Funding and Benefits
Students may be admitted with or without funding.
PhD students
While funding is not guaranteed, prospective PhD students are often offered a teaching assistantship (TA) which will provide support for up to five years (ten semesters). Depending on availability, some students may transition to a research assistantship (RA) after their second year. Each year, some PhD students are self-supported.
Master’s students
Funding is not the standard and you should be prepared to support yourself for two years. Graduate assistantships or other student jobs are often available with other academic departments or units across the university. Occasionally, the department may be able to offer semester-based funding for teaching or project needs
Summary for funded students
Details are available on the WSU Graduate School website and under Labor Relations on the Human Resource Services website.
Tuition waiver
Your first year, your waiver will cover your tuition regardless of your residency status.
The state law on residency is very specific, especially when a student has moved to the state for the purpose of attending college. Review Washington’s residency requirements and steps to take for future residency.
Non-residents of the State of Washington are expected to become residents as soon as you are eligible (no later than the start of your second year).
Students who do not establish Washington residency after one year will be responsible for covering the balance between in-state and out-of-state tuition until residency is established. For the 2023-24 academic year, the difference was $7,583.50.
Learn more about graduate student assistantships and tuition waivers at the WSU Graduate School website.
University fees
Beyond tuition, all WSU students are assessed fees for University services and student-approved spending. The benefits for you include access to the Student Recreation Center, a bus pass for Pullman Transit, and services at the Health & Wellness Center.
You will be responsible paying assessed fees at the start of every semester. For Fall 2023 and Spring 2024, the fees for graduate students were $1,051.58 per semester.
Learn more about tuition and fees and the cost of attendance at WSU.
Health insurance
The University provides enrolled students with access to health insurance and covers the premium for individual students (a value of approximately $3,300 per year).
Learn more about health insurance coverage for domestic graduate students and international graduate students at WSU.
Assistantships
Students will generally be offered funding for five years provided they are making good progress in their degree programs.
Teaching assistantships
- Responsibilities generally include attending classes, holding office hours, grading, and, on occasion, leading class (see Year One milestones). Fall and spring semesters span 16 weeks each.
- International students must demonstrate high spoken English proficiency before being offered a teaching assistantship.
Research assistantships
- Opportunities and responsibilities vary depending on faculty research needs and funding. Typically, research assistantships are not available to first-year students.
Summer Funding
Many students find paid work during the summer months as course instructors or as research assistants at WSU and/or other organizations or institutions.