PhD in Business Administration
Born TU Change the World
When you join the PhD in Business Administration program at Tulane University, you’ll delve into advanced topics and methods to support your development as a cutting-edge researcher or teacher. The program’s Finance and Financial Accounting concentration focuses on Freeman faculty’s specialty areas, which means you’ll be taking courses from top researchers in the subjects you’re learning about.
As a PhD business student, you’ll also get to work alongside Tulane’s highly respected faculty mentors performing your own research and teaching classes. By the time you graduate, you’ll have the confidence and knowledge you need to mentor others in the areas of corporate finance, investments, and financial accounting, as well as to conduct industry-changing empirical research.
Why Enroll in Our PhD in Business Administration Program?
The PhD in Business Administration program with a Finance and Financial Accounting concentration at Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business is designed to help you develop your skills in empirical research and publication while preparing you to teach in the areas of corporate finance, investments, and financial accounting. Freeman offers competitive financial support for assistantships that provide valuable guidance from faculty mentors. As a PhD student, you’ll teach classes independently, which will provide you with the opportunity to develop your teaching skills and will support a seamless transition for you to a faculty job.
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$40K
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annual assistantship, which may be renewed for up to six years
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#54
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Best Graduate Schools, U.S. News & World Report, 2025
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48
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credit hours
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#58
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Best Business Schools List, Bloomberg, 2024
Career Outlook for PhD in Business Administration Graduates
Earning a PhD in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Financial Accounting prepares you for roles in academia and research, as well as specialized quantitative industry and corporate roles.
Discover some positions you can pursue with a PhD in Business Administration:
- Vice President, Finance: Median Annual Salary: $153,400*
- Director of Financial Reporting: Median Annual Salary: $134,800*
- Economist: Median Annual Salary: $115,440**
- Financial Analyst: Median Annual Salary: $101,910**
- Research Scientist: Median Annual Salary: $91,600*
- Professor of Finance: Median Annual Salary: $78,300*
*Salary data from Payscale, 2025
**Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024
Your Journey TU Achieve More Starts Here.
Learn about Freeman's admissions process, application requirements, and deadlines.
Explore course overview and unique specializations / concentrations offered.
Discover merit-based scholarship opportunities and financial aid options.
Envision the ROI you can unlock with a Freeman graduate degree.
Student Spotlight
Yimeng Li from Liaoning, China speaks to her experience as an international student pursuing her dual degree in Finance/PhD.
Benefits of a PhD in Business Administration
The PhD in Business Administration program at Tulane teaches students advanced theories in economics and empirical research methods in accounting and finance. As a student in the program, you’ll have the opportunity to attend workshops and seminars that feature notable guest speakers. In preparation for future conferences and colloquia, you’ll prepare and present your own original research to your peers and professors.
Skills You Will Learn
- Empirical Research Methods: Advanced econometrics, quantitative analysis, and data-driven investigation
- Academic Publishing: Research paper writing, peer review navigation, and top-tier journal publication
- Advanced Data Analysis: Leverage $1M+ databases including WRDS, Morningstar, S&P Global, and more
- Teaching & Mentorship: Develop pedagogical expertise by independently teaching accounting and finance courses under the guidance of star teaching mentors
- Research Collaboration: Work directly with distinguished faculty on cutting-edge research from year one
Core Competencies
- Distinctive Empirical Finance & Financial Accounting Expertise: Become a finance scholar who understands accounting research
- Industry-Changing Research Capabilities: Conduct empirical research advancing corporate finance, investments, and accounting knowledge
- Publication Excellence: Build a track record in top-5 journals with faculty mentorship and collaboration
- Cross-Disciplinary Integration: Bridge finance and accounting with comprehensive methodological training
- Academic Leadership Development: Prepare for tenure-track positions through rigorous training and mentorship
Speak with a Graduate Admissions Advisor
Your Admissions Contact
Jade Byrd
Schedule a one-on-one virtual or in-person appointment to learn more about this program and the admissions process.
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PhD in Business Administration FAQs
Earning a PhD in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Financial Accounting can lead to lucrative C-suite finance roles or investment analyst positions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, chief executives — including chief financial officers — had a median annual salary of $206,420 as of May 2024, while for financial analysts it was $101,910.
Earning a PhD in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Financial Accounting prepares you for roles in academia and research, as well as industry and corporate roles. Take a look at a few of these roles:
- Academia: Professor of finance, professor of accounting, professor of operations
- Research: Research scientist, research fellow, economist
- Industry and Corporate: Vice president of corporate finance, director of financial reporting, financial analyst
Business administrators oversee all of part of an organization’s daily operations, which typically include its finance, employee, work process, and planning operations. A business administrator with specialized skills in finance and financial accounting may be responsible for tracking expenses and setting budgets, processing invoices and reimbursements, and generating financial performance reports.
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