Gain valuable experience and professional skills while offsetting the cost of tuition and fees.
50%
off first year base tuition
$13K+
Financial value per semester
Position yourself for financial benefits and hands-on experience while earning your degree! Graduate assistantships are an opportunity for first-year grad students to enhance their education, build professional skills, and reduce the cost of graduate school. Assistantships may be offered for only one semester, or up to a full academic year, excluding summers. Assistantships cannot be renewed.
Benefits of a Graduate Assistantship
- 50% of base tuition paid (Note: Differential tuition and strictly online classes are not covered.)
- Monthly stipend to support your expenses
- Mandatory fees covered in full
- Full CSU health insurance premium covered (if elected)
CSU Graduate School provides more information about assistantship benefits, resources, and policies, including credit and grade requirements, terms and conditions, current stipend amounts, and additional benefits for graduate assistantships.
“My assistantship immediately gave me the ability to have a strong tie to a faculty member in the College of Business, which allowed me to feel more involved in the culture on campus.”
Alexa Giannoni, student
What you’ll do as a Graduate Assistant:
- Support faculty and staff with administrative tasks (project support, data management, clerical assistance)
- Facilitate student learning through recitation sessions (i.e., class sessions in which students work on course content and projects)
- Participate in impactful research with faculty members
- Assist with grading, posting grades, and proctoring exams
Who should apply?
If you’re applying to become a graduate student in an eligible program and have a passion for learning, research, and academic excellence, you are encouraged to apply. The application process can be competitive due to the limited number of graduate assistantships awarded each year.
Eligible Programs
You must be admitted into one of the following on-campus programs to be considered for an assistantship. Online graduate degree programs are not eligible for consideration.
How to Apply
- Watch your email for an invitation to apply — you should receive a message soon after being notified of acceptance into your grad program.
- Applications are reviewed continually prior to the upcoming academic year.
- The application pool remains open until the start of the fall semester.
Selection Process
Our selection process looks at your GPA, test scores, certifications, work experience, and how well you would fit the department’s needs. We’re looking for well-rounded, driven, curious individuals who show commitment to the College’s mission and vision.
Application Deadlines
Each graduate degree program reviews and awards its graduate assistantships individually, so application deadlines vary. Watch your email for an invitation to apply and specific application instructions for your program.