Financial Aid
Financial assistance for graduate study may be obtained through several
avenues within the department including: Departmental Assistantships, Grant-Based
Assistantships, and Fellowships. To be eligible for these sources of financial
assistance, a graduate applicant must complete the Supplemental
Graduate Application Form (see How to Apply). Whereas the ABE department
would like to provide financial assistance to all qualified students, financial
assistance is generally awarded on a competitive basis considering qualifications
such as GRE scores, GPAs at previous undergraduate and graduate programs,
letters of recommendation, and statements of purpose.
Applications for admission and assistantship support will be accepted at any time, but decisions regarding financial assistance are generally made before January 31(for August admission) and September 1 (for January admission).
Current rates of standard 1/2-time assistantships for 2005-06 are:
M.S. students |
$6,856.00 /semester (fall and spring) |
Ph.D.
students |
$6,856.00 /semester (fall and spring) $4,666.00/summer $7,130.00/semester |
Tuition and fees are also covered for students receiving assistantship support; thereby making yearly financial support in excess of $40,000 per year.
For graduate students who need to be enrolled during the summer, an application can be made for Summer Tuition Assistance through the College of Agricultural Sciences Graduate Program Office (if the student has been on departmental assistantship support in previous semesters). Priority for tuition assistance will be given to those students who need to enroll in graduate courses (excluding graduate research credits). Students should work with their faculty advisor and the Graduate Program Coordinator, prior to the arrival of summer, to make arrangements for summer tuition and summer assistantship support or wage payroll support.
All students at Penn State are required to have health insurance; either through the University Health Insurance Plan or a private health plan (evidence of such a plan to be provided). Students are automatically enrolled in the University Health Insurance Plan unless they can prove that they have their own plan with equal or better insurance coverage.
Additional information on the University Health Insurance
Plan
can be obtained by contacting:
Student Insurance Office
320 Grange Building
(814) 865-7467
http://www.sa.psu.edu/uhs/
Graduate students receiving assistantships and/or fellowships are subject to taxation by the U.S. Federal Government and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (Note that tuition waivers are considered non-taxable income). All students (including international students) therefore pay federal, state, and local taxes during each pay period. U.S. citizens also pay Social Security taxes each pay period. Local taxes include the occupational priviledge tax, the occupational assessment tax, and the local wage tax.
International students can learn more about tax treaties
and other tax information through the International Student and Scholars
Office at (814) 865-6348, http://www.international.psu.edu.
Loans and Other Financial Assistance
The Office of Fellowships and Awards is responsible for assisting Penn State graduate students seeking funding opportunities. For more information, contact the Fellowship and Awards Office, 314 Kern Graduate Building, University Park, PA 16802, (814) 865-2514, or e-mail sec9@psu.edu.
Students should begin looking for funding approximately one year in advance of their need for funding and stay in close communication with their department or program head. Competitions for funding have particularly early deadlines. Students should investigate as many funding options as possible to avoid losing out on valuable opportunities.
For information about specific opportunities, click on the links below.
Other Useful Links FinAid:
The Financial Aid Information Page |
Penn State Housing understands that as a graduate student, your lifestyle may have changed since you were an undergraduate. With this in mind, Penn State housing provides an environment for both singles and families to focus on what matters most, such as higher education, building relationships, and being part of a community. A "late night" may mean something different than it used to, but you can count on a community that supports you.
Graduate students may choose to live on or off campus. An abundance of diversified housing alternatives exist.
On-Campus Housing: http://www.hfs.psu.edu/graduates/
Off-Campus Housing: http://www.sa.psu.edu/ocl/
