2,908: Graduate Assistant Stipends

Revised: December 2025

  1. Graduate assistants must receive compensation that is consistent with the University’s Compensation Schedule for Graduate Assistants, including a stipend rate at or above the University’s minimum stipend.
    1. Graduate assistants may receive a monthly stipend that is between the minimum and maximum stipend in the University’s Compensation Schedule for Graduate Assistants. In cases when a higher monthly stipend is warranted, the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School may approve an Exception to Policy of a stipend amount that exceeds the posted maximum based on a justification for the exception.
    2. In the case of graduate assistants who are funded by state sources (appropriated funds), state-funds can only be used to pay a maximum of $2,400 per month (per .50 FTA GA appointment). Any additional stipend amounts must be funded from non-state/non-appropriated sources.
  2. The pay rate for a student hired as a graduate research assistant (GRA), graduate teaching assistant (GTA) or graduate assistant-other must be maintained at the same or a higher rate of compensation while in the same position. The rate of pay may be reduced when the student moves from one type of graduate assistant position to another (e.g., GRA to GTA) within the same department, or if the student accepts a position in another department or unit on campus.
  3. Different units within the University may choose to create a compensation schedule that provides graduate assistants with a stipend minimum that is higher than that specified in the University’s Compensation Schedule for Graduate Assistants.
    1. This unit-specific pay schedule must be available on the Human Resources website on Graduate Assistant Compensation.
    2. All graduate assistants hired and paid by a unit with a unit-specific pay schedule must receive a stipend consistent with this unit-specific pay schedule. If a student from a different program or unit is hired as a graduate assistant, the pay schedule of the hiring unit applies.
    3. If a unit specifies different levels of pay for subgroups of graduate assistants, the criteria for this differentiation must be published and applied equitably.