Graduate Assistant Opportunities

Through graduate assistantships, you can earn while you learn. As you complete your graduate degree, you’ll work in a higher education setting offsetting the cost of your program. You’ll earn a stipend, a tuition waiver and a head start in the job market.

What is a graduate assistantship?

Graduate assistantships are employment-related appointments and may require teaching, research and/or administrative service. The responsibilities may vary depending on the department’s needs and the experience and academic qualifications of the graduate assistant.

• Full-time assistantship: 20 hours of work per week
• Half-time assistantship: 10 hours of work per week

Graduate assistant positions provide a stipend as well as a tuition waiver.

Am I eligible for a graduate assistantship?

To be eligible for an assistantship, you must be admitted to Graduate Studies under regular admission, admission with stipulations or non-degree admission. Students who have concurrent or accelerated admission status may be appointed as graduate assistants only if they have special permission from the Director of Graduate Studies. Other hiring criteria may be determined by the department or office responsible for the assistantship.

Graduate assistants must maintain a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0. The following credit hour loads are also required:

• Fall or spring semesters: 6 graduate credit hours
• Summer semester: 1 graduate credit hour
• Final semester of enrollment before degree completion: Only the number of graduate credit hours needed to complete the degree requirements. This waiver is for only one semester. Requests for exemptions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Director of Graduate Studies.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulations are complex and may affect international students' eligibility for assistantships. Contact International Students and Scholars for information regarding current regulations.

How much does a graduate assistantship pay?

Graduate assistantships give graduate students financial resources to pursue their degrees in the form of a stipend and tuition waiver benefit.

• Stipends: Stipends for individual graduate assistants are determined by the department or college.
• Tuition Waver: The number of credit hours covered by the graduate assistant’s tuition waiver benefit is determined by appointment type and level. The tuition waiver may be applied to courses taken during the semester of the assistantship and continues through the subsequent summer sessions.
  

Will my earnings affect my financial aid?

Earnings from GA positions are not counted as financial aid for purposes of qualifying for guaranteed student loans. But your earnings are considered employment resources to apply against the need for other financial aid programs.

For more information on graduate assistant employment and benefits, visit the Faculty Personnel Services.