The School of Graduate Studies

Full-time students (both PhD and MD/PhD candidates) receive financial support in the form of a full tuition scholarship and a graduate assistantship (stipend). The basic stipend for the 2007-08 academic year (paid as a graduate assistantship as long as the student remains in good academic standing) is $25,385 annually. Stipends are provided to entry-level PhD and MD/PhD students from school-wide resources for the first two years. In subsequent years, stipends are provided by training grants, pre-doctoral fellowships, or research grants awarded to individual researchers. Advanced students may be provided supplementary funds, as available from research grants or other institutional sources, up to a maximum of $29,400 annually. Once a student has a commitment from a funded thesis laboratory, loss of extramural funding by the thesis advisor has never been a cause for a student to change his/her thesis project or laboratory. The Graduate School is committed, under those circumstances, to support the student's stipend at the expense of the size of the next entering class. Please see Student Handbook about specific policies for student stipends.

Graduate students who demonstrate need are also eligible for the college work-study program, and other forms of loans, scholarships, and financial assistance. For further information, see the Office of Financial Aid or the Office of the Dean.

Tuition and Fees

Currently all matriculating students receive a full tuition scholarship. Student fees, on the other hand, are the responsibility of the student: An annual college fee of $25 is required for all full-time students, as are a $75 Student Activities Fee and a $50 per semester Student Health Fee.

All financial obligations must be cleared prior to completion of each academic year. Students who have not cleared their account will not be allowed to register, receive a transcript or letter of recommendation, have academic records certified, be granted a leave of absence, or have a degree conferred.

Estimate of Expenses

Expenses vary depending on the general lifestyle of the student, on-campus and off-campus living arrangements, and the selection of books, equipment, and course materials. The graduate student stipend approximately matches our estimate of living expenses. The following approximations for a single student are compiled to assist graduate students in developing expense budgets:

• Tuition - covered by school
• Fees $250
• Room (average cost) $13,700
• Board $6,000
• Personal Expenses $4,000
• Transportation $900
• Books $300
• Total costs for 12 Months: $25,150