doctoral candidate
'doctoral candidate' is a highly searched keyword with 1,600 average monthly searches. It has relatively low competition on Etsy with only 340 listings targeting the keyword. Search interest dropped 16% between October 2025 and September 2026, so standing out with strong listings matters more than ever. With a keyword difficulty of 16/100, 'doctoral candidate' is relatively easy to rank for because search volume is high while competition is low. Products in this category typically sell between $4 and $70, with most priced around $22.99. The estimated cost per click for 'doctoral candidate' is $7.88 and the ad market has low competition, meaning not many advertisers are using paid ads to target this keyword.
Monthly search volume
1,600
Competition
340
Cost per click
$7.88
Keyword difficulty
16/100
Easy
'doctoral candidate' search trend
Monthly searches
| Month | Searches |
|---|---|
| October 2025 | 1,900 |
| November 2025 | 1,600 |
| December 2025 | 1,600 |
| January 2026 | 1,600 |
| February 2026 | 1,600 |
| March 2026 | 1,600 |
| April 2026 | 1,600 |
| May 2026 | 1,600 |
| June 2026 | 1,600 |
| July 2026 | 1,300 |
| August 2026 | 1,600 |
| September 2026 | 1,600 |
How much does 'doctoral candidate' cost on Etsy?
86 listings · USD
Search volume by country
1,600Competition by country
340How to rank for 'doctoral candidate' on Etsy
Target the right market
United States leads both search demand (45%) and competition (73%) for 'doctoral candidate', but neither is overwhelmingly dominant.
Price competitively
Sellers listing under 'doctoral candidate' price between $4 and $70, clustering around a median of $22.99. The $10 – $25 range dominates at 57% of listings — pricing outside this band means either competing on value or justifying a premium. This mid-range pricing supports both competitive and premium approaches. Differentiate with personalization options, gift packaging, or material quality rather than price alone.
Ranking difficulty
With a difficulty score of 16/100, 'doctoral candidate' is rated easy to rank for on Etsy. This is a rare combination — high demand with low difficulty. New listings can gain traction quickly here, so prioritize this keyword in your title and tags before competition catches up.
Optimization tips
'doctoral candidate' is short and broad, which means Etsy will match it against a wide range of listings. Lead your title with this keyword followed by specific modifiers that describe your product — for example, pairing it with terms like 'phd gift' narrows the match and helps Etsy show your listing to the right buyers. Fill your remaining tags with related variations and synonyms — Etsy treats each tag as a separate ranking opportunity. Complete every listing section (description, materials, tags) and add many high quality images and a video, as Etsy's algorithm factors listing quality into search rankings.
Optimize your Etsy listings for 'doctoral candidate'
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Open toolTop Etsy listings for 'doctoral candidate'
Sample of 12 results
PhD Graduation Gift, Hooding Ceremony Gift, Doctorate Graduation Gift, PhD Gift, PhD Student, White Coat Hanger, Doctoral Candidate
HandcraftedAffairs
Personalized PhD Hanger: PhD Gift, Personalized PhD Graduation Gift, Doctorate Graduation Gift, Hooding Ceremony Gift, Doctoral Candidate
MyCENTERofCREATIVITY
Clinical Research Sweatshirt, Clinical Research Coordinator Gift, Intern Sweater, Gift for Doctoral Candidate, Grad Student Crewneck Shirt
littleindigolace
Funny PhD Student Shirt, Frog Dissertation Grad School Gift, Doctoral Candidate Graduation Research Humor Tee
SheSaidTee
In My Doctorate Era Mug, PhD Graduation, Doctorate Grad Gift, Doctoral Candidate, Graduate Student Coffee Cup, Future Doctor Medical Student
LuneDesignShop
Dangerously Overeducated Vinyl Sticker - Student or Graduate Gift - Postgrad, Doctoral Candidate Graduation, High School, Laminated, Durable
PressedandPersonalCo
Cute Grad School Sweatshirt | Crewneck Sweatshirt | Grad School Sweatshirt | Grad School Gift | Gift for Doctoral Candidate | Phd Grad
littlecuteesstudio
Tiny Personalized PhD Graduation Banner, "Congratulations, Dr." Bunting, Medical School Graduation Party Banner, Doctoral Candidate
LittleSlothFriend
Doktortitel Tasse Geschenk Abschluss Kaffeetasse Geschenkidee Humor Studium Kaffee-Becher Uni Glückwunsch Doktorand Promovierung Doktor
PagmaDruck
Graduate student t-shirt PhD loading shirt Grad school tee Doctoral candidate Academic humor shirt Funny graduation tee Grad student gift
BlushBunnyDesign
Future Professor Sweatshirt | Crewneck Sweatshirt | Grad Student Sweatshirt | Phd Student Gift | Doctoral Candidate Hoodie
littlecuteesstudio
Comfort Colors® Clinical Research Shirt, Clinical Research Coordinator Gift, Intern Team Tee, Gift for Doctoral Candidate, Grad Student Gift
Mioqlo
Frequently asked questions about 'doctoral candidate'
How much search demand does 'doctoral candidate' get?
'doctoral candidate' receives 1,600 monthly searches globally. That's strong demand without overwhelming competition, which is an attractive combination for sellers. Most of this demand (45%) comes from United States.
How saturated is the market for 'doctoral candidate'?
There are 340 Etsy listings competing for 'doctoral candidate'. Relative to the search demand, that's low saturation. Well-optimized listings can rank on the first page without needing an extensive sales history — this is the kind of keyword where newer shops can gain a foothold.
Is 'doctoral candidate' worth targeting for my Etsy shop?
'doctoral candidate' has a keyword difficulty of 16/100 (easy). The low difficulty makes it accessible for shops of all sizes. Even without extensive reviews, you can rank well with a properly optimized listing.
What should I charge for 'doctoral candidate' products?
Prices for 'doctoral candidate' products range from $4 to $70. The median is $22.99 and the average is $25.37. 57% of listings fall in the $10 – $25 range, which is where most buyer expectations are set.
Which countries have the most demand for 'doctoral candidate'?
United States generates 45% of searches for 'doctoral candidate'.
How do I get my listing to rank for 'doctoral candidate'?
Since 'doctoral candidate' is a broad, short keyword, Etsy will match it against thousands of listings. Your title needs to lead with this keyword followed by descriptive modifiers that signal exactly what you sell. Given the low difficulty, a complete listing with good photos and all 13 tags filled should be enough to reach the first page. Focus on getting your first few sales and reviews to lock in your position. Good supporting tags to use alongside 'doctoral candidate' include 'phd gift' and 'phd graduation gift'.
How commercially valuable is 'doctoral candidate'?
The cost per click for 'doctoral candidate' is $7.88. Low advertiser activity combined with low organic competition suggests this keyword may be overlooked by larger sellers. That's often where the best opportunities are — less noise, more targeted buyers.
Is 'doctoral candidate' seasonal or trending?
Search volume dropped 16% between October 2025 and September 2026. Demand peaked around October 2025, which may indicate seasonal patterns. Check whether this dip repeats annually — if so, plan your inventory and listing renewals to go live before the next peak.
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