Investing in Graduate Assistants

UW–Madison invests millions in graduate assistantship support

UW–Madison, through internal, extramural, and gift funding sources, supports over 5,400 graduate students – including 72% of doctoral students – through teaching assistant (TA), project assistant (PA), research assistant (RA), and lecturer student assistant (LSA) appointments.

Graduate assistants receive a monthly stipend and, for those with total appointments of at least 33%, free tuition* and eligibility for comprehensive benefits. These competitive compensation packages help UW–Madison faculty recruit the top graduate students nationally and globally.

Pie chart GA packageStipends

Graduate assistant stipends are above the median for peer institutions

Recent increases have placed UW–Madison’s minimum stipend levels at or above the peer institution median. Additionally, individual departments can choose to pay their graduate assistants at a higher stipend rate than the minimum, and some graduate students hold combined appointments that include a fellowship or additional assistantship. 60% of RAs, 76% of PAs, and 73% of TAs have total appointment levels of 50% or higher.

This continued investment in graduate students, who are integral to the university’s teaching and research missions, has resulted in a 51.4% increase in the minimum stipend for teaching assistants and annual project assistants, and a 31.1% increase for annual research assistants over the past eight years.

Tuition remission

An overlooked but valuable part of the compensation package

Tuition remission – for which more than 99% of graduate assistants qualify* – allows them to take up to a full credit load or enroll in research credits in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The tuition rate for a non-dissertator Wisconsin resident is $15,000 per year, which is covered in full for graduate assistants.

Benefits

Graduate assistants have many of the same benefits as faculty and staff

Graduate students with graduate assistantship appointments are eligible for many of the same high-quality benefits as state employees, often at a discounted rate. The annual employer contribution toward graduate assistant health insurance and dental coverage ranges from $7,000 to $16,500 on average depending on the health plan a graduate assistant selects.

Below is an overview of the optional benefits available to graduate assistants (GAs). See the Office of Human Resources’ Benefits Services Website for detailed benefit information, including family options.

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Health insurance

GAs are eligible for a State Group Health Insurance plan, with preventive services covered at 100% and a Uniform Dental coverage option for services such as cleanings, fillings, and x-rays. The 2023 Employee Coverage Premium including Uniform Dental is $54 per month. The 2023 Employee Coverage Premium without Uniform Dental is $50 per month.

Supplemental dental insurance

GAs are eligible for supplemental dental coverage through Delta Dental, which provides a portion of coverage for major dental services such as crowns, root canals, and implants. The 2023 Employee Coverage Premiums are Select $9.76 per month or Select Plus $20.98 per month.

Vision insurance

GAs are eligible for supplemental vision coverage through DeltaVision, which provides a portion of coverage for annual vision exams, prescription glasses, and contacts. The 2023 Employee Coverage Premium is $5.72 per month.

Flex spending accounts

GAs can set aside money on a pre-tax basis, which lowers taxable income. A health care account can be used to pay for eligible expenses, such as prescription co-pays and glasses/contacts ($2,850 annual maximum in 2023). A dependent care account can be used to pay for eligible expenses such as daycare ($5,000 annual maximum in 2023).

Life insurance

GAs have four plans to choose from: Individual & Family, UW Employees Inc., Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and Accident Insurance through Securian. The Employee Coverage Premiums vary by plan and coverage amount elected.

Retirement plans

GAs are eligible for the UW Supplemental Retirement Plan 403(b) program and 457 Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC) program. These plans allow before-tax and after-tax (Roth) contributions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do graduate students pay segregated fees?

The important services funded through segregated fees are utilized by all graduate and undergraduate students, and are a major reason the quality of the UW–Madison experience is so high. Currently no population of students is exempt from paying segregated fees. The university has chosen to increase financial support and provide flexibility for graduate students through increased stipends, rather than paying required fees for them.

Segregated fees are $761.52 per semester for non-dissertators enrolled at 8 credits, or $318.27 for dissertators (2022-23). These fees fund the bus pass program, University Health Services, the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program, and other services, which are used at significant rates by graduate students. For example, graduate students made 6,968 visits to UHS’s mental health services in the 2021-22 academic year. A city bus pass – which students receive at no additional charge because of segregated fees – would cost $780 per year, or $336 per year for a limited quantity of low-income passes. The Child Care Tuition Assistant Program typically covers 30 to 40% of child care costs per semester, for graduate students who qualify.

Contact

If you have questions, please contact graduateschool@grad.wisc.edu.

*Graduate students enrolled in service-based pricing programs, such as online and accelerated programs, are ineligible to receive tuition remission.