There are several reasons why doctoral students and candidate don’t complete their
programs. Below are the top four reasons that contribute to the dismal doctoral
completion rates:
 Doctoral programs are extremely competitive. That is representative of fewer
than 2% of adults in the U.S. hold a PhD or Professional Doctorate.
 Doctoral programs are rigorous and require a great deal of sacrifice of time and
work balance.
 Most students entering doctoral programs do not have a support system
 Students are not always prepared for the challenges, requirements and
expectations needed for successful program completion