Graduate Programs

I am excited that you are considering applying to the PhD program in economics at Kansas State University.

Graduate students have the opportunity to take courses and do research in a variety of fields, including econometrics, international economics, industrial organization, labor economics, macroeconomics, and public economics. There are 30 students in our PhD program, with agricultural
economics PhD students also taking core and field courses in our department. Here are some highlights of our PhD program:

An excellent placement record. Most recent graduates of our PhD program have had a preference for academic employment, and they have largely been successful on the job market, with tenure track appointments at institutions such as Clarkson University, Missouri State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Seattle University, and Xavier University. A complete list of placements in recent years can be found here. Some students have a preference for government or private sector employment. With a strong grounding in both econometrics and economic theory, they have excellent employment prospects. You can view the profile of a student that pursued non-academic employment here.

Rigorous, rewarding courses. Students are exposed to the frontier of economic research in their course work. Our faculty bring the latest advances in econometrics, economic theory and computation into the classroom. Our courses, while challenging, provide students with the foundation they will need to write a high-quality dissertation.

A strong research environment. Recent publications by our faculty have appeared in Journal of Econometrics, Journal of International Economics, Review of Economic Dynamics, Review of Economic Studies, The Review of Economics and Statistics, and many other top journals. Faculty members serve in editorial roles for journals, referee papers, and present at conferences. Many graduate students coauthor papers with faculty members and present their work at conferences. An active departmental seminar series and other seminars expose students to the latest research in a variety of fields. For more information, and a list of past speakers, see our seminar page.

Graduate student teaching experience. Many of our PhD students are given the opportunity to teach their own classes. We work with them as they make the transition to the classroom, and some of them go on to win college- and university-wide teaching awards. The ability to teach well gives our graduates an advantage when they go on the job market.

A great place to live. Manhattan is a vibrant, fast-growing city located in the beautiful Flint Hills. It offers a low cost of living, low crime, good restaurants, and plenty of shopping. MHK provides multiple direct flights on a daily basis to Chicago and Dallas, with Kansas City a short drive away if you prefer a larger airport.

You can find additional information about our PhD program using the links at the left. All applications are done electronically at the Graduate School website. You can begin the application process here. The application deadline is January 8. Please do not hesitate to contact me at gaylep@ksu.edu for additional information regarding our graduate programs.

We are looking forward to meeting you.

Philip G. Gayle
Professor & Director of Graduate Studies