Ph.D. Stipends

One of the most common questions asked by prospective students when considering graduate school programs is about the cost. Pursuing a Ph.D. is a daunting prospect, and that’s before you consider what can be a very hefty price tag. From tuition to housing to the cost of being a full-time student for several years, the price of earning a Ph.D. is sobering.

Fortunately, there are many ways to defray the expenses that come with earning your doctorate. Many Ph.D. programs try to entice the best and brightest prospective students to attend their programs by offering incentives. While grants and scholarships are typically given outright, the most common type of financial assistance offered by a graduate program is a cash allowance called a Ph.D. stipend. 

These are a few frequently asked questions about Ph.D. stipends: 

• What is a Ph.D. stipend?
• How much is a Ph.D. stipend?
• Is a Ph.D. stipend different from a grant or scholarship? 
• How do you get a Ph.D. stipend? 

What is a Ph.D. Stipend?

A Ph.D. stipend is a cash allowance paid to the graduate student by the university every month. Most graduate programs offer a limited number of stipends every year to persuade the applicants they want the most to enroll in their programs. While Ph.D. stipends differ at every university, students who are awarded them can typically expect to at least have the cost of their tuition and books fully funded by their program, plus a monthly paycheck to cover additional expenses. 

When I talk to students who are interested in pursuing a Ph.D., I always advise them to apply to programs that offer Ph.D. stipends. Graduate degrees are expensive; looking for good graduate programs that will fund your Ph.D. and pay you to attend is a smart decision that will ease the financial burden of getting your degree. Earning a Ph.D. is a gauntlet, but paying for it shouldn’t be. Do your research and apply to programs that offer Ph.D. stipends. 

How Much is a Ph.D. Stipend? 

It varies. Many factors determine the dollar amount of a Ph.D. stipend, including the academic discipline, the university, the ranking of the program, and the competition for promising students. Ph.D. students in STEM programs typically garner more generous stipends than their colleagues in the humanities and behavioral sciences. 

Regardless of academic discipline, the purpose of the Ph.D. stipend is to pay the student enough money to live on so they can devote themselves entirely to their education. While this is a nice idea in spirit, reader beware: mileage may vary. A decent Ph.D. stipend is around $25,000 per academic year, paid out over the course of spring and fall semesters. Depending on the location of the program and your own fortitude, this may or may not be enough to live on while you earn your Ph.D. Keep in mind, most programs forbid having a job if you are receiving a Ph.D. stipend. 

When I was a grad student in Mississippi over a decade ago, my $20,000 yearly stipend was enough (mostly) to live comfortably in a rural college town. But I also had a safety net and knew that my parents would cover any additional expenses. Most of the other students with stipends in my cohort also relied on family, loans, savings, or a combination of all three. Before you accept a Ph.D. stipend and the conditions that come with it, know that it’s unlikely to cover all of your living expenses and plan ahead. 

Is a Ph.D. Stipend Different From a Grant or Scholarship?

Yes. While all three involve giving money to Ph.D. students who show merit, Ph.D. stipends usually have more strings attached to them than grants or scholarships. When you are awarded a stipend, it is typically part of a package that includes tuition remission and some sort of assistantship, either as a teaching or research assistant. That’s right: in exchange for free tuition and a modest stipend while you pursue your scholarly dream, they put you to work. 

When I was a graduate student, about 15 hours of my time every week went to teaching undergraduate classes and attending a (much-needed) colloquium to learn about different pedagogical methods and best practices for teaching in my discipline. The rest of my time was spent with coursework, reading, and research, but it was during these stipend-mandated hours that I learned how to be a professor. It was an experience that has proven invaluable to me today, and an incredible opportunity that I wouldn’t have had without my Ph.D. stipend. Ten years into my career as a professor, and I’m still grateful for it. 

How Do You Get a Ph.D. Stipend? 

As with so many things in academia (and life!), it pays to do your homework. The first step to getting a Ph.D. stipend is to carefully research graduate programs that are relevant to your interests and discipline, and find out what’s out there. 

Once you find a program that looks like it might be a good fit, reach out to the faculty member who oversees graduate students (this person will be listed on the department’s website) and ask them to send you information about stipends and assistantships offered by the program. 

Once you’ve communicated with a faculty member at the university on the top of your list, repeat this process a dozen more times with other schools and you’ll be well on your way to a stipend of your very own. Okay, that may be an exaggeration (but not by much). 

The more programs and stipends you apply for, the better your options are likely to be. Though there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a graduate program (quality, marketability and success of recent graduates, length, availability of funding, etc.), finding ones that offer stipends is an investment of your time that will pay off for years to come.