Attrition rate for PhD Finance

[Bayern]

Does anyone have any idea about the attrition rate for finance phds?

[shootermcgavin7]

Originally Posted by Bayern

Does anyone have any idea about the attrition rate for finance phds?

Simply due to the small size of many programs, I have to believe it is lower.

A T10 program often has ~10-12 in the entering class, the attrition rate might be similar to the econ department.

The rest of the T50 generally has 1-3 students entering, and unless you're a complete screwup, or the department completely struck out on their evaluation of your abilities..........there will be an effort made to mold you into a successful academic.

[tkkoh]

Originally Posted by shootermcgavin7

there will be an effort made to mold you into a successful academic.

that's pleasing to the ears....

[Teazer]

I agree. One difference between finance & economics programs is that in general, finance filters out all but the top candidates prior to admission. Econ lets in the borderline cases but without funding and lets them order themselves after a year with exams. On the other hand, there is no incentive for finance programs to drop anyone out unless they really screw up. From the stories I've heard it's usually due to "life" and motivational issues rather than educational ones - trying to work a second job, not being able to deal with the academic/research lifestyle etc.

[shootermcgavin7]

You also run into foreign students who did their undergrad in engineering, etc.....who realize in the first year they really have no interest in finance.

The two recent dropouts from my program went into a master's engineering & Econ Phd, respectively.

[chartreuse]

Here's a recently published relevant article:
Attrition in Economics Ph.D. Programs