How many credits do you need to get a Ph.D?

There's no single answer to how many credits are needed for a Ph.D. The number of credits required varies significantly depending on the university, the specific program (e.g., Physics vs. English Literature), and even the individual student's progress.

While some programs might have a minimum credit requirement (e.g., 60, 72, or even more), the Ph.D. is less about accumulating credits and more about demonstrating mastery of the field through research and dissertation completion. Many programs don't even explicitly track credits past a certain point, instead focusing on milestones like coursework completion, qualifying exams, and dissertation defense.