<p>In the humanities 7 or 8 years is pretty typical, and students can get funding for that period.
I disagree that the school you select is of lesser importance than the particular faculty member, at least in the humanities. To land a job in the competitive market for PhDs in English, Music History, etc., you are much benefited by going to a “top” school – and those schools often have the best financial packages. Generally when you enter a program, you don’t really know who you will end up working with. Sometimes the most famous scholars are terrible mentors – never read your stuff on time, etc. (My dissertation director, way back when, took 11 months to read my final draft…he was a prominent professor, indeed, ironically now on the faculty of the school in the article that touts its quick turn-around!).</p>