What is a Terminal Degree?
A terminal degree is the term used to describe the highest degree available in any given academic discipline.
When a student graduates with a terminal degree, they have reached the highest level of education available in their chosen field. A terminal degree is most often a doctorate, such as a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), an EdD (Doctor of Education) or a professional doctorate such as the JD (Juris Doctor), but it can take different forms depending on the field. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) defines the doctor's degree as "the highest award a student can earn for graduate study." In fields such as law, medicine and pharmacy, a professional doctorate prepares graduates for the credential or license needed to practice. At colleges accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), holding a terminal degree is one way faculty can qualify to teach, as explained below. You can also explore careers you can pursue with an EdD.
What Does "Terminal Degree for the Discipline" Mean?
The phrase "terminal degree for the discipline" (or "terminal degree in the field") refers to the highest degree typically awarded in a particular subject. The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program's list of common terminal degrees notes that the degree level can vary by discipline because "not all terminal degrees are doctorates."
In most academic fields, the terminal degree is a doctorate. In some creative and professional fields, a master's degree fills that role. Fulbright's list includes the Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Architecture (MArch) and Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) among terminal degrees in the arts.
The phrase often comes up in college and university hiring. Under HLC's faculty qualification guidelines, one way an institution can show that a faculty member is qualified is through academic credentials: a degree at least one level above the level being taught, except in terminal degree programs, where the instructor holds the same level of degree. HLC also allows institutions to qualify faculty through progress toward a credential, equivalent experience or a combination of these.
Types of Terminal Degrees
There are several main types of terminal degrees across academic disciplines. In the United States, the doctor's degree is the highest award for graduate study, according to NCES, but not all terminal degrees are doctorates. What counts as a terminal degree depends on the field and the program. While doctoral degrees carry different titles in different disciplines, there are some major types of terminal degrees and academic tracks that lead to them.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the most common type of research doctorate. In 2025, PhDs made up 98.6% of the 59,015 research doctorates awarded by U.S. universities, according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). The PhD is the highest degree available in most academic disciplines. Research doctorates are awarded across fields such as:
- Engineering (civil, electrical, mechanical, etc.)
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Psychology
- Physics
- English
- Education
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Some schools award a PhD in education, others award a Doctor of Education, and some offer both. The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) describes the EdD as "the professional doctorate in education that prepares educators for the application of appropriate and specific practices, the generation of new knowledge, and for the stewardship of the profession." NCSES's Survey of Earned Doctorates, which counts EdDs as well as PhDs, reports 2025 doctorates in education specialties such as:
- Curriculum and instruction
- Student counseling and personnel services
- Educational leadership and administration
- Educational leadership and policy
- Educational and instructional technology
- Adult, continuing and workforce education
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Doctor of Arts (DA)
The Doctor of Arts is a rarer doctorate. NCES lists the DA among research and scholarship doctorates, but NCSES recorded no DA recipients among 2025 research doctorates in its table of degree types.
The Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) is also awarded in the U.S. NCSES counted four DFA recipients among 2025 research doctorates, and the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program lists the DFA among common terminal degrees in the arts.
Doctor of Engineering (DEng, Dr. Eng, EngD)
In the U.S., NCSES counts the Doctor of Engineering as a research doctorate, as it does the PhD; it recorded 22 DEng, DESc or DES recipients in 2025. In the UK, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) describes the EngD as an industry-focused professional doctorate.
Professional Degrees
A professional degree is designed to give students the background needed for a specialized profession. NCES defines a professional practice doctorate as a doctor's degree that provides the knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential or license required for professional practice.
Professional practice doctorates typically require a total of at least six full-time-equivalent academic years of study, including preprofessional preparation. NCES gives examples of professional practice doctorates in fields such as:
- Law (JD)
- Medicine (MD or DO)
- Pharmacy (PharmD)
- Dentistry (DDS or DMD)
- Chiropractic (DC)
- Veterinary medicine (DVM)
- Optometry (OD)
- Podiatry (DPM)
NCSES also classifies the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) as a professional doctorate, and the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program lists the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) among common terminal degrees in health.
In law, the JD is a professional practice doctorate, while the Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD or SJD) is a research doctorate. NCSES counted 54 JSD or SJD recipients in 2025, and Fulbright lists both the JD and the SJD among common terminal degrees.
Master’s Degrees
In some fields, a master’s degree is considered the terminal degree.
For example, the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program lists the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) among common terminal degrees in the arts. Whether an MBA is a terminal degree depends on context. Fulbright also lists the MBA among common terminal degrees in business, alongside the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and the PhD.
Other terminal master’s degrees on Fulbright's list include:
- Master of Architecture (MArch)
- Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)
- Master of Library Science (MLS)
Differences Between EdD and PhD
Though the EdD and PhD are both terminal degrees, they differ in focus. A research doctorate such as the PhD requires an original intellectual contribution, usually through a dissertation, according to NCSES. To get there, PhD candidates build a thorough mastery of their chosen subject through years of intensive research.
EdD students are more likely to apply existing research to real problems faced by schools and other organizations. In programs that follow the CPED framework, the dissertation in practice addresses a local problem of practice and is incorporated into coursework. CPED-guided programs generally take three to four years, use a cohort model and may be offered in hybrid or fully online formats.
A PhD prepares students for a research-focused career, often in a university setting. An EdD prepares educators to lead and improve practice in schools, colleges and other organizations. CPED suggests that students who want to become tenured professors or researchers consider the PhD in education instead.
At its heart, a PhD is designed to advance a field through new research. An EdD is designed to give students the tools needed to reach the top of their field in a more hands-on way.
Terminal Degree FAQ
Are there degrees higher than doctorates?
In the United States, the doctor's degree is the highest award a student can earn for graduate study, according to NCES. In the UK, some universities award higher doctorates, such as the Doctor of Science (DSc) or the Doctor of Letters (DLitt). According to the QAA, these are a higher level of award, typically granted for a substantial body of published research or as honorary degrees.
How long does it take to earn a terminal degree?
It depends on the degree and field. For 2025 research doctorate recipients, the median time from starting a doctoral program to earning the degree was 5.8 years, and the median time since starting graduate school was 7.0 years, according to NCSES. In education, the median was 5.4 years in the doctoral program and 12.0 years since starting graduate school. These figures come from the Survey of Earned Doctorates, an annual census of research doctorate recipients; 91.0% of the 59,015 people who earned a research doctorate in 2025 completed it. Professional practice doctorates such as the JD, MD and PharmD typically require at least six full-time-equivalent academic years of study, including preprofessional preparation, according to NCES.
Can I get scholarships for a terminal degree?
Yes. Doctoral students can apply for scholarships, fellowships and grants, and many receive assistantships. According to NCSES, research assistantships or traineeships were the most common primary source of support for 2024 doctorate recipients in most broad fields, and fellowships, scholarships and dissertation grants were the primary source for 15% to 35% of recipients in each broad field. About 30% of recipients in non-science and engineering fields relied mainly on their own resources. These percentages are based on 2024 recipients who answered the survey's primary-support question; 91.5% of the 58,131 people who earned a research doctorate in 2024 completed the Survey of Earned Doctorates.
Can I have two doctoral degrees?
Yes. Some people earn more than one doctoral degree, sometimes through combined programs. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences, for example, funds Medical Scientist Training Programs, which support dual-degree training leading to both a clinical degree, such as an MD, DO or DVM, and a research doctorate such as a PhD.
Can you earn a terminal degree online?
Yes, depending on the field and program. Some doctoral programs are offered online: CPED-guided EdD programs, for example, may be offered in hybrid or fully online formats, according to CPED.
What do you need to earn a doctoral degree?
Whether you need a master’s degree first depends on the program. In education, 96.5% of 2025 research doctorate recipients had earned a master’s degree, according to NCSES, based on the Survey of Earned Doctorates, an annual census that 91.0% of 2025 recipients completed. Research doctorates require advanced work beyond the master’s level, including a dissertation based on original research or an original project, according to NCES. Some programs ask for scores on the GRE General Test, while others are test-optional.
Information last updated: October 2026