Graduate assistantships and financial aid

MSU waives tuition and fees for graduate assistants for nine credits per fall or spring semester and four credits summer semester. Therefore the financial aid budget for regular graduate assistants includes no tuition or fees, though it does include money for books and living costs. Note that budgets for graduate assistants in College of Engineering and other special programs are higher to allow for the additional program costs.

If you received an award package as a regular grad student (withOUT a graduate assistantship) your aid award might have been more than you're entitled to receive once your graduate assistantship is entered and may have to be reduced.

MSU is required to follow federal rules in the awarding of aid and MUST reduce certain types of aid if you originally received a regular graduate budget and now have a graduate assistantship. This is because we may only cover your actual costs. While it may seem that something is being taken away from you, you are actually receiving a benefit (free tuition).

We hope this information will help you understand your MSU charges and financial aid awards and revisions. If you have any questions, please contact our office.