GTA/GRA/GA Benefits
.50 FTE Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)
Unlike GRAs and GAs, GTAs are unionized. Base minimum salary and tuition support are governed by the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between KU and the GTA Coalition (GTAC). All students hired as a GTA (regardless of FTE %) are automatically part of the GTAC collective bargaining unit. More information can be found on our GTA-Specific Information page.
| Benefit | Value | Student Responsibility | Detail | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wages | $18,650 base minimum∞ per Academic Year (9 months) | Hourly equivalent of $24 /hour | N/A | GTAs are salaried (not hourly) employees. They work an average of 20 hours/week over the full semester. They are hired either by the semester, Fall (8/18 to 12/31) / Spring (1/1 – 5-16), or for the full academic year (8/18-5/16). Availability of summer GTA employment varies by department. |
| Tuition | 100% | $18,862* | $0 | 100% of tuition is waived, including technology & infrastructure fees, and differential course fees for schools that require them. Some schools may cap graduate enrollment at 16 hours, however, there is no cap on the total tuition waiver. See KU's Tuition & Fee Calculator for more specific amounts based on an individual student's enrollment. |
| Student Fees | up to 3 hours | $253.50 | $253.50 | Up to 3 hours of campus fees are paid by the University. Fees are $84.50 per credit hour and are capped at 6 hours. |
| Optional Group Health Insurance | 75% of premium paid by employer | $855 per semester | $275 per semester | .50 FTE GTAs are eligible for the Graduate Student Health Insurance. They receive a reduced premium (“Incentivized Plan”) compared to the general student population (“Voluntary Plan”) and 75% of the premium is paid by the employer. See HR’s 3G Health Insurance Page for more information. |
| Other | Training & Professional Development | N/A | $0 | Initial training for new GTAs (required by the MOA) and continued access to optional instructional support and professional development sessions through the Center for Teaching Excellence. |
TOTAL FINANCIAL | $39,475.50 |
.50 FTE Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)
| Benefit | Value | Student Responsibility | Detail | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wages | $19,116.25 per Academic Year (9 months)∞ | Hourly equivalent of $24.78 /hour | N/A | GRAs are salaried (not hourly) employees. They work an average of 20 hours/week over the full semester. GRAs may be hired for specific dates (e.g. for the semester or academic year) or continuously (i.e. no specific end date). |
| Tuition | 100% | $18,862* | $0 | 100% of tuition is paid by sponsor/hiring unit, including technology & infrastructure fees, and differential course fees for schools that require them. See KU's Tuition & Fee Calculator for specific amounts based on an individual student's enrollment. |
| Student Fees | up to 3 hours | $253.50 | $253.50 | 3 hours of campus fees must be paid by sponsor/hiring unit, although sponsors may choose to pay more. Fees are $84.50 per hour and are capped at 6 hours. |
| Optional Group Health Insurance | 75% of premium paid by employer | $885 per semester | $275 per semester | .50 FTE GRAs are eligible for the Graduate Student Health Insurance. They receive a reduced premium (“Incentivized Plan”) compared to the general student population (“Voluntary Plan”) and 75% of the premium is paid by the employer. See HR’s 3G Health Insurance Page for more information. |
| TOTAL FINANCIAL VALUE | $40,001.75 |
∞Required minimum salary for project based/grant funded appointments, per KU Office of Research. Academic units may choose to pay more.
University fellowship awards are administered as a .50 GRA appointment. These positions provide a higher salary. More information may be found here:
- SELF Graduate Fellowship
- Chancellor’s Doctoral Fellowship
- University Graduate Fellowship
- Bernadette Gray-Little Fellowship
*Based on enrollment in 9 hours per Fall/Spring.
.50 FTE Graduate Assistant (GA)
| Benefit | Value | Student Responsibility | Detail | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wages | Hourly wage determined by hiring unit∞ | Determined by hiring unit. | N/A | All GA positions are hourly, with the exception of positions employing students in the Higher Education Administration master’s program. GAs may be hired for specific dates (e.g. for the semester or academic year) or continuously (i.e. no specific end date). |
| Tuition Rate | Employee tuition rate (in-state tuition rate) | $10,980* | N/A | GAs at .40 FTE or higher are assessed tuition at the in-state rate, regardless of their personal residency status. See the Employee Rates policy for more information. |
| Tuition | 9 hours of in-state tuition** | $7,866 | All course fees & cost of tuition above 9 hours | 9 hours of in-state tuition, including technology & infrastructure fees, is sponsored*. GA appointments do not cover the cost of differential course fees for schools that require them. Hiring units may choose to sponsor more than the minimum amount covered by the University. See KU's Tuition & Fee Calculator for more specific amounts based on an individual student's enrollment. |
| Student Fees | Not covered | N/A | $510 | Campus fees are the responsibility of the student, unless the hiring unit chooses to cover them. Campus fees are $85/hour and are capped at 6 hours. |
| Optional Group Health Insurance | 75% of premium paid by employer | $885 per semester | $275 per semester | .50 FTE GAs are eligible for the Graduate Student Health Insurance. They receive a reduced premium (“Incentivized Plan”) compared to the general student population (“Voluntary Plan”) and 75% of the premium is paid by the employer. See HR’s 3G Health Insurance Page for more information. |
TOTAL | $32,700.57β |
∞Hiring units are strongly encouraged to set pay comparable to GTA/GRA pay levels in that unit. Newly created GA positions must pay at least $15.55/hour to receive approval by the Office of Graduate Studies.
*Based on a cost difference of $610 per credit hour between in-state and out-of-state tuition for 9 hours of tuition each Fall/Spring (18 hours total for the academic year).
**Beginning Fall 2024, 9 hours of tuition are sponsored for GAs. Source of funding for tuition sponsorship is dependent on the source of funding for the salary. For positions funded through state funds, campus fees, or for students for whom holding a GA position is a degree requirement, 9 hours of tuition are sponsored centrally by the University. For positions that are funded through KUEA or project-based funds, the 9 hours of tuition must be paid by the hiring unit.
β Based on a minimum hourly rate of $15.55/hour.