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Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) Cost Estimates

Research administrators may need to consider GSRA costs for:

For ease in creating research administration budget and proposal information, this page centralizes information on GSRA Salary and Compensation, Average Tuition Rates, and Grad Care benefits. We will only link to this information or provide it if we have official information from the respective authorities who handle this (Human Resources, Office of Budget Planning, or individual school/college documentation). 

GSRA Salary/Stipend/Compensation

(Updated for AY2023-2024 on 7/18/2023 and 7/26/2023 and 9/6/2023)

The following are minimum recommended levels and can be set higher, based on the policies of individual schools and colleges. U-M Departments and principal investigators have the flexibility to set GSRA salaries at rates above this minimum. Please verify with your unit. 

Additionally, certain sponsors have limits and requirements. For example, each year check NIH for its NRSA Training Grant stipend levels.  

GSRA Salary/Stipend/Compensation

    U-M Campus GSRA Salary/Stipend Rate 
    for Four Calendar Months

    UM Ann Arbor

     $25,980

    U-M College of Engineering  $25,980

    UM-Flint
    UM-Dearborn

     $24,897

    Sources:

      GSRA Average Tuition Rates

      (Updated for AY2023-2024 on 7/19/2023)

      To facilitate budget preparation, charge average tuition rates to sponsored projects, regardless of the number of credit hours for which the GSRAs are enrolled. 

      GSRA Average Tuition Rates Academic Year (AY) 23-24

      Term(s) Campus

      Rate

      Fall, Winter Terms 2023-2024

       General Campus 

      $14,258

      Fall, Winter Terms 2023-2024  Engineering

      $14,450

      Spring, Summer Half Terms 2023-2024 and
      full Spring-Summer Term 2023

       General Campus and Engineering  $7,460
      Sources: Office of Budget and Planning Memo (PDF) (Received July 19, 2023)

      Tuition Charges for GSRAs with candidacy status

      Tuition charges for GSRAs with candidacy status are not averaged but are charged at the established rates, which vary by school and college. Please see the U-M Office of the Registrar's Tuition Tables for the candidacy cost for each of the schools and colleges.

      Tuition Fellowship

      Project teams should check with their Dean's office to determine if their unit is participating in the tuition fellowship program. Each School or College will determine the level of the tuition fellowship to be provided and the conditions under which such tuition fellowships will be awarded (e.g., appointment level of the GSRA). The resident (in-state) tuition that remains after the fellowship is applied must be included as a charge to the sponsor. Since Schools and Colleges must provide the funds for the tuition fellowships from their annual budget allocations, the Dean's office should verify/approve if the tuition fellowship is to be cost-shared and thus, the level of charges to be included in the sponsor's budget.

      Tuition Waiver

      As in the past, a GSRA with an appointment of 25% or more will pay no tuition (i.e. 100% tuition waiver).

      Health Benefits GradCare Plan

      When considering GSRA GradCare benefits, note these U-M resources:

      What is Taxed and Not Taxed?

      Information on Salaries, Fellowships, and Tuition Waivers

      • Salaries/Stipends/Compensation payments to GSRAs are subject to federal and state income taxes because they are deemed "reasonable compensation" for University work in connection with research or teaching assignments.
      • Tuition Waivers are granted as fringe benefits in the form of a non-taxable qualified tuition.
      • U-M Human Resources' web pages provide detailed information on the Graduate Student Assistantship Program appointments and other matters of consideration.

      Maximum Allowable Charges

      You can reference all maximum charges allowable from other schools and colleges here. Please verify with your unit. This is useful to those who reconcile statements and sign off on Final Financial Reports (FFRs).

      Questions?

      • If you have a question on the GSRA policies or programs, you will want to consult Human ResourcesRackham Graduate School or more likely the financial aid office of your specific School or College (e.g. Engineering, Medical School, Information).
      • If you have a question specifically on GSRA Tuition Rates, please consult the Office of Budget Planning (734) 764-6708
      • If you have a question on how the GSRA funding is reflected in a budget for a sponsored project or research proposal you will want to speak with a research administrator in your school or college. You can look up the name of your department contact in the Blue Pages.
      • Certain sponsors have limits and requirements. Each year check NIH for its NRSA Training Grant stipend levels.
      • We provide a central location for these links for those who reconcile statements and sign off on reports. If you have an update for this page, please provide official documentation or have that office contact Constance Colthorp, Communications Manager, const@umich.edu, (734) 647-4587. We will only work with official documentation.