Graduate students are often eligible to receive graduate assistantships that pay for tuition and provide a modest stipend in return for specified hours of work (usually 20 hours per week for full-time graduate students).

The term graduate assistant applies to those students under contract supported by University funds or external funds administered through the University. Graduate assistants work for the university, typically in teaching or research positions. Graduate assistants have varied duties that may include full teaching responsibility for lower level courses, conducting discussion sessions, supervising laboratories, assisting faculty with research, or assisting departments in various ways. Assistantships in non-academic departments are very limited.

Students interested in obtaining an assistantship must apply. New students may indicate on their Online Application for Admission that they would like to be considered for an assistantship. Current students must contact their academic department for application information. Each department may have different requirements for their assistantship applicants, so all students should contact their academic department to see what other requirements they may have to fulfill. All assistantships (and any fellowships) are awarded through the individual departments.