Minimum annualized stipends for 50% graduate student teaching, research, and project assistantship appointments will be $35,636 for 2025-26, up from the current minimum of $32,396. This is part of a four-year stipend forecasting plan announced by the university earlier this year, aimed at giving students, principal investigators, departments, programs, schools, and colleges the ability to plan several years into the future.
In addition to competitive stipends, the university’s investment in graduate assistantships incorporates factors that are critical to student success: tuition remission; health and dental insurance; paid sick, vacation, and parental leave; and mentorship training.
“By combining competitive stipends with comprehensive benefits, we are establishing a robust foundation for graduate student academic achievement and wellbeing,” says William J. Karpus, dean of the Graduate School. “UW–Madison remains a top choice for graduate education, and the university’s investment in graduate assistantships is key to that success.”
Over 6,300 graduate students at UW–Madison are appointed as graduate assistants, fellows, and trainees, most above levels that qualify them for robust benefits and tuition paid by the university. This semester, 99.7% of doctoral students hold teaching, research, and project assistantships that qualify for tuition remission.
Many graduate programs set stipend rates higher than the minimum to remain competitive in recruiting new students within their discipline. Increases to the minimum do not directly impact rates where programs or departments already pay above the minimum. The Graduate School collects stipend-setting information from graduate programs each fall.
The new minimum stipend rates go into effect June 29, 2025, for annual appointments and August 18, 2025, for academic year appointments.
Rates listed below reflect a 50% appointment. In the fall 2024 semester, 80% of TAs, 98% of RAs, and 84% of PAs have total appointment levels of 50% or higher.
Minimum stipend rates for 2025-26 will be:
Teaching assistantship (per 50% appointment)
Academic: $29,157
Lecturer Student Assistant (per 50% appointment)
Academic: $31,975
Project assistantship (per 50% appointment)
Annual: $35,636
Academic: $29,157
Research assistantship (per 50% appointment)
Annual: $35,636
Academic: $29,157
PA grader/reader
Hourly rate: $28.41
University fellowships (100% appointment)
Annual: $35,636
Academic: $29,157