Having an MBA is sufficient for most international business jobs, but forging ahead for a doctoral degree can unlock more doors. Ph.D. programs in international business empower high-achieving graduate students to work in academia or senior-level consulting jobs. Doctoral students in international business study the managerial strategies of today’s connected economy while perfecting research and teaching skills. Doctorates typically take four to six years beyond the bachelor’s level with the dissertation. Finding your scholarly voice in a Ph.D. program can be beneficial because employment of university professors will grow by 13 percent through 2024. If you’re considering advancement, the following are the 10 Best International Business Doctoral Degree Programs attracting global scholars.
Featured Programs:
To form our ranking, we first surveyed the 761 top-notch business schools accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. We narrowed the list to U.S. based universities offering a doctoral degree in international business. Next, we ordered the schools using the U.S. News and World Report rankings. All universities had to rank within the top-tier and have national acclaim for business education. Preference was given to schools with federal designation as Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). Other factors considered were class size, research productivity, study abroad opportunities, job placement, selectivity, financial aid, and industry prestige.
Finishing an international business doctorate can unlock a well-paid academic career. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that post-secondary business teachers earn an average annual salary of $92,220. Aspiring Ph.D. candidates may still be worrisome of investing at least four years into graduate study. Luckily, these 10 Best International Business Doctoral Degree Programs all offer fellowships and assistantships to cover the above tuition:
1. Brandeis University
Located on a 235-acre suburban campus in Waltham, Massachusetts, Brandeis University is a private, non-sectarian research institution educating over 5,700 students in the Boston Consortium. Ranked #1 in Financial Times magazine for several years, Brandeis is crowned the 34th Best National University by the U.S. News and World Report. Holding Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation, the Brandeis International Business School awards a Ph.D. in International Economics and Finance. This four-year program includes dissertation research, an overseas internship, and teaching assistantship. PhD candidates also benefit from working in one of Greater Boston’s largest Bloomberg Labs.
Tuition: $45,900
Learn more about Brandeis University’s International Business Doctoral Degree Programs here.
2. George Washington University
Chartered by Congress in 1821, George Washington University is a private, politically active research institution serving approximately 21,400 students in Washington DC’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood. Placed 52nd among the World’s Top Colleges Producing Millionaires, George Washington University is deemed America’s 57th Best National University by the U.S. News and World Report. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited School of Business offers a five-year Ph.D. in International Business. After 45 credits of advanced coursework, doctoral candidates conduct research leading to a dissertation defense. George Washington University students have co-authored articles for notable publications like Global Strategy Journal and Organization Science.
Tuition: $27,810
3. University of Miami
Endowed for $887 million, the University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian RU/VH research institution occupying a 239-acre campus in Coral Gables, Florida, to educate 16,800+. According to the U.S. News and World Report, the University of Miami is the 51st Best National University and 68th Top Business School. Approved by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, the School of Business Administration grants a Ph.D. in Business with eight concentrations, including Strategy/International Business. This 60-credit curriculum features ongoing research to produce tomorrow’s influential scholars on global strategy. Miami has sent over 22,000 business students abroad from Vienna to Hong Kong.
Tuition: $33,300
Learn more about the University of Miamia’s International Business Doctoral Degree Programs here.
4. Ohio State University
Classified as a land-grant, “Public Ivy” with very high research activity, Ohio State University holds a $3.6 billion endowment to educate over 64,800 students from Columbus. Ranked third nationally by the Wall Street Journal, Ohio State University is America’s 52nd Best National University according to the U.S. News and World Report. The Fisher College of Business hosts an AACSB-accredited Ph.D. in Business Administration with specialization in International Business. Requiring 80 credits, the four-year program takes place in a federally designated Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). Research assistantships are completed in innovative centers like the Global Supply Chain Forum.
Tuition: $11,560 (in-state) or $31,032 (out-of-state)
Learn more about Ohio State University’s International Business Doctoral Degree Programs here.
5. Rutgers University
Enrolling over 67,000 students, Rutgers University is New Jersey’s largest public, land-grant research institution operating three locations in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden. As an elite Association of American Universities member, Rutgers is distinguished by the U.S. News as the 72nd Best National University and 28th Top Public School. Since 1998, the Rutgers Business School has offered a selective, AACSB-accredited Ph.D. in International Business. Partnered with the Division of Global Affairs, the 72-credit doctorate involves studying the globalization of economies. Ph.D. candidates must teach at least one undergraduate RBS course.
Tuition: $16,272 (in-state) or $27,648 (out-of-state)
Learn more about Rugers University’s Interntational Business Doctoral Degree Programs here.
6. Saint Louis University
Approaching its 200th anniversary, Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Catholic and Jesuit institution educating over 13,000 students in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Listed among Templeton Guide’s “Colleges that Encourage Character Development,” SLU is ranked the 96th best national university by the U.S. News. The John Cook School of Business has an intensive AACSB-accredited Ph.D. in International Business & Marketing. Within the research-oriented, 54-credit curriculum, students advance knowledge on global strategy, international marketing, consumer behavior, trade, etc. Unrivaled resources are provided by SLU’s Boeing Institute of International Business.
Tuition: $18,900
Learn more about Saint Louis University’s International Business Doctoral Degree Programs here.
7. University of South Carolina
Initiated by Governor John Drayton in 1801, the University of South Carolina is a public, sea-grant RU/VH research institution enlightening over 33,500 students in downtown Columbia. Rated #1 on the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index, the University of South Carolina is named the 108th Best National University by the U.S. News and World Report. The Darla Moore School of Business has a Ph.D. in Business Administration with International Business or International Finance specializations. Following AACSB guidelines, the 48-credit curriculum involves foreign language study, teacher training, and dissertation research. USC’s average GMAT score is 688.
Tuition: $12,384 (in-state) or $26,532 (out-of-state)
8. Temple University
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Temple University is a public, state-related research institution educating more than 37,700 students from seven Pennsylvania campuses and international locations from Rome to Singapore. According to the U.S. News and World Report, Temple is America’s 115th Top University and 94th Best College for Veterans. Within the Fox School of Business, graduates could finish the Ph.D. in International Business in four to five years. Ph.D. candidates work alongside cutting-edge researchers who publish the Journal of International Management. The 48-credit program boasts a 100 percent job placement at research universities.
Tuition: $15,354 (in-state) or $21,042 (out-of-state)
Learn more about Temple University’s International Business Doctoral Degree Programs here.
9. University of Texas at Dallas
Since 1969, the young University of Texas at Dallas has grown into a public, state-funded RU/VH research institution with over 24,500 students studying in Richardson. Declared Kiplinger’s 33rd Best In-State Value, the University of Texas at Dallas is ranked America’s 140th Best National University by the U.S. News and World Report. Holding AACSB accreditation, the Naveen Jindal School of Management offers a Ph.D. in International Management. The 75-credit program has majors in Strategic Management, Organization Theory, or Organizational Behavior. Courses are deliberately small for mentorship with a student-faculty ratio of nearly 1:1.
Tuition: $11,940 (in-state) or $22,282 (out-of-state)
10. Florida International University
As Miami-Dade County’s first-tier public, co-educational research institution, Florida International University educates more than 54,000 students in 191 academic programs. Named the 149th Top Public School by Forbes, Florida Interntional University ranks 15th Nationally for graduate international business education. The Chapman Graduate School awards an AACSB-accredited Ph.D. in Business Administration with Management and International Business concentration. The four-year, in-residence doctorate has produced faculty at prestigious schools like Purdue, Montana State, and Central Michigan. Admission requires a minimum GMAT score of 600 or 3.0 GPA.
Tuition: $8,912 (in-state) or $21,393 (out-of-state)