PhD

Program Overview

The Department of Transportation, Logistics, and Finance offers a Ph.D. degree in Transportation and Supply Chain. The degree is awarded through the College of Business in collaboration with the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI). The program takes an interdisciplinary approach to transportation and supply chain and attracts students with backgrounds in supply chain management, transportation, agribusiness, applied economics, civil engineering, construction management, emergency management, finance, geosciences, and industrial/manufacturing engineering.

Next available term: Fall 2026

International applications are due December 1, 2025.

Domestic applications will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Application Instructions

Curriculum

The PhD in Transportation and Supply Chain requires 92 credits beyond a bachelor's degree. Students entering the program with a completed master's degree may receive 30 credits toward completion of the PhD. The remaining credits are satisfied via the following:

Six 3-credit core courses (18 credits)
Four 3-credit elective courses (12 credits)
One 2-credit Graduate Teaching Experience
A minimum of 30 Doctoral Dissertation credits

Course Requirements

TL Course Descriptions

Application Instructions

International Students

International students who have completed their application file by December 1, 2025 may be considered for admission for fall 2026.
Domestic Students

Domestic students may continue to be considered on an ongoing basis after the initial December 1 deadline if funding and faculty availability remain.

*All applicants must demonstrate proof of English proficiency in one or more of the three ways listed below in order to be considered for graduate admission.

Applicant was raised in a country in which English is the only official language.
Applicant has earned a bachelor's degree or higher from a recognized institution within a country in which English is the only official language.
Applicant submits an official English language test score—TOEFL iBT; 71 or higher; IELTS academic 6.0 or higher; PTE academic 50 or higher; or Duolingo 105 or higher (must not be expired).

2025-2026 Tuition & Fees

Students in the Transportation and Supply Chain doctoral program are charged the graduate base tuition rate.

By default, that rate varies based on residency; however, students with a graduate assistantship* are charged at the ND in-state rate, regardless of their residency, during the time that they are under contract.

GA contracts typically include a full tuition waiver, along with a stipend to assist with additional costs, such as student fees, course materials, living expenses, etc.

Tuition: $446.67 per credit (waived if under GA contract)
Mandatory Student Fees: $69.54 per credit

^{Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) States/Territories:}^{Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, American Samoa, and the Federated States of Micronesia.}

Tuition: $567.28 per credit (waived if under GA contract)
Mandatory Student Fees: $69.54 per credit

^{Approved Minnesota Residents:}^{Reciprocity Application}

Tuition: $670 per credit (waived if under GA contract)
Mandatory Student Fees: $69.54 per credit

^{All U.S. states not included in WRGP}

Tuition: $781.67 per credit (waived if under GA contract)
Mandatory Student Fees: $69.54 per credit

^{International Students}

Graduate Assistantships

Students are considered for graduate assistantships at the time of admission to the PhD in Transportation and Supply Chain program.

Generally, students are admitted to the program only if funding is available for them in the form of a graduate assistantship, which includes a full tuition waiver and a stipend.

Admission and funding decisions are made centrally, so applicants need not reach out to individual faculty members directly.