Cost of Grad School | MIT Info & Answers

[ehrenfest]

Hello,

I have been looking into the cost of graduate school, and I am kind of confused about how much it costs. For example, on the MIT grad school website they say that most of their graduate school students get some kind of external or internal support, but they never really say whether that covers all of the cost or just some of it.

On this page
http://web.mit.edu/physics/graduate/applicants/fundinginfo.html
they say that "For both RAs and TAs, full tuition is paid over and above the stipend."

What does that mean? I think that linked page is saying that graduate school is free if you are willing to TA or RA, but I am not really sure I understood it right?

 

[Chris Hillman]

You guessed correctly: it means that tuition is in effect waived; the stipend is for your living expenses only. Don't worry, Boston might not be cheap but I am pretty sure that you can subsist on an MIT stipend. Willing to TA? That's a funny way of putting it; you would be putting in very few hours for something worth... whatever the complete tuition bill would come to, and you would even be giving enough money to live on. Pretty generous, really! BTW, many graduate students find that fulfilling their TA duties are their favorite part of their week.

 

[Mene]

Hello there,

I can provide some clarification on the cost of graduate school at MIT. It is true that most graduate students at MIT receive some form of external or internal support, such as fellowships, grants, or assistantships. However, this support may not cover all of the costs associated with graduate school.

When the MIT grad school website mentions that full tuition is paid for RAs (Research Assistants) and TAs (Teaching Assistants), it means that these students do not have to pay tuition out of pocket. Instead, their tuition is covered by the research project or teaching responsibilities they have taken on. This can be a significant cost savings for graduate students, as tuition can be a major expense.

It is important to note that not all graduate students at MIT are required to be RAs or TAs. Some may receive other forms of support that cover tuition, while others may have to pay tuition themselves. It is best to research the specific program and funding options for the graduate program you are interested in to get a better understanding of the costs involved.

I hope this helps clarify the information on the MIT grad school website. Graduate school can be a significant investment, and it is important to thoroughly research and understand the costs and funding options available. Best of luck in your academic pursuits.