in grades and GRE scores. You should select recommenders who can tell us about your training and abilities, and about any special talents you might have. 

Recommenders must complete their recommendations online. When the applicant registers the recommenders' names in CollegeNet, an email is automatically sent with a link to enter the recommendation online. Applicants should check the status of their recommendations on the CollegeNet website status page.

System tip: If, when registering your recommenders online, you are not sure of which three recommenders you want to request letters from, use your name and email address as a place holder. You can go back and change the recommenders information later. Please see Rackham's  Instructions for Submitting Online Letters of Recommendations  for more information.

The Statement of Purpose gives you an opportunity to tell us about yourself and your reasons for wishing to pursue a graduate degree in statistics at Michigan. You should tell us about your background, motivating influences that aroused your interest in statistics, and your career goals and objectives. If you are currently enrolled in a graduate program elsewhere, you should tell us why you wish to change institutions or degree programs.

How have your background and life experiences, including cultural, geographical, financial, educational or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan? For example, if you grew up in a community where educational, cultural, or other opportunities were either plentiful or especially lacking, you might discuss the impact this had on your development and interests. This should be a discussion of the journey that has led to your decision to seek a graduate degree. The statement will be read by the faculty members of the admissions committee.

Curriculum Vitae/Resume

Submit your curriculum vitae or resume that describes your education, work experience, research and teaching experience, professional affiliations, volunteer activity and community engagements, honors and awards.

(Optional) - Summary of Courses and/or Research Paper Abstract, GRE

Applicants can provide a summary of courses not reflected in their submitted transcripts, such as a summary of online courses taken (one page at most) and/or an abstract of a research paper (one page at most). This section of the application is optional.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is no longer required to apply for admission. Students who have taken the GRE may include the test result as additional information in their application if they wish. The GRE scores that we do receive play a minor and supporting role in a holistic evaluation of the application. If you wish to submit your GRE score, include a copy of your GRE score report from ETS with your optional application materials.

Application Fee

There is a non-refundable application fee, subject to change:

• United States citizens and those with permanent resident visa status — $75
• Non-U.S. Citizens — $90

Applications received without fees will not be processed. The application fee is paid online with a credit card before the application is submitted. 

Applicants who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents or have DACA status may be eligible for a fee waiver.   First, please  review the options through our Rackham Graduate School . If you do not qualify for any of these programs but need financial assistance in order to apply, please complete this form . Requests for fee waivers must be received by November 15. Waivers must be granted prior to submission of application; applicants cannot be reimbursed if they have already paid the fee.

How to Check Your Application Status

You should check your application status on the University of Michigan  Wolverine Access  web site. This is the University's web portal and it's your first stop for most of the things you will need to do. To create a "friend account" for Guest Access to Wolverine Access. go to  U-M Computing Resources .

If you have further questions, contact the Statistics PhD Program Coordinator at [email protected].

Rackham Student Life Website

Rackham's graduate  student life website  has information about housing, health care, transportation, child care, and so on.

Note: All credentials submitted for admission consideration become the property of the University of Michigan and will not be returned in original or copy form.

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Answers to frequently asked questions about our PhD program are listed here. The first set of questions addresses issues with the application process. The second set of questions applies to current students. 

Please see the How to Apply page in the PhD section of this site.

Please direct all inquiries regarding your application to the Graduate Field Coordinator, Allen Ward .

The Admissions Committee will only accept official scores sent directly to us by ETS. If ETS is unable to send us your test scores because these scores are out of date, then you must re-take the exam. Occasionally, official GRE scores take some time to match to applications; the Field will review applications prior to this matching, but may require official documentation as a condition of admission.

Regarding TOEFL: applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL exam unless they are specifically exempted. Exemptions are granted by Cornell University to students that have studied for two or more years, provided such study takes place at an approved college or university that (i) employs English as the main language of instruction; and, (ii) is located in a country where English is the native language. 

The PhD program in Statistics does not have minimum GRE or GPA requirements. Further, GRE scores are optional but not required. Cornell does have minimum TOEFL requirements (available at the Graduate School ), and we cannot make exceptions to these. 

Cornell does not offer an MS degree in Statistics. If you are interested in a Masters degree in statistics from Cornell University, please apply to Cornell's MPS program in Applied Statistics .

Just one: the Department of Statistics and Data Science (DSDS). It is, however, composed of faculty affiliated with several different groups, including: Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Economics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Operations Research and Industrial Engineering, Natural Resources and Social Statistics.

Currently, Professor James Booth is the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).

While attendance is not currently tracked, students in the Field of Statistics are expected to attend the regular Wednesday statistics seminar. Going to seminars serves several purposes. First, seminars are a good place to meet the faculty and students, and to meet the many visitors to our department. Second, seminars report on current work and can provide you with ideas for new research. Third, seminars provide you with a benchmark for your progress in the program: your level of understanding should continually improve throughout your time at Cornell.

The Special Committee for each PhD student must contain at least three members. The membership of this committee must represent a certain combination of subjects and concentrations. The chair of the committee represents the major subject of Statistics, and a specific concentration within the subject of Statistics. Minimally, the remaining members must either represent:

• Two minor subjects (see the graduate field listings and subjects listed within those fields)
• One minor subject and a second concentration within the subject of Statistics.

Please read Cornell University Policy 1.3 on Graduate Assistantships; further questions should be directed to the Director of Graduate Studies.

Students on J1 and F1 visas are allowed to work for 12 months during or following their graduate programs, on what is called "practical training"; off-campus summer internships are allowed, but count towards this quota. On-campus jobs, and off-campus internships that count towards course requirements, do not count towards practical training. Check with the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) to determine which departments offer courses that allow you to do a paid summer internship. 

Statistics PhD

The Department of Statistics offers the Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.

Master of Arts (MA)

The Statistics MA program prepares students for careers that require statistical skills. It focuses on tackling statistical challenges encountered by industry rather than preparing for a PhD. The program is for full-time students and is designed to be completed in two semesters (fall and spring).

There is no way to transfer into the PhD program from the MA program. Students must apply to the PhD program.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Statistics PhD program is rigorous, yet welcoming to students with interdisciplinary interests and different levels of preparation. The standard PhD program in statistics provides a broad background in probability theory and applied and theoretical statistics.

There are three designated emphasis (DE) tracks available to students in the PhD program who wish to pursue interdisciplinary work formally: Computational and Data Science and Engineering , Computational and Genomic Biology and Computational Precision Health .

Contact Info

[email protected]

367 Evans Hall, University of California

Berkeley, CA 94720-3860

At a Glance

Department(s)

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 4, 2023

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

• Youth Program
• Wharton Online

PhD Program

Wharton’s PhD program in Statistics provides the foundational education that allows students to engage both cutting-edge theory and applied problems. These include problems from a wide variety of fields within Wharton, such as finance, marketing, and public policy, as well as fields across the rest of the University such as biostatistics within the Medical School and computer science within the Engineering School.

Major areas of departmental research include: analysis of observational studies; Bayesian inference, bioinformatics; decision theory; game theory; high dimensional inference; information theory; machine learning; model selection; nonparametric function estimation; and time series analysis.

Students typically have a strong undergraduate background in mathematics. Knowledge of linear algebra and advanced calculus is required, and experience with real analysis is helpful. Although some exposure to undergraduate probability and statistics is expected, skills in mathematics and computer science are more important. Graduates of the department typically take positions in academia, government, financial services, and bio-pharmaceutical industries.

Apply online here .

Department of Statistics and Data Science

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Academic Research Building 265 South 37th Street, 3rd & 4th Floors Philadelphia, PA 19104-1686

Phone: (215) 898-8222

• Contact Information
• Course Descriptions
• Course Schedule
• Doctoral Inside: Resources for Current PhD Students
• Penn Career Services
• Apply to Wharton
• Financial Aid

DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS AND DATA SCIENCE

Phd program, phd program overview.

The doctoral program in Statistics and Data Science is designed to provide students with comprehensive training in theory and methodology in statistics and data science, and their applications to problems in a wide range of fields. The program is flexible and may be arranged to reflect students' interests and career goals. Cross-disciplinary work is encouraged. The PhD program prepares students for careers as university teachers and researchers and as research statisticians or data scientists in industry, government and the non-profit sector.

Requirements

Students are required to fulfill the Department requirements in addition to those specified by The Graduate School (TGS).

From the Graduate School’s webpage outlining the general requirements for a PhD :

In order to receive a doctoral degree, students must:

• Complete all required coursework. .
• Gain admittance to candidacy.
• Submit a prospectus to be approved by a faculty committee.
• Present a dissertation with original research. Review the Dissertation Publication page for more information.
• Complete the necessary teaching requirement
• Submit necessary forms to file for graduation
• Complete degree requirements within the approved timeline

PhD degrees must be approved by the student's academic program. Consult with your program directly regarding specific degree requirements.

The Department requires that students in the Statistics and Data Science PhD program:

• Meet the department minimum residency requirement of 2 years
• STAT 344-0 Statistical Computing
• STAT 350-0 Regression Analysis
• STAT 353-0 Advanced Regression (new 2021-22)
• STAT 415-0 I ntroduction to Machine Learning
• STAT 420-1,2,3 Introduction to Statistical Theory and Methodology 1, 2, 3
• STAT 430-1, STAT 430-2, STAT 440 (new courses in 2022-23 on probability and stochastic processes for statistics students)
• STAT 457-0 Applied Bayesian Inference

Students generally complete the required coursework during their first two years in the PhD program. *note that required courses changed in the 2021-22 academic year, previous required courses can be found at the end of this page.

• Pass the Qualifying Exam. This comprehensive examination covers basic topics in statistics and is typically taken in fall quarter of the second year.

Pass the Prospectus presentation/examination and be admitted for PhD candidacy by the end of year 3 . The statistics department requires that students must complete their Prospectus (proposal of dissertation topic) before the end of year 3, which is earlier than The Graduate School deadline of the end of year 4. The prospectus must be approved by a faculty committee comprised of a committee chair and a minimum of 2 other faculty members. Students usually first find an adviser through independent studies who will then typically serve as the committee chair. When necessary, exceptions may be made upon the approval of the committee chair and the director of graduate studies, to extend the due date of the prospectus exam until the end of year 4.

• Successfully complete and defend a doctoral dissertation. After the prospectus is approved, students begin work on the doctoral dissertation, which must demonstrate an original contribution to a chosen area of specialization. A final examination (thesis defense) is given based on the dissertation. Students typically complete the PhD program in 5 years.
• Attend all seminars in the department and participate in other research activities . In addition to these academic requirements, students are expected to participate in other research activities and attend all department seminars every year they are in the program.

Optional MS degree en route to PhD

Students admitted to the Statistics and Data Science PhD program can obtain an optional MS (Master of Science) degree en route to their PhD. The MS degree requires 12 courses: STAT 350-0 Regression Analysis, STAT 353 Advanced Regression, STAT 420-1,2,3 Introduction to Statistical Theory and Methodology 1, 2, 3, STAT 415-0 I ntroduction to Machine Learning , and at least 6 more courses approved by the department of which two must be 400 level STAT elective courses, no more than 3 can be non-STAT courses. For the optional MS degree, students must also pass the qualifying exam offered at the beginning of the second year at the MS level.

*Prior to 2021-2022, the course requirements for the PhD were:

• STAT 351-0 Design and Analysis of Experiments
• STAT 425 Sampling Theory and Applications
• MATH 450-1,2 Probability 1, 2 or MATH 450-1 Probability 1 and IEMS 460-1,2 Stochastic Processes 1, 2
• Six additional 300/400 graduate-level Statistics courses, at least two must be 400 -level

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The Doctor of Philosophy degree program with a major in statistics is designed for students who plan to pursue careers in university teaching and research or in industrial and government research and consulting. A doctoral student pursuing the degree program in statistics may choose to emphasize either statistics or probability.

The Department of Statistics and Probability is accepting applications for our PhD in Statistics program for Fall 2024.

The application for admission, application fee, and all required supporting documents should be submitted no later than  January 15, 2025. The application system opens each August.

For full consideration of MSU Graduate School and College of Natural Science fellowship opportunities, applications should be received by  December 1, 2024 . These fellowships are different than graduate assistant positions awarded by the department to students admitted to the PhD in Statistics program. 

STEPS TO APPLY 

Submit the required documents and complete the application by Jan. 15, 2025 . For University Fellowship consideration, please submit everything by December 1, 2024.

• Help guides for the application process: Domestic Application or International Application
• Create an account. You will need this to access your application, where all documents must be uploaded. explore.msu.edu/apply/
• Choose the PhD major from the dropdown list:   Statistics
• See our PhD Handbook for program requirements STT Graduate Handbook
• You must pay the application fee $65 (domestic) or $75 (international). If you are financially unable to pay the fee, visit the Application Fee Waiver site for assistance: https://grad.msu.edu/application-fee-waiver
• Once you submit and pay the application fee, you can upload all required documents. See list below and please use this helpful checklist: Application Checklist

Applications are accepted for Fall Semester only.  We do not accept applications for Spring or Summer semesters. You can check your application status through the  Application Portal . Questions? Please contact us at [email protected] .  Thank you for your interest in our graduate program.

REQUIRED APPLICATION DOCUMENTS for PhD Program

Please use the Application Checklist to help you. All required documents below must be uploaded to the Application Portal:   explore.msu.edu/apply/

Official Transcripts: All college work (undergraduate and graduate), including diplomas and certificates translated in English, must be sent to MSU Department of Statistics and Probability directly from the school(s) which you attended or are currently attending. Domestic (located in the US) colleges can send electronic transcripts. International colleges are required to send hard (paper) copies.  Note: Applicants are encouraged to upload unofficial transcripts to the student portal for the committee to review while we wait for Admissions to add your official transcripts to your profile.  Our address: Michigan State University Department of Statistics and Probability Wells Hall  619 Red Cedar Road, Room C413 East Lansing, MI 48824 USA

GRE : The GRE test is required for PhD applicants. Sub tests are not required. Test Scores must be submitted to the Michigan State University Graduate Admissions Office by the Educational Testing Service. The Institutional Code for MSU is 1465. No department code is necessary.   

Three (3) Letters of Recommendation: The Department of Statistics and Probability requires THREE (3) letters of recommendation. These must be submitted from professors or other professionals who can assess your promise of success in our graduate program. You cannot upload the letters of reference yourself. There is a place for you to list the name and email of your recommenders and they will be contacted and asked to upload a letter for you. As writing and submitting a letter might take some time, please give your recommenders enough time to prepare their letters.

Register your references /  recommenders through the Application Portal. Under "References” Click “Add Recommender” and enter their information. Decide if you want to waive your right to access your letters of recommendation. Sign electronically and then click "Send to Recommender” or click "Save" to enter details at a later time. When you "Send to Recommender," the system will send your reference an email of instructions on how to submit their letter of reference.

Do not have hard copy letters of recommendation mailed. They must be submitted through the Application Portal: explore.msu.edu/apply/

TOEFL Scores (International Students Only) : TOEFL test scores must be submitted to the Michigan State University Graduate Admissions Office by the Educational Testing Service. The Institutional Code for MSU is 1465. No department code is necessary. Please note that the Department of Statistics and Probability requires TOEFL, and we do not accept other language tests. The TOEFL test is valid for 2 years from the date of the test to the first day of class for the admit semester. For Fall semester 2025 that would be Aug. 28, 2025. The minimal TOEFL scores required for regular admission at MSU MSU English Proficiency Requirements

• Listening 19
• Speaking 19
• *Plus 1 point or more on any of these topics to equal a minimum of 80 points .

***NOTE: Due to cancellations of TOEFL, MSU will be temporarily accepting the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition from applicants affected by these closures. We will also accept IELTS. 

Advanced Mathematics Profile: Advanced Mathematics Profile Click for link. Fill in the table with every advanced mathematics and statistics course you have completed (with grade) or expect to complete before beginning graduate study at Michigan State University. This information will be used to assess your math and statistics-related preparation. Please list all that apply. Upload your math profile document under the "Personal Statement" section of the MSU online application.

Academic Statement: This is sometimes referred to as your Statement of Purpose. Upload this document under the "Academic Statement" section of the MSU online application.

Resume / CV: A current Resume / CV is required. Please upload to your online application.

PhD Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

Prospective applicants (phd).

While there are no specific prerequisite courses to complete before applying, previous experience has shown that before starting the core courses students need to have mastered the material in courses such as Stanford's Math113, Math115, Stats116, Stats200, and CS106A (or their equivalents at other universities), as demonstrated by very strong and relatively recent grades. Descriptions of these courses may be viewed on Stanford's ExploreCourses course listings pages. Where this background is missing or not recent, admission to the PhD program will involve working with the Graduate Director to design an individual program to make up the necessary courses.

No, applicants with only a bachelor's degree are eligible to enter our PhD program. Each year's admitted cohort typically comprises both students with and without a master's degree.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stanford reaffirmed its commitment to perform individualized, holistic review of each applicant to its graduate and professional programs. We recognize that students may have faced significant challenges during the period of disruption caused by the pandemic, and we will take such individual circumstances into account during application review. Importantly, we will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Credit/No Credit and other grading options during this unprecedented period of COVID-19 disruption, whether they are made by institutions or by individual students. Our goal remains to form graduate student cohorts that are excellent and encompass a diversity of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that enrich the graduate educational experience.

No. In the Statistics Department, doctoral students select their advisor at the end of their second year in the program after having the opportunity to work on research with one or more faculty of their choosing.

No, we only matriculate students in autumn quarter and therefore all applicants must meet the annual PhD application deadline.

No. It is not possible to complete a degree online in the Statistics Department. The department offers a small number of courses online through Stanford Online , mostly in summer, but the majority of courses must be completed on campus during normal business hours.

The Bechtel International Center works with students, staff and faculty and their families on issues including immigration policy, academic and financial difficulties, transactions with foreign governments, English proficiency, housing, and adjustment to life at Stanford.

Please visit Estimated Expense Budget for information about the estimated cost of living on-campus as a graduate student (this is only an estimate; your actual expenses may differ).

Please visit Student Housing for information about campus housing at Stanford, including information on eligibility, the application process, and deadlines.

Applicants to any graduate program at Stanford are eligible to apply for this fellowship. Applicants must have applied to the Scholars program by the KHS deadline and must submit their graduate application by the dept/program deadline.

Students with a strong mathematical background who wish to go on to a PhD in Statistics should consider applying directly to the PhD program. Completing the MS in Statistics does not increase one's chances of admission to the PhD program.

No, you may apply to only one degree program per academic year. An exception is within the Biosciences, in which you may apply to up to three PhD programs within one application. However, you may apply concurrently to one departmental program and to a professional school program (law, medicine or business).

We receive approximately 200 PhD applications and usually admit 10-12 new students each year.

Graduate Exam Requirements (PhD)

The general GRE test is required of all applicants applying to a graduate program in statistics at Stanford University, including applicants who have previously attended graduate school.

No, we do not accept any tests in lieu of the GRE general test.

Admission to the Statistics Department requires the GRE general test.

Applicants who have already earned a PhD degree, or have PhD studies in progress with a degree conferral date prior to the intended start quarter, may request a GRE General Test waiver by emailing stat-admissions-PhD [at] lists.stanford.edu (stat-admissions-PhD[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) with the following information and attaching an unofficial copy of your PhD transcript: full name, institution attended, degree earned, and degree conferral date. Use the subject heading 'GRE General Test Waiver Request'.

We do not have a minimum GPA requirement for applicants to the PhD program, but GPAs of at least 3.5 are strongly recommended.

While we have not established any particular GRE test score necessary for admission, the average General GRE percentile scores of recently admitted applicants are Verbal 92%, Quantitative 94% and Analytical Writing 83%. If you submit results from more than one eligible test date we will consider the higher of the scores from each relevant test.

Effective March 2021, the GRE Math Subject Test is no longer required. Applicants to our program are now required only to take the GRE General Test. The GRE Math Subject Test will not be considered during the review of applications. GRE Math Subject Test scores submitted to Stanford University will not be made available to our department.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores are required of all applicants whose first language is not English. For detailed information, see the TOEFL information in Required Exams.

The University does not accept IELTS scores in lieu of the TOEFL.

A minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the Internet based test (iBT) is required by Stanford University for all Ph.D. applicants.

However, please note that the Graduate Admission's Required Exams webpage also states that incoming students who score below 109 on the TOEFL will likely be required to complete additional English placement testing prior to enrollment. Evidence of adequate English proficiency must be submitted before enrollment is approved by Graduate Admissions.

The average TOEFL score of Ph.D. applicants admitted to the statistics department is 112.

Yes, Stanford accepts MyBest scores, but does not accept TOEFL Essentials test scores or any other English proficiency test (e.g., IELTS, PTE).

You may request a waiver if you (will) have an equivalent degree from a recognized institution in a country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom in which English was the language of instruction. You must submit a Stanford application before submitting a TOEFL waiver request form. Note that U.S. citizenship does not automatically exempt an applicant from taking the TOEFL if the applicant’s first language is not English.

Please make sure to have your electronic scores sent to Stanford prior to their expiration date.

GRE scores are valid for five years from the test date.

TOEFL scores submitted to Stanford must be from a test taken within the last 24 months. Scores expire after two years and will not be available from ETS.

Applicants should have the Educational Testing Service (ETS) send scores electronically to Stanford.

Our university code is 4704. A department code is not required. You will either self-report your scores or indicate the date you will take the test(s) in the online application. Self-reported scores will not be considered official until Stanford receives the electronic record.

Transcripts (PhD)

Official transcripts should be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office (not to the department) only if you have been offered admission to the program AND have accepted, and then only when they are final and show degree conferral. Final official transcripts that do not show degree conferral must be accompanied by official degree certifications. Instructions for submission are provided on the status page immediately after accepting the offer.

An official transcript must be an original document bearing the institutional seal and official signature of the Registrar or is verified by a school administrative officer or is a certified electronic transcript.

As part of the online application, applicants are required to upload scanned copies of transcripts (either official or unofficial) from all post-secondary institutions attended as a full-time student for one academic year or longer in the 'Academic History' section of the application.

If you have participated in a study abroad program or transferred courses to your home institution, and the individual courses and grades are reflected on the transcript of the home institution, then you do not need to submit separate transcripts for the study abroad/transfer institution.

Copies of your transcripts from continuing studies programs, extension schools, online courses, etc., that reflect less than one year of a full-time degree program do not need to be submitted. However, applicants may choose to include them as part of the online application under the 'Additional Information' section of the application.

Multiple page uploads are allowed for all transcripts. Do not send any official copies of transcripts (print or e-transcripts) to the department. They are not required as part of the application and will not be retained.

If the institution does not issue records in English, original language records must be submitted with official English translations. We accept translations issued by the institution or a professional translating service. Translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records. Transcripts submitted through a credentials evaluation service will also need to be accompanied by the original documents.

International students do not need to submit transcripts via an evaluation service unless your institution does not offer these documents in English.

If you are offered admission and choose to accept, you will find i nstructions provided on the status page immediately after accepting the offer.

Recommendation Letters (PhD)

The online application allows you to submit up to four letters of recommendation. Statistics PhD applicants are only required to submit three letters. It is the quality, not the quantity, of letters that supports and strengthens the graduate application. At least one recommender should be a faculty member at the last school you attended as a full-time student (unless you have been out of school for more than five years). Note: If you have concerns that one of your recommenders will not be able to submit their letter by the deadline, you may want to consider requesting letters from a total of four recommenders. This will increase the likelihood that three letters will be submitted by the deadline and that your application will be considered complete.

You should choose individuals who:

• Know you well through significant, direct involvement with you within the last three years
• Will provide detailed anecdotes and examples to support their assertions
• Are truly enthusiastic about writing a recommendation for you, will spend sufficient time writing a thoughtful letter, and will be able to submit it by the application deadline

Letters must be submitted using the electronic application. As part of the online application, the applicant will be required to register the names and contact information, including e-mail addresses, of each recommender. Recommenders will then receive an email with directions on how to proceed. For additional information, please visit the Letters of Recommendation page provided by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Letters must be received by the published deadline. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that letters are submitted to the electronic application by the published deadline. Do not email, mail, or fax letters of recommendation that have already been submitted through the online application.

Yes, we do accept letters submitted by your university's letter service. If this applies to you, you will still need to enter information for each recommender in the online application, including e-mail addresses which will automatically generate the email to each recommender requesting a letter. It is your responsibility to contact them to let them know to disregard this email and to use the university's letter service. Please use stat-admissions-phd [at] lists.stanford.edu (stat-admissions-PhD[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) when routing through the letter service.

The recommendation process now supports letters submitted via Interfolio. The applicant registers a recommender using an email address that contains “interfolio.com”. Please remember that letters written specifically for your Stanford graduate program tend to be stronger than letters written for general use purposes. Furthermore, the recommendation form displayed for a recommender using Interfolio will not include the evaluation questions displayed and required for other recommenders.

Your recommenders are required to submit their letters through the online application by the deadline of the round in which you apply. You are responsible for ensuring the letters are submitted on time. You will be able to see the status of each letter (either notified, started, or submitted) and you will also be able to send a reminder via the online system to any recommender who has not yet submitted as the application deadline draws near.

• Register your recommenders. Go to the “Letters of Reference” tab on the application, and enter each recommender’s information carefully. It is essential that you enter the recommender’s email address correctly so that your recommender can access the instructions and form. Read the waiver statement for each letter of reference and determine whether or not you will waive your right to review each recommendation. You cannot change this later.
• Your recommender receives an email with log in information.
• Your recommender completes and submits his/her recommendation.
• You and your recommender receive an email confirming the recommendation has been submitted.

Once you are an enrolled student , the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) provides you with a right of access to your education record, including letters of reference if they are retained by the school. The law also permits you to waive that right of access to your letters of reference if you so choose. Waiving your right of access to your letters of reference is optional; your decision to waive or retain that right will have no bearing on the handling of your application.

The recommenders whom you notify will be able to see whether or not you have waived your FERPA right of access during the letter of reference submission process. You must waive or retain your rights of access to your letters of reference (using the online application system) before you invite recommenders to submit information for you.

Application Updates, Transfers, Re-applications, Deferrals (PhD)

Yes, you may make certain updates to your application after submitting it: consult the Grad Admissions FAQs for details . Scroll down to 'Post-Submission'.

Updates made PRIOR to the application deadline will be considered part of the initial application and will be reviewed by the admissions committee. However, although the application system will still allow applicants to make some updates AFTER the deadline, there is no guarantee that the admissions committee will review them.

Applicants who indicate that they would like to be considered for the master's program in the ' Program Selection ' section of the online application are eligible to request that their application be reviewed by the MS Admissions Committee.

In order to pursue this option, applicants must submit an email request within three business days of receiving the PhD admissions decision notification. Note that it is not guaranteed that the MS Admissions Committee will accept your application for review. You will be notified via email whether your request has been approved.

Yes, you must submit a complete application, pay the application fee and submit new letters of recommendation and transcripts.

However, if your GRE and TOEFL scores (where relevant) are valid and still available in Stanford's system it may not be necessary to have them resent. Email stat-admissions-phd [at] lists.stanford.edu (stat-admissions-phd[at]lists[dot]stanford[dot]edu) for confirmation.

No. We do not allow deferral of admission. Students who are accepted but cannot enroll may reapply for a future year when they are available to begin their studies.

Ph.D. in Statistics

Our doctoral program in statistics gives future researchers preparation to teach and lead in academic and industry careers.

Program Description

Degree type.

approximately 5 years

The relatively new Ph.D. in Statistics strives to be an exemplar of graduate training in statistics. Students are exposed to cutting edge statistical methodology through the modern curriculum and have the opportunity to work with multiple faculty members to take a deeper dive into special topics, gain experience in working in interdisciplinary teams and learn research skills through flexible research electives. Graduates of our program are prepared to be leaders in statistics and machine learning in both academia and industry.

The Ph.D. in Statistics is expected to take approximately five years to complete, and students participate as full-time graduate students.  Some students are able to finish the program in four years, but all admitted students are guaranteed five years of financial support.  

Within our program, students learn from global leaders in statistics and data sciences and have:

20 credits of required courses in statistical theory and methods, computation, and applications

18 credits of research electives working with two or more faculty members, elective coursework (optional), and a guided reading course

Dissertation research

Coursework Timeline

Year 1: focus on core learning.

The first year consists of the core courses:

• SDS 384.2 Mathematical Statistics I
• SDS 383C Statistical Modeling I
• SDS 387 Linear Models
• SDS 384.11 Theoretical Statistics
• SDS 383D Statistical Modeling II
• SDS 386D Monte Carlo Methods

In addition to the core courses, students of the first year are expected to participate in SDS 190 Readings in Statistics. This class focuses on learning how to read scientific papers and how to grasp the main ideas, as well as on practicing presentations and getting familiar with important statistics literature.

At the end of the first year, students are expected to take a written preliminary exam. The examination has two purposes: to assess the student’s strengths and weaknesses and to determine whether the student should continue in the Ph.D. program. The exam covers the core material covered in the core courses and it consists of two parts: a 3-hour closed book in-class portion and a take-home applied statistics component. The in-class portion is scheduled at the end of the Spring Semester after final exams (usually late May). The take-home problem is distributed at the end of the in-class exam, with a due-time 24 hours later. 

Year 2: Transitioning from Student to Researcher

In the second year of the program, students take the following courses totaling 9 credit hours each semester:

• Required: SDS 190 Readings in Statistics (1 credit hour)
• Required: SDS 389/489 Research Elective* (3 or 4 credit hours) in which the student engages in independent research under the guidance of a member of the Statistics Graduate Studies Committee
• One or more elective courses selected from approved electives ; and/or
• One or more sections of SDS 289/389/489 Research Elective* (2 to 4 credit hours) in which the student engages in independent research with a member(s) of the Statistics Graduate Studies Committee OR guided readings/self-study in an area of statistics or machine learning. 
• Internship course (0 or 1 credit hour; for international students to obtain Curricular Practical Training; contact Graduate Coordinator for appropriate course options)
• GRS 097 Teaching Assistant Fundamentals or NSC 088L Introduction to Evidence-Based Teaching (0 credit hours; for TA and AI preparation)

* Research electives allow students to explore different advising possibilities by working for a semester with a particular professor. These projects can also serve as the beginning of a dissertation research path. No more than six credit hours of research electives can be taken with a single faculty member in a semester.

Year 3: Advance to Candidacy

Students are encouraged to attend conferences, give presentations, as well as to develop their dissertation research. At the end of the second year or during their third year, students are expected to present their plan of study for the dissertation in an Oral candidacy exam. During this exam, students should demonstrate their research proficiency to their Ph.D. committee members. Students who successfully complete the candidacy exam can apply for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. once they have completed their required coursework and satisfied departmental requirements. The steps to advance to candidacy are:

• Discuss potential candidacy exam topics with advisor
• Propose Ph.D. committee: the proposed committee must follow the Graduate School and departmental regulations on committee membership for what will become the Ph.D. Dissertation Committee
•   Application for candidacy

Year 4+: Dissertation Completion and Defense

Students are encouraged to attend conferences, give presentations, as well as to develop their dissertation research. Moreover, they are expected to present part of their work in the framework of the department's Ph.D. poster session.

Students who are admitted to candidacy will be expected to complete and defend their Ph.D. thesis before their Ph.D. committee to be awarded the degree. The final examination, which is oral, is administered only after all coursework, research and dissertation requirements have been fulfilled. It is expected that students will be prepared to defend by the end of their fifth year in the doctoral program.

General Information and Expectations for All Ph.D. students

• 2023-24 Student Handbook
• Annual Review At the end of every year (due May 1), students are expected to fill out the Annual Progress Review . 
• Seminar Series All students are expected to attend the SDS Seminar Series
• SDS 189R Course Description (when taken for internship)
• Internship Course Registration form
• Intel Corporation
• Berry Consultants

Attending Conferences 

Students are encouraged to attend conferences to share their work. All research-related travel while in student status require prior authorization.

• Request for Travel Authorization (both domestic and international travel)
• Request for Authorization for International Travel  

• Academic Programs
• Graduate Programs

Applications for admission must be completed by December 31st for entry in the Fall semester. For spring admissions, applications must be completed by October 15th. The Statement of Purpose on the application package is not required. It is replaced by short answer items.

Prerequisites for Admission

• Testing Information

Tuition and Financial Support

• How to Apply
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

For more information

In addition to the Graduate School requirements, the essential prerequisites for graduate study in statistics are undergraduate courses in advanced calculus and linear algebra (including matrix theory). Exposure to probability and statistics at the undergraduate level is recommended as is knowledge of computer programming. Typical students entering the Ph.D. degree program have completed an undergraduate mathematics major or equivalent program. Students admitted to the Graduate School and the Statistics MS Program who wish to continue onto the Statistics Ph.D. Program must apply thru the Chair of the Graduate Committee .

Students who are strongly motivated and have demonstrated high aptitude may be admitted to graduate programs while they fill in background courses.

Testing Information:

Applicants are encouraged but not required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The Department of Statistics will accept either the TOEFL or the IELTS.   The minimum Internet-based test scores are as follows:     Writing 20; Speaking 20; Listening 20; and Reading 20;  and the minimum TOEFL Essentials English score is 8.0.   Higher scores are preferred for those applicants who wish to be considered for teaching assistantship. No TOEFL or IELTS score should be older than two years. A minimum score of 6.5 or higher is required for the IELTS.

The requirement to submit TOEFL or IELTS (for applicants whose native language is not English) scores will NOT be waived. The ONLY exception is if you are applying to the 5th year Applied Statistics MS program.

Please visit https://www.ets.org to see information on-line about taking and registering for the GRE and TOEFL test. The local testing center is: Sylvan Prometric Testing, 4050 Britt Road, Lafayette, IN 47905, Phone number is: (765) 447-0626.

For the GRE and TOEFL or IELTS, use a School Code of 1631 . No department code is needed.

Students are automatically considered for funding, including the Bob and Marjorie McLean Scholarship , when they apply to the department. Many graduate students in the department are supported by teaching assistantships which provide reductions in tuition and fees to several hundred dollars per semester. Some fellowships are available for one or two years. Minority doctoral fellowships are normally for a period of three years. Also, a limited number of research assistantships are available for students who have begun their Ph.D. research.

More information about funding is available on Purdue's Graduate School Funding Info for Students page. Information about Fellowships, Grants and Other Awards can be found here . Students who wish to be considered for Fellowship funding are required to submit a "Fellowship Applicant Essay." Instructions for writing and submitting the essay can be found on Purdue's Graduate Online Application .

If you still have questions after reviewing our graduate program pages and checking our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, please email the Graduate Coordinator at: [email protected] .

The graduate coordinator can also be reached at: 765-494-5794.

If you are interested in applying for graduate studies in our department, please visit our How to Apply page.

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Application Requirements

The Statistics graduate programs consists of a general track MS program, Analytics Concentration MS program, Applied Concentration MS program, and a PhD program. The graduate programs provide advanced training in mathematical and applied statistics, exposure to statistics in a consulting or collaborative research environment and specialized coursework in a number of areas of emphasis, such as Data Science and Biostatistics . The graduate programs are intended to prepare students for careers as practicing statisticians and data scientists as well as to provide enhanced research expertise and professional leadership in the field of statistics and data sciences.

APPLICATION DEADLINES:

MS Fall Admission – April 1 (General Track, Analytics) MS Spring Admission – September 15 (General Track, Analytics, Applied) PhD Fall Admission - Dec 15 (Fall admit only) *Application deadlines are the same for both domestic and international applicants

*Fall 2024 Note*

The GRE is optional for admission consideration for the Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 admission cycles. This waiver applies to both the PhD and MS programs. 

All graduate programs in Statistics require an applicant to have obtained, or will have obtained by date of enrollment, a minimum of a 4 year post-secondary degree from an accredited institute as recognized by the Graduate College .

All applicants must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or comparable for international institutions). The GPA for admission only considers the applicant's previous 60 semester hours of undergraduate study or your entire accumulative graduate level course work.

Students are expected to have a solid undergraduate mathematics background, but need not have an undergraduate statistics or mathematics degree. Students may be admitted with deficiencies, which are to be removed during the first year of graduate work. 

International applicants must also meet the admission requirements based on their country of citizenship as outlined by the Graduate College's Admission Requirement For A Country policies. 

The Graduate Minor in Statistics is designed for doctoral students pursuing degrees in other fields who wish to enhance their statistical knowledge and credentials. Students within the major cannot minor in the same program. The Minor is taken in conjunction with, and is intended to complement the student's work in their primary discipline.

Admission to the minor requires an application to the Department and admission to a PhD program (MS track to PhD cannot apply until they are in the PhD program) in another field at the University of Illinois. Applications for the Minor are submitted upon completion of the required courses. Approval is contingent on having grade point average of 3.0 or better in the Minor.

A total of three courses, constituting 12 graduate credit hours, are required for the minor in Statistics degree. At least 8 credit hours must be taken at the 500 level. No course substitutions are allowed.

APPROVED 400 LEVEL COURSES* - CHOOSE 1 (4 GRADUATE HOURS):

STAT 424 (Analysis of Variance), STAT 425 (Statistical Modeling I), STAT 426 (Statistical Modeling II), STAT 428 (Statistical Computing), STAT 429 (Time Series Analysis), STAT 430 (Topics in Applied Statistics), STAT 432 (Basics of Statistical Learning), STAT 440 (Statistical Data Management), STAT 443 (Professional Statistics), STAT 448 (Advanced Data Analysis), STAT 480 (Big Data Analytics)

APPROVED 500 LEVEL COURSES - CHOOSE 2 (8 GRADUATE HOURS):

STAT 510 (Mathematical Statistics), STAT 511 (Advanced Mathematical Statistics), STAT 525 (Computational Statistics), STAT 527 (Advanced Regression Analysis), STAT 530 (Bioinformatics), STAT 542 (Statistical Learning), STAT 571 (Multivariate Analysis), STAT 575 (Large Sample Theory), STAT 578 (Topics In Statistics), STAT 587 (Hierarchical Linear Models), STAT 588 (Covariance Structures and Factor Models)

*In 400 level courses, be sure to register for the graduate section for 4 credit hours, not the undergraduate section if there is one.

Applying to the Graduate Minor in Statistics

Candidates for the Graduate Minor in Statistics should not submit an application until all requirements outlined above have been met. Once the requirements have been met, candidates may submit an application through the following link:  Graduate Minor in Statistics Application

• The Graduate Record Examination (GRE):  Required for admission consideration to all graduate programs in Statistics - there are no exceptions to this policy. We do not accept the GMAT in substitution for this requirement. GRE scores are valid for approximately 5 years from the date of the test, scores must be valid at the time of the first day of class for the semester admitted to.  Waived for the 2024 admission cycles for MS and PhD applicants. 
• Letters of Recommendations:  A minimum of 3 (three) letters of recommendation should be submitted on your behalf. Letter writers can be instructors, advisors, co-workers, employers, etc., anyone who can speak of your character, strengths, and abilities to be a viable candidate to join our program.
• Transcripts/Academic Records (diplomas, certificate of degree, etc.):  Unofficial transcripts and/or other academic records must be uploaded for consideration for admission. Do not send your official transcripts unless an offer of admission is made.   If you are an international applicant, your transcripts must be translated to English through the school issuing the transcript or through a verification program like WES.
• Academic Statement of Purpose:  Please use the Academic Statement of Purpose to describe (within 1000 words): (1) your academic interests, (2) your academic background, preparation, and training, including any relevant professional experiences, (3) your reasons for pursuing graduate studies in this specific program, and (4) your professional goals
• Please use the Personal Statement to describe (within 500 words) how your personal background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Provide insight on your potential to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect in which scholars with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and collaborate productively and positively together.
• Resume/CV:  There are no restrictions for the length or format of either the Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV). 
• English Proficiency Tests:  International students must submit either a TOEFL or IELTS score report unless they qualify for an exemption based on the English Proficiency Requirement for Admission policy of the Graduate College . TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for approximately 2 years from the date of the test, scores must be valid at the time of the first day of class for the semester admitted to. 

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT FOR ADMISSION PURPOSES ONLY

• All applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit the results of the TOEFL or IELTS as evidence of English proficiency.
• Official scores are required to be submitted directly from TOEFL/ETS or IELTS.
• TOEFL or IELTS scores must be valid at time of the first day of class of the admitted term.

The following chart provides Graduate College minimum score requirements for admission:

If the scores on the TOEFL or IELTS are acceptable, but indicate the need for further English study, an English as a Second Language Placement Test (EPT) will be required upon arrival at the University. On the basis of the ESL EPT results, applicants are generally required to enroll in non-credit "English as a Second Language" courses and take a reduced academic load beginning the first semester at the University.

• Completion of at least two years of post-secondary full-time study, as defined by the home institution, in a country where English is the primary language and at an institution where English is the primary medium of instruction, within five years of the proposed term of initial enrollment at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
• Completion of at least two years of professional work experience in a country where English is the primary language within five years of the proposed term of initial enrollment at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
• Completion of a post-secondary degree in a country where English is the primary language and at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction, within five years of the proposed term of initial enrollment.

IMPORTANT:  Please note that this exemption is for admission purposes only. This may not necessarily provide an exemption for international teaching assistants. For more information, please see the  English Proficiency Requirement for International Teaching Assistants .

Submitting An Application Potential applicants ready to begin their application to one of our graduate degree programs in Statistics should begin by either creating an account or logging back in to a previously created account through the Choose Illinois application page through the Graduate College's website. Applicants are encouraged to review the Graduate College's Application Checklist prior to beginning their application. 

Be sure to read through the entirety of the instructions presented at the start of the application process. Information on applying to multiple programs, application status, application fees, and other resources are presented. 

Application Review Applicants should complete the entire application and upload all additional materials to the best of their ability before submitting it for review consideration. Applications are reviewed only during certain time periods of each admission cycle, generally in rolling batches, and the admission committees will typically only review completed applications (some exceptions include applications marked incomplete due to a missing letter of recommendation). Incomplete applications may be reviewed preemptively after a period of time has passed based on the materials available. Reconsiderations are generally not guaranteed if new or updated materials are uploaded after a decision has been made. The admission review committee members or admission staff are not permitted to discuss application decision outcomes. 

Applicants who have not paid their application fee will not have their applications reviewed for consideration. Applicants who are potentially eligible for an application fee waiver should proceed with submitting their application and selecting the Application Fee Waiver option. Upon review it will be determined if you are eligible for an application fee waiver and your application will proceed to the admission consideration process.

Applicants who participated in the Stat-MS Prep Track program are eligible for an application fee waiver and will want to indicate as such during the application process for approval. 

Domestic  applicants who are part of the listed programs here are eligible for an application fee waiver or exemption and can indicate so on the online application.  International  applicants are  not  eligible for an application fee waiver unless coming under a valid exchange agreement that has an approved application fee waiver.

Applying to Multiple Statistics Graduate Programs Applying to both the General Track MS and the Analytics Concentration programs will not increase your chances of admission and will result in paying two application fees. Applicants should apply only to one MS: Statistics program. If at anytime an admitted applicant wishes to transfer from the Analytics Concentration to the General Track or vice versa, they may do so with program approval. 

Applicants are permitted to apply to both the MS and the PhD program for consideration to both programs. This will result in having to pay two application fees. Alternatively, PhD applicants who are not admitted to the PhD program will be given an option to have their application considered for admission to the General Track MS: Statistics program without the penalty of an additional application fee. Please keep in mind, PhD applications recoded to the MS program typically do not happen until late in the admission cycle for the MS program. 

Assistantships The Department of Statistics is able to offer financial support to a limited number of MS students. This is typically by way of Graduate Opportunities in Statistics scholarships described below. In some years, the Department may also be able to offer Teaching Assistant positions to a limited number of MS students. Students are eligible to accept an assistantship with other departments if one is offered. MS students are encouraged to contact the department they desire to work with directly to seek information about available assistantships. The Statistics Department does not keep a database on available assistantships across campus nor does the department know of the application processes. Some departments do post their available assistantships to the  Graduate College’s Assistantship Clearinghouse  .

Hourly Grading Students are eligible to apply for hourly grader or course assistant positions. These position does not come with a tuition waiver. Student graders are expected to work no more than 20 hours a week and are responsible for reporting their hours for their course instructor approval.

State Farm MAGNet and Research Park Domestic students admitted to the Department of Statistics are eligible for an opportunity at the State Farm Research Center. Admitted MS students in our program who are interested in careers in the financial and insurance industries will be given the opportunity to apply and compete for the State Farm Research Center's Modeling and Analytics Graduate Network (MAGNet) program. Please consult with the Director of the MS program for further details. Successful applicants will be able to start their professional careers with tuition support for the MS degree and concurrent employment at the  State Farm Research and Development Center , which is located in the  University of Illinois Research Park . State Farm is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Graduate Opportunities in Statistics Scholarship The Department of Statistics at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign administers the Graduate Opportunities in Statistics Scholarship program  with the aim of increasing the enrollment of outstanding students from populations that are underrepresented in graduate studies in Statistics. There will be a limited number of awards granted each academic year, and all students from these populations who apply for the MS in Statistics and the MS in Statistics with concentration in analytics are considered for this award, and no separate application is required. Thus, deadlines for applying for the scholarship are the same as the deadlines for applying for admission.

• Eligibility : This competition is intended for students who are admitted with full status at the University of Illinois in either the MS: Statistics or the MS: Statistics - Analytics Concentration program. Priority consideration is given to domestic underrepresented minorities of U.S. citizenship.
• Selection Criteria : Awardees are selected based on the strength of their application for the chosen MS in Statistics program. This is determined by their academic performance in the most relevant mathematics and statistics courses, overall grade-point average, GRE scores (waived), and the letters of recommendation included in the MS application. Scholarships may be offered before the application deadline based on ongoing application reviews. 
• Terms : A limited number of awards covering the student's full tuition fee each semester the award is held, whether the student is out of state or an Illinois resident, will be available to outstanding students from underrepresented populations. A number of partial tuition scholarships are also available for domestic applicants in general. It will be continued until graduation or a maximum of 4 semesters, provided the awardee maintains a grade point average of at least 3.00 in courses counting for their students MS program, and remains in full standing making adequate academic progress in every respect.

PhD students in Statistics are guaranteed a tuition-waiver-generating assistantship for up to 5 academic years pending satisfactory progress and acceptable performance reviews in relation to their assistantship duties. Tuition and a majority of campus fees are waived for students with a 25-67% appointment. 

Most waiver-generating appointments include coverage of the service fee, health service fee, AFMFA fee and the Library/Technology fee, along with partial payment of the health insurance fee, and full payment by the University for the University vision insurance and dental insurance plans. The following table represents an example of the remaining fees that student's are responsible for after their assistantship has been applied. The amounts shown are just an example and do not reflect the current total of fees. 

*Student fees are for example only and are subject to change; for up to date fee rates and explanations of fees, please see the Office of the Registrar: Tuition & Fees .

Teaching Assistant:  The student will grade homework and exams, work in the computer lab tutoring introductory statistics students and/or more advanced undergraduates taking statistics courses. After the student has attended the Graduate Academy he/she may teach a stand-alone section of STAT 100 or 200, or discussion sections of STAT 107, 207, or 400.

Research Assistant:  Advanced students often receive research assistantships working with one of the professors, typically closely related to their thesis topics. The duties of this assistantship include analyzing data, performing literature reviews, statistical computing and research methodology. In addition, students who have successfully completed STAT 427, Statistical Consulting, are eligible for assistantships in the Illinois Statistics Office. These appointments give students experience with statistical consulting and applied research projects such as designing experiments, constructing survey plans, analyzing data, developing theoretical and empirical models, using computers for statistical computations, and preparing statistical sections of research proposals. Clients include members of the university community, government, and industry.

Admission Offer If an admission offer to join the Department of Statistics is made, you will receive a notification email from [email protected] first that indicates the department is recommending you for admission to the Graduate College. Based on the program recommendation, the Graduate College will process the admission file and pending review will issue the official admission offer via email. This email will come from [email protected] . This email will contain your official offer or "Notification of Admission" (NOA). You must accept the Graduate College’s admission offer through the link provided in the admission offer email in order to begin the student onboarding process. 

• International applicants who receive admission recommendation from the department must provide additional documents before the Graduate College will process the admission file. International applicants must provide an upload of their passport, proof of funding documentation , and  evidence of English proficiency (unless eligible for waiver). Proof of funding can be uploaded after an admission offer is made. Proof of funding will also be required for those who are admitted to the PhD program. The amount to provide proof of funding for will be at a reduced rate of those admitted to the MS program due to the tuition waiver generating assistantship. 
• SEVIS and International Student Visas:  International applicants who are admitted to the Graduate College and are requesting an I-20 or DS-2019 must provide their passport and proof of funding documentation  before the SEVIS check can be completed and a new I-20 or DS-2019 issued. If documentation is provided after an admission offer is made, please notify the program at [email protected]  so the SEVIS check can begin. Once the SEVIS check is completed and the I-20 or DS-2019 is made available to the program, it will be mailed out via UPS within 1-3 business days of receiving. Applicants will receive a notification from UPS at that time with a tracking number for their visa document.

Limited Status Admission

In order to be admitted without deficiencies, an applicant should have earned, at a minimum, credit for the prerequisite course work described above. Prerequisite courses listed above in parentheses are the University of Illinois courses that fulfill these requirements.

A student may be admitted on limited status if his or her pre-admission grade-point average (GPA), which is based on the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work, is below the Graduate College minimum of 3.0 (A=4.0), or if the academic record shows other deficiencies or nontraditional academic qualifications. After the student has satisfied the conditions imposed, his or her major department will request that the Graduate College change the student from limited status to full graduate standing. No advanced degree will be awarded to a student who has not qualified for, and been granted, full graduate standing.

Admission Rejection Unfortunately, not everyone who applies will be admitted to the Statistics program. If your application is denied admission to the program you will receive notification via email from the department. Due to the nature of our highly competitive program and the increased number of applications we receive each admission cycle we unfortunately cannot discuss or comment on reasons your particular application was denied admission to the program.

You are permitted to re-apply at a later time.

Admission Deferral If you are granted admission to the MS program, you are permitted to defer your enrollment for up to one academic year. Meaning, if you are admitted to the upcoming fall term, you can defer to the following spring term or the next fall term. If you wish to defer beyond the one year limit you will forfeit your admission and have to submit a new application if you wish to rejoin the program.

For PhD deferrals, you will not automatically be eligible for admission if you defer to a different term. Your application will be recoded to the following admission cycle and be reviewed along with any new applications to the program.

The Department of Statistics Graduate Programs follow the Graduate base rate for tuition and fees as outlined by the Office of the Registrar .

Use the  Illinois Cost Calculator  if unsure of a program’s tuition rate category.

Master's in Applied Statistics Degree Online

Immerse yourself in the study of applied statistics and build your skills as an analytical thinker and problem solver.

Bring data to life with UND's Master of Science in Applied Statistics. Set yourself apart with an education in a variety of foundational courses and statistical software packages.

Why earn an M.S. in Applied Statistics?

*Priority deadline

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

At UND, you'll experience a Department of Mathematics & Statistics featuring small classes and collaborative relationships with industry partners. Working with the same data software programs that employers are looking for, you’ll build crucial skills in data visualization, predictive modeling and data analysis techniques.

Through the master's in Applied Statistics at UND, you’ll gain:

• The range of skills required to carry out programs of independent research as a data scientist
• The ability to effectively use a variety statistical software packages such as Python, SAS and R
• Analytical skills needed to work as a professional data analyst or data scientist
• Problem solving
• Data analysis
• Data science and data mining
• Machine learning

Designed to meet the needs of students interested in careers in statistical data analysis and data science with an emphasis in statistics, you'll take part in courses that cover a range of topics that are relevant to the current application of statistics in the workforce, from an applied perspective.

As an enrolled student in our master's in Applied Statistics program, you will use modern applied statistical methods for data analysis to complete foundational and methods courses with data science applications interwoven through projects.

Applied Statistics Master's at UND

Take courses in multivariate statistics and time series.

Learn to harness the power of Python, SAS and R software.

No GRE required. Plus you can complete the program 100% online and never come to campus.

Gain a competitive edge through UND's Accelerate to Industry (A2i) ™ program. This workforce readiness program provides immersive job training for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. It is one of only 30 programs nationwide.

Study at a Carnegie Doctoral Research Institution ranked #151 by the NSF. Students are an integral part of UND research.

Enhance your professional skills at 60+ free workshops offered through the UND School of Graduate Studies. Our goal is to provide you with the workforce skills and job search strategies to succeed.

What can I do with a master's in Applied Statistics?

Median annual salary for mathematicians and statisticians

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Anticipated job growth for mathematicians and statisticians

Graduates of UND's master's in Applied Statistics program play critical roles in many industries, including business, engineering and more. Experts are in demand in a range of jobs including:

• Actuary: Play an instrumental role in helping organizations make informed financial decisions and plan for the future.
• Business Analyst: Dissect data to provide valuable insights that drive strategic business decisions.
• Data Engineer: Manage and optimize data pipelines and databases.
• Data Mining Analyst: Extract hidden patterns and insights from complex datasets to make data-driven decisions and uncover untapped opportunities.
• Data Scientist: Convert raw data into actionable insights, using advanced statistical methods and machine learning techniques.
• Data Visualization Expert: Transform data into compelling, easy-to-understand visual representations.
• Financial Quantitative Analyst: Use advanced statistical skills to develop models, assess risk, and optimize investment strategies.
• Statistical Software Designer: Contribute to the development and enhancement of statistical software tools.
• Statistician: Collect, analyze, interpret, and present data for evidence-based decision-making.

Applied Statistics Master's Courses

MATH 421. Statistical Theory I. 3 Credits.

Discrete and continuous random variables, expectation, moments, moment generating functions, properties of special distributions, introduction to hypothesis testing, sampling distributions, Central Limit Theorem, curve of regression, correlation, empirical regression by least squares, maximum likelihood estimation, Neyman-Pearson lemma, likelihood ratio test, power function, chi-square tests, change of variable, "t" and "F" tests, one and two-way ANOVA, nonparametric methods. Prerequisite: MATH 265 . F.

STAT 500. Computing for Statistics. 1 Credit.

Use and programming of computer packages for statistics. Preparation for use of software in graduate-level statistics courses. Packages covered may include R, Python, SAS, and others. Prerequisites: At least one course in statistics, and prior programming coursework or experience. Prerequisite: At least one course in statistics and computer programming coursework or experience. F,SS.

STAT 541. Linear Statistical Models. 3 Credits.

Distributions of quadratic forms, general linear hypotheses of full rank, least squares, Gauss-Markoff theorem, estimability, parametric transformations, Cochran's theorem, projection operators and conditional inverses in generalized least squares, applications to ANOVA and experimental design models. Prerequisite: MATH 422 or consent of instructor. F.

STAT 543. Design of Experiments. 3 Credits.

Design and analysis of experimental data. Includes the use of factorial designs, Latin square designs, randomized block designs, split-plot designs and others. Prerequisite: STAT 541 . S, even years.

STAT 545. Multivariate Statistics. 3 Credits.

Theory-based statistical methods for analyzing and displaying multivariate data with applications in machine learning and data mining. Topics include inference in multivariate populations, multivariate analysis of variance, summarizing high dimensional data using principal component analysis, factor analysis, canonical correlation analysis, linear and quadratic methods of classification, cluster analysis, classification trees and random forests, multi-dimensional scaling, and support vector machines. Prerequisite: STAT 500 , STAT 541 , and MATH 442 or experience with linear algebra concepts. S, odd years.

STAT 551. Statistical Graphics. 3 Credits.

Statistical graphics and visualization of one-, two-, or higher-dimensional data. Well-designed graphs and charts are essential for exploration of data, assessment of models, and presentation of results. Includes specific methods as well as general principles, such as effective use of color and motion. Prerequisite: STAT 500 . F, odd years.

UND's Online Master's in Applied Statistics

best online university in the nation

best online graduate programs

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a combination of online and on campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't be alone in your online learning journey and you'll have resources and services tailored to your needs. No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on campus student.

• Same degree:  All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) . Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
• Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
• Real interaction:  You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
• Your own academic advisor:  As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
• Free online tutoring:  We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
• Unlimited academic coaching:  Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
• Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
• 24/7 technical support:  UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
• Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.

Best Online College

Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

• Affordability
• Student satisfaction (retention rate)
• Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
• Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)

Flexible Online Applied Statistics Master's Classes

With asynchronous classes, you do not attend class at a set time. If you need to balance work, family, and other commitments, this flexible format allows you to learn anywhere at any time.

Depending on your instructor, you’ll learn online through:

• Lesson modules
• Streaming video content
• Virtual libraries
• Posted lectures
• Online simulations

There will be times when you interact with your instructor and classmates through online discussion boards, polls, and chat rooms.

Your learning revolves around materials that can be accessed on your own time within a set time frame. However, this is not a self-paced course. You’ll have structure and deadlines.

What is the math prerequisite for the MAS program? ( Open this section)

To qualify for our MAS program, prospective students must have completed courses analogous to:

• Calculus II
• Calculus III
• Introduction to Linear Algebra
• Applied Statistical Methods

Is a thesis required for the MAS degree? ( Open this section)

No, a thesis is not a requirement for obtaining the MAS degree. The level of comprehension in applied statistics is assessed through comprehensive examinations that cover two general areas approved by the candidate's faculty advisor.

What criteria are used for selecting new MAS students? ( Open this section)

Admission into the MAS program is contingent on meeting the School of Graduate Studies' general admission criteria. While candidates from diverse academic backgrounds, including but not limited to engineering and computer science, are welcome, a fundamental proficiency in calculus, linear algebra and statistics is essential.

How long will the program take to complete? ( Open this section)

Our MAS program takes 2-3 years to complete, providing students with sufficient time for gaining a thorough understanding of applied statistics.

What career opportunities can I pursue with a master's in statistics? ( Open this section)

Our MAS program equips graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge for pursuing diverse career opportunities, including roles such as statistician, actuary, business analyst, data engineer, data mining analyst, data scientist, data visualization expert, financial quantitative analyst, and statistical software designer. The vital contributions that professionals with a master’s in Applied Statistics can provide for organizational processes, including decision-making, risk assessment, and data analysis, position them as valuable assets across various industries.

Leaders that Do

Students at UND take chances, seek challenges and become leaders in the community.

Check out the faculty you'll work with at UND or discover additional education opportunities.

• Department of Mathematics &Statistics
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Application Requirements

The application for fall 2024 is now closed. the application for fall 2025 admission will open september 15, 2024 and deadline to apply is december 15th, 2024 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time. a complete application includes a completed online application and supplemental application materials. we recommend that you begin the application process early as it may take longer than expected. allow enough time to complete your online application, gather and submit your materials, and take the necessary standardized tests..

Wharton only accepts applications submitted via our online application system.

Recognizing the challenges of teaching, learning, and assessing academic performance during the global COVID-19 pandemic, Penn’s admissions committees for graduate and professional programs will take the significant disruptions of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 and 2021 into account when reviewing students’ transcripts and other admissions materials as part of their regular practice of performing individualized, holistic reviews of each applicant. In particular, as we review applications now and in the future, we will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Pass/Fail and other grading options during the period of COVID-19 disruptions. An applicant will not be adversely affected in the admissions process if their academic institution implemented a mandatory pass/fail (or similar) system for the term or if the applicant chose to participate in an optional pass/fail (or similar) system for the term. Penn’s longstanding commitment remains to admit graduate and professional student cohorts composed of outstanding individuals who demonstrate the resilience and aptitude to succeed in their academic pursuits.

Letters of Recommendation

The Admissions Committee requires three recommendations. The recommendations must be submitted using our online system.

When you apply online, you will provide the names and email addresses of three recommenders. These recommenders will receive an email with a password, login, and link to our site that will enable them to submit their recommendation directly to our office via the online system.

To submit letters of recommendation via Interfolio, please follow the instructions from Interfolio:  https://product-help.interfolio.com/en_US/about-dossier-accounts/dossier-quick-start-guide

Assistance for applicants or the Interfolio agent can write to  [email protected] .

Transcripts & Academic History

You must submit transcripts of your academic work by scanning and uploading copies of your transcripts through the online application system. The file cannot exceed 600 KB in size and should be in .doc, .wpd, .rtf, .xls, .pdf, .docx, .xlsx or .txt format. For Mac users, please note that the filename must include the appropriate three- or four-letter extension. Also, please do not attempt to upload a document that is password-protected or that contains macros. This will cause the process to fail.

If you are offered admission, you will be required to provide official transcripts of all previous academic work to verify the information provided. If there are discrepancies between the self-reported academic work and official records, the offer of admission will be revoked. Offers of admission are not binding until academic records are verified.

When applying, list all post-secondary educational institutions you have attended, including technical and professional schools. Use the full, actual names of the institutions attended, and provide the titles of all diplomas or degrees earned. If you have attended more than one institution, submit official records from each institution, with the exception of study-abroad programs. If academic records and diplomas are not issued in English by the institution, both the official record and an authorized English translation must be submitted.

All translations should be complete and literal renditions of the original record. Records should show the date of enrollment, courses taken, units of credit or time allotted to each subject during each term or year, your marks or ratings in each subject, and, if available, your rank in the total class or group.

The institutional grading scale or other standards of evaluation, including minimum passing and failing marks and definition of grades between them, should appear on official records or be provided as an attachment.

Pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, personally identifiable information can be disclosed to persons outside the University only with the written consent of the student or alumnus/alumna. The complete confidentiality statement is available in the University’s graduate academic bulletins.

You must complete the Personal Statement essay question on the online application.

There is also an optional essay question where you may provide additional information or clarification on other points of your application.

Standardized Test Scores

The Wharton Doctoral Programs requires ALL applicants to take and provide scores for either the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Test requirements vary by program, as described below. Applicants whose native language is not English must also take the TOEFL.

Self-reported test scores may submitted in the application, pending receipt of your official scores.

We no longer accept late test scores due to Covid-19. Please plan accordingly to ensure test scores and materials are submitted by the December 15 deadline.

Accepted applicant GMAT and GRE test scores usually fall within the top 10 percent. For the TOEFL test, a high level of proficiency is expected. You can find information about the average GRE and GMAT scores for our most recent fall matriculates in our FAQ section.

To expedite the processing of your application, you must self-report your scores via the online application. In addition, you must request that the ETS send an official copy of your scores to the Wharton Doctoral Office.

We strongly encourage applicants to take the necessary tests in the fall at the latest so that the test scores reach the Wharton Doctoral Office before the December 15 deadline. It has been our experience that students often underestimate the time it takes for the School to receive grade transcripts and test scores. Since this time period may be as long as two months, students are well advised to send requests for grade transcripts and to schedule the appropriate tests as early as possible. Note: Late arrival of test results prevents evaluation of your application.

GRE & GMAT Requirements by Program

• Accounting: GRE or GMAT
• Applied Economics: GRE only
• Ethics & Legal Studies: GRE or GMAT
• Finance: GRE or GMAT
• Health Care Management & Economics: GRE or GMAT
• Management: GRE or GMAT
• Marketing: GRE or GMAT
• Operations, Information & Decisions: GRE or GMAT
• Statistics and Data Science: GRE only

We will accept GMAT and GRE scores that are up to 5 years old. If your test scores are more than 5 years old (taken prior to July 2018), you will have to take the test again and submit the new scores. Please see the GRE and GMAT websites for further information on taking those tests.

The GMAT and GRE in-person and home tests will both be accepted.

We evaluate only GMAT and GRE results from tests taken prior to the receipt of your application. The highest score is used — we do not combine multiple scores. This requirement cannot be waived; there are no exceptions.

Ask the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to report your test scores using the following Wharton Doctoral Programs’ ETS codes:

• GRE: 2954-5199 or 2954-0000
• GMAT: G56-97-12

TOEFL Applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL. You may request a TOEFL waiver if you have earned an undergraduate or master’s degree (or will receive the degree by June 2024) in an English-speaking country or from an institution in which English is the language of instruction.

To waive the TOEFL, you must submit your request under the optional essay section of the application and have it documented that your medium of education was English. Your transcripts may serve as documentation that English was the language of instruction.

TOEFL scores are valid for two years. If your TOEFL test was taken prior to July 2021 you will need to submit new scores.

• TOEFL: 2954-02 or 2954-00

Please note:

• The TOEFL IBT and TOEFL ITP in-person and home tests will be accepted.
• We do not accept IELTS scores in place of TOEFL scores

Application Fee

A nonrefundable application fee of $80 must accompany your application. Credit card payments, made with a Visa or MasterCard only, are processed through Wharton’s secure server using Cybersource. The application fee cannot be waived; there are no exceptions.*

* McNair, Fulbright,  Leadership Alliance, IDDEAS and GRE Fee Reduction recipients applicants may waive the application fee. Please follow the instructions in the application.

Application Deadline

To begin your studies in Fall 2024, you must submit your application and make sure that all your supporting materials (letters of recommendation, transcripts, and either GMAT or GRE scores) are in the hands of the Doctoral Programs Office no later than December 15, 2023.

As states on our website, please submit your application by December 15, 2023, 11:59PM ETS.

Prior Convictions Information

If an applicant has ever been convicted of, or plead guilty or no contest to, any felony or misdemeanor (excluding minor traffic violations), he or she must report that information. We offer a secure site for the applicant; answers will be reviewed by the Wharton Doctoral Programs Review Officer.

This information will not be provided to the admissions committee as part of the regular academic review process. If you have questions, you may contact the Review Officer directly at  [email protected] .

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