The purpose of the Tuition Premium Program is to provide financial support for the difference between resident and non-resident tuition for non-resident domestic GRAs during their first year of enrollment at CSU and for non-resident and international GRAs during their tenure in their graduate degree programs. This program, described in detail below, differs from CSU’s previous tuition premium funding model, which has served to fund non-resident GRAs over the past years.
Graduate Research Assistantship Tuition Premium Program was implemented fall 2014
Graduate Research Assistants paid from restricted funds (53, 64) or state-appropriated funds (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19) may be eligible for the benefits of the GRA Tuition Premium Program Policy.
To be eligible for the GRA Tuition Premium Program, domestic and international non-resident students must be enrolled in a minimum of five resident-instruction credits and must meet all assistantship requirements as noted in the Graduate & Professional Bulletin, Graduate Assistantship – Terms & Conditions of Appointment. CSU Online credits do not meet the eligibility requirements for the program.
For students employed as .5FTE GRA (20 hours/week), the Graduate School will pay the tuition premium, difference between resident and non-resident tuition. For students employed in capacities less than .5FTE, the Graduate School will pay a prorated amount. For example, for students employed as .25FTE (10 hours/week), CSU will pay half of the tuition premium.
- The Tuition Premium Program covers resident-instruction tuition only. It does not cover CSU Online tuition, nor does it cover fees or differential tuition.
- All GRAs must be enrolled in at least one resident-instruction credit to hold a position; however, students enrolled in less than five credits will not be eligible for the GRA Tuition Premium Program.
Restrictions specific to Domestic Non-resident Students
- CSU will provide the Tuition Premium for domestic non-resident students during their first fall and spring semesters; hiring department funding sources will be expected to pay stipends and the resident portion of tuition.
- Such students will be expected to establish residency during their first year at CSU.
- If students do NOT establish residency, hiring department funding sources or the students will be required to pay the difference between non-resident and resident tuition during the second year and thereafter or until the student establishes state residency. (The Tuition Premium Program will not be available after year one to domestic non-resident students.) The hiring departmental sources will be expected to continue to pay the stipend and the resident tuition portion.
Restrictions specific to International Non-resident Students
CSU will extend the Tuition Premium Program to international students appointed as a GRA for the length of their tenure in their graduate degree program as long as they are enrolled in a minimum of five resident-instruction credits during the fall and spring semesters and meet all terms and conditions of an assistantship. Tuition will be prorated as a percentage of FTE.
* NOTE: Accounts Receivable Operations (ARO) will send a request for the names of GRA Tuition Premium eligible graduate assistants, graduate fellows and graduate student grant trainees to each graduate/department coordinator. ARO will also provide additional instructions and a deadline date to submit student names to their office. Please be sure to work with the respective graduate student coordinator to identify eligible students.
Key Strategic & Institutional Partners Award Program
Students from Key Strategic and Institutional Partner institutions who meet CSU qualifications and matriculate will receive one of the following awards dependent upon their graduate assistantship status. No special requests are required to participate in the award programs; however, students should self-identify as a student from a Key Strategic or Institutional Partner institution with Chad Hoseth in the Office of International Programs. Students will not be limited to awards over a set number of years as long as they are enrolled in resident instruction degree programs and are making satisfactory progress toward their degree.
Graduate assistants must maintain their assistantship status to remain eligible for the Resident Tuition/Tuition Premium Award Program. Students may participate in only one award program at a time.