Applying to the PhD Program

Each year, Kellogg receives over 850 applications to its eight PhD programs. On average 25 students enroll each fall.

PhD study requires strong quantitative skills to develop theories and manage and analyze data. This program is especially well suited to those who have previously studied social sciences (such as economics, political science, psychology and sociology), mathematics, natural sciences or engineering.

To be eligible for admission, you must hold a U.S bachelor’s degree — or a comparable non-U.S. degree — from a regionally accredited institution. You may be considered for admission before you finish your undergraduate degree, but you must complete that degree before you enroll at Kellogg. A three-year bachelor’s degree is also accepted.

Application review

During the admissions process, we will evaluate your application file and how your research interests align with the research expertise of our faculty. Also included in our review is the strength of your recommendation letters, academic record, and performance on standardized tests. Your application will help us understand if you are ready to seize all the opportunities that come with joining Kellogg.

Our faculty will assess your:

• Application responses
• Essays
• Transcripts
• Test scores
• Letters of recommendation
• Resume
• Writing sample (optional)

For international candidates, the committee also assesses:

• English language proficiency 

Master’s degree holders

A master’s degree is not required for enrollment in our PhD programs. For applicants with a master’s degree, note that the coursework taken in a master’s program will not shorten your time to degree. No transfer credit is provided with a master’s and students must satisfy their PhD coursework requirements in full while studying at Kellogg.

To apply for a Kellogg PhD, you will need an updated version of your resume or CV, transcripts from all academic institutions, test scores, an academic statement, a personal statement and three recommendation letters.

Your resume or CV

Your resume or CV should summarize all of your qualifications, honors, educational accomplishments, and if applicable, current research papers. 

Please list all schools where you were registered for courses at the college level, including community colleges, study abroad institutions and current registrations whether or not in a degree program. 

Research experience

While optional, you could share more about your research experience on page 12 of the application. This experience could include data collection and analysis and running studies though a summer research opportunity, an internship or working as a research assistant, predoctoral researcher ("predoc") or research analyst.

Working professional are also welcome to share more about their experiences in project management and data analysis. Details of the research experience can be listed within the "Full-time research experience" section or described within your Academic Statement. 

Transcripts

Provide one transcript from each college/university you have attended that documents each course taken beyond high-school level, whether or not within a degree program. Certification of degrees received, including the date the degree was awarded, should be noted on the transcript and/or diploma. Please note:

• The Kellogg PhD application requires unofficial transcripts. There is no need to send official transcripts prior to enrollment. Official transcripts are needed only if you decide to enroll
• For applicants who studied at international institutions, transcripts must be accompanied with an official English translation, if applicable

Courses taken form

For those applicants applying to our economics-based programs, you will be prompted to complete the Courses taken form within the online application. The Courses taken form summarizes the six most advanced courses taken in economics, mathematics, and statistics. If you have taken more than six courses in any of these disciplines, list the six most advanced courses taken.

Completing the Courses taken form is required within your application for:

• Accounting Information & Management
• Finance
• Financial Economics
• Operations Management

Completing the Courses taken form is highly recommended within your application for:

• Managerial Economics & Strategy
• Marketing (quantitative)

Standardized tests

All applicants are required to submit either the GRE or the GMAT regardless of previous experience and/or advanced degrees. We take a holistic approach to the application-review process, meaning there is no minimum score required for eligibility. Test scores are reviewed within the context of the entire application.

GRE required for:

• Financial Economics
• Management & Organizations & Sociology
• Managerial Economics & Strategy

GRE or GMAT required for:

• Accounting
• Management & Organizations
• Marketing
• Operations Management

The Finance program prefers the GRE, but will accept the GMAT.

The GRE At Home and the GMAT Online and GMAT Focus exams are accepted. GRE and GMAT scores are valid for five years from the date taken. For example, to be considered for Fall 2025 admission, GRE and GMAT scores must be no older than September 2020. The institution code for GMAT is: 6WZ-3J-54 (PhD Program, Kellogg). The institution code for GRE is: 1565 (Northwestern Graduate School).

Unofficial test score reports are used during the application review process; however, official GRE and GMAT test scores are required if admission is recommended.

English language proficiency tests

If your native language is not English, Northwestern requires that you certify proficiency in the English language in one of the following ways:

• TOEFL: We accept 600 or higher on the paper-based exam, 250 or higher on the computer-based exam, or 100 or higher on the Internet-based exam. TOEFL scores through at-home testing service are accepted. The TOEFL institution code is: 1565 (The Graduate School)
• IELTS: Unofficial score report, submitted at the time of application, for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The IELTS Academic test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry (fall quarter). IELTS test takers should score 7.0 or higher. IELTS scores submitted through its at-home testing service are accepted
• MET: We accept Michigan English Test scores of 70 or higher
• Earning an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution or university where the language of instruction is English. To further clarify: a degree program where the language of instruction is English, but not the institution itself, would not qualify as meeting the English proficiency requirement. Please note, Kellogg provides the waiver after an application is submitted and transcripts have been reviewed. No additional documentation is required. Applicants will see the waiver noted within their online account.
• Automatically Waived: Applicants that are citizens from the following countries where English is the native language will have the requirement automatically waived upon submission of the application (Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Great Britain, Gibraltar, Israel, Jamaica, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)

Standardized exams must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry. Unofficial scores are used during the review process. Official test scores are required only if admission is recommended.

DuoLingo or TOEFL Essentials are not accepted. Kellogg does not require the Test of Spoken English (TSE).

This is your opportunity to share the depth and breath of your academic education. In addition to the tactical and practical elements, think about how each experience helped you grow into the candidate you are today.

Academic statement 

You have a max limit of 1,000 words to answer the following questions:

• What are your academic interests, and why do you wish to pursue graduate studies in this specific program?
• How has your academic and professional background prepared you for graduate study? (Include any research, training, or educational experiences that align with the program you are applying to)
• How will our program help you achieve your intellectual and professional goals?
• What scholarly questions do you wish to explore in the program? (Make sure to include any specific faculty members whose research interests align with your own)

Personal statement 

Write a statement that addresses the following prompt (500 words max):

The Graduate School values diverse backgrounds, approaches, and perspectives, understanding them as essential ingredients for true academic excellence. As a Northwestern graduate student, how would you contribute to an intellectual community that prioritizes equity, inclusion, belonging and cultural humility?

Your answer may draw upon past or present experiences, whether in academic work, extracurricular or community activities, or everyday life.

Required

While a paper is not required for admission to Kellogg’s PhD programs, the Sociology Department does require one, where the applicant is the sole-author, for consideration to the joint program in Management & Organizations and Sociology.

Optional

We do not require a writing sample to be submitted with the application; however, you may include one writing sample (30-page maximum) with your application. Hyperlink this paper and any other papers you have on your resume.

*Please note: Only one writing sample will be reviewed. Do not upload more than one paper.

We require three letters. Additionally, we ask all recommenders to include Northwestern University’s Graduate Applicant Assessment Form found within the application.

Recommendation letters from professors or instructors could include:

• A description of the nature of your relationship. Did you take one or more classes with the professor?
• A description of a research project or honors thesis, discussing the quality of the work, technical and writing skills, research methods used, data analysis, originality, depth of research undertaken, questions/problems raised, contribution to the field, etc.
• The letter should also provide a ranking — how you compared to other students

Recommendation letters from employers and business associates could include:

• Insights into your aptitude, character and working style — ability to work on your own, self-starter, complete a project on time, etc.
• Any research or data analysis you have done within the scope of your work

All letters must be submitted online through our web-based application, CollegeNET. Directions for uploading letters and accessing the Graduate Applicant Assessment Form will be sent to recommenders once the applicant has entered the contact information within the application.

We are not able to accept recommendation letters by email.

A $95 non-refundable fee must be paid by credit or debit card within the online application. For those participating in the dual application option with the Economics PhD Program, the application fee is $175.

The Graduate School (TGS) at Northwestern University administers the fee waiver program. If you wish to be considered for a fee waiver, please refer to The Graduate School’s website on Application Fees.

You’ve invested time, energy and resources into completing your application, so no doubt you’ll want confirmation that your application was received. And we want you to have that peace of mind, too.

So, once you submit your application, you can log back into CollegeNet at any time to view the status and double check that all sections were successfully completed.

We welcome anyone who is interested in reapplying to the doctoral program. Additional time can frequently further cement your research goals and application strength. However, we are unable to provide specific application feedback if you applied in the past.

All candidates can reapply in future years, but you must submit a new application, supporting documents and application fee.