Graduate Assistant Tuition Benefits
Go to:
- Eligibility
- Maximum Benefits
- Calculating Benefits
- Flexible Hourly Appointment Benefits
- Prorated Benefits
- Making Sure Your Tuition Is Paid
Eligibility
- You must have a graduate assistant appointment that provides tuition benefits and must work at least 98 hours during the semester payroll dates.
- To hold a graduate assistantship, you must be registered for the minimum number of credits.
Note: Eligibility for a non-resident waiver requires you to work at least 195 hours during the semester payroll dates.
Maximum Tuition Benefits
Maximum tuition benefits for the academic year are based on a 50% appointment during the official semester payroll dates.
Maximum Tuition Benefit per Semester by Classification
Job Code
|
Classification
|
Maximum Tuition Benefit
per Semester |
9511 | Teaching assistant |
$8,922 for 2021-2022 academic year
|
9515 | Graduate instructor | |
9521 | Research assistant | |
9526 | Graduate research project assistant | |
9531 | Administrative fellow | |
9549 | Veterinary resident—Graduate Program | |
9553 | Dental fellow | |
9559 | Medical fellow | |
Advanced Masters or PhD Candidate | ||
9532 | Administrative fellow |
$1,487 for 2021-2022 academic year
|
9533 | Administrative fellow | |
9517 | Graduate instructor | |
9528 | Research assistant | |
9529 | Research assistant | |
9527 | Research project assistant | |
9518 | Teaching assistant | |
9519 | Teaching assistant | |
9538 | Legal project assistant with benefits (law school students only) |
$22,188 for 2021-2022 academic year (fall and spring)
|
Calculating Benefits
Graduate assistants can receive the maximum tuition benefits (equal to the cost of graduate school tuition) if they have a 50% graduate assistant appointment during the official semester payroll dates.
To calculate the percentage of tuition benefits you should receive, multiply your graduate assistant appointment percentage, based on your job classification (see table above), by two.
Calculating Benefits Examples
Appointment Percentage
|
Multiply
|
Maximum Tuition Benefit
|
50%
|
x 2
|
100%
|
25%
|
x 2
|
50%
|
12.5%
|
x 2
|
25%
|
Flexible Hourly Appointment Benefits
A flexible hourly appointment provides you with a tuition benefit at the start of the semester. Your department will send the GAE office an estimate of the number of hours you will work during the semester.
This type of appointment can be beneficial to you, as long as you work the number of estimated hours or more during the semester. However, if you work less than the estimated hours (even by one hour), or don't work at least 98 hours a semester, you will lose all or part of your tuition benefit. You will also have to repay the unearned portion of tuition benefits you receive. In addition, you could lose your non-resident waiver if you work fewer hours than your department first estimated. If you work more hours, the GAE office will increase the tuition benefit, if applicable.
The GAE office will notify you of expectations, hours of your appointment, and any changes in the hours you worked at the start and end of each semester.
Prorated Tuition Benefits
Appointments beginning after or ending before the official payroll semester appointment dates: Your tuition benefits will be prorated for appointments of at least 98 hours that begin after or end before the official payroll semester appointment dates. You will be billed for any remaining tuition costs, at non-resident rates if applicable. If you work less than the 98 hours required for eligibility, you will be billed for 100% of the tuition benefit, at non-resident rates if applicable.
Making Sure Your Tuition Is Paid
Your tuition benefit depends on your appointment percentage and the number of registered credits. Tuition benefits do not pay for other charges, such as lab fees, student service fees, installment fees, late charges, or late registration fees, which are assessed by Student Accounts Receivable and charged to your account. You are responsible for paying expenses not covered by your tuition benefit.
Make sure your tuition is paid by the due date. If you don't see your tuition benefits on your billing statement at the beginning of each semester, don't ignore your billing statement. If you do nothing, you may be assessed non-refundable late fees.
If you get a bill you believe is incorrect, immediately contact the department where you work or Graduate Assistant Services to resolve the problem.