The following internal assistantships and awards are available to students:

Rensselaer Graduate Fellowship:   These university-supported fellowships are awarded to outstanding applicants to Rensselaer’s PhD programs by the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Education at the recommendation of the academic departments and deans.  The one-year fellowship appointment provides a full-time academic year tuition scholarship, the minimum calendar year stipend award, and a one-time $2,500 supplemental award. 

Teaching Assistantships: TAs are appointed by their departments to assist in classrooms and labs, for which they receive an academic-year stipend and tuition waiver. All new TAs are required to attend TA Training.

Research Assistantships: RAs are appointed by their departments to conduct research, for which they receive an academic-year stipend and tuition waiver. RA funding may also be available during the summer term.

Master's Merit Scholarship: As part of the institute’s commitment to program excellence, scholarships are available for full time Master’s degree enrollments. Scholarships will be given on an academic merit basis, as recommended by individual departments during the admissions process. 

Loans: Please refer to RPI's Financial Aid page for information on loans available to graduate studens.

The information presented below is updated annually.

The stipend for all graduate programs is set each year by the Board of Trustees upon recommendation by the President. Stipends are reviewed each year and are based on the cost of living for a single adult in Rensselaer County. This cost of living includes expenses for housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and other (e.g. Internet, household and personal necessities, fees, etc.) All graduate students receiving stipends from the Institute, from contracts/grants, and from Institute administered external sources, must be paid the minimum stipend as established by the Institute. For AY25-26 the stipend for the academic year is $27,090 and $9,030 for the summer. Academic year and summer support is $36,120. 

Graduate students who are employed as graduate teaching assistants (TA) or research assistants (RA) will receive full tuition and stipend support for the academic year. The financial award will also cover some of the fees. Students are expected to work as TA/RA an average of 20 hours per week.