<p>So I've seen the website that lists the highest stipends in certain biology-related fields, but that's not representative of stipends in most fields. If you're a funded student, what is your field and how much is your stipend?</p>
<p>materials science, 19k base stipend (includes health insurance); my net take home pay from the stipend alone is ~1400/mo.</p>
<p>Materials Science, $26k, though I got offers ranging from $24k to $31k with health insurance included.</p>
<p>Did you check this website: [2009-10</a> BEST GRADUATE STUDENT STIPENDS - Graduate Student Stipend Comparison - what PhD programs in biological sciences pay their graduate students](<a href=“http://www.wendychao.com/science/stipends/2009-10.html]2009-10”>2009-10 BEST GRADUATE STUDENT STIPENDS - Graduate Student Stipend Comparison - what PhD programs in biological sciences pay their graduate students)</p>
<p>I received offers that range from 0-30k+ (All PhD in bio related field)</p>
<p>There are tricks to it though:
a. some schools offer High amount only for the 1st year
b. some schools guarantee the amount for 5 years, but the requirement is very difficult to meet (above average GPA in grad courses, seminars, unpredictable TAship, etc)
c. some schools offer low-moderate amount, but does not require much TAship
d. make sure you compare stipends with respect to the standard cost of living in the area (things to take into consideration: subsidized housing, whether car is a necessity)</p>
<p>Yes. That’s the website I was referring to in my original post. Good point about cost of living though. I just thought about that after reading Racin’s post. 26k in Pasadena is equivalent to much less in some parts of the country (but is still a very respectable stipend).</p>
<p>Oddly enough, the 24k and 31k offers were both from schools with considerably lower cost of living! (Though there was a school with similar cost of living to here and a stipend of $24k.)</p>
<p>But those places weren’t CalTech either! I can see why you chose the path you did.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, does anyone know where this type of stipend information can be found for the social sciences?</p>
<p>not sure about where to find a comprehensive list for social sciences or humanities, but most seem to be under (or just at) 20K/year, unless you’re in new york city, in which case you get a whopping 22K.</p>
<p>i’ve got 18K for years on fellowship (years 1 and 4, no health insurance), and 15K for years on TAship (years 2, 3, and 5, including health insurance). if i bought my own insurance on the fellowship years, the monthly stipend would be pretty much the same (around $1200/month).</p>
<p>BUT this is in pittsburgh, where the cost of living is extremely low. when compared on cost-of-living calculators with other major cities, the stipend’s “real” value is anywhere from 26K to 28K. pittsburgh is mercifully cheap. also, i’m forgoing medical insurance my first year so i’ll get just over $1450/month. i’ll take it.</p>
<p>this is for history, by the way. i was offered 30K/year, including health insurance, from the university of miami, but that was a competitive university-wide fellowship, not the regular stipend package from the department. lately i’m looking at my bank balance wondering if i made the right choice…</p>
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<p>To be fair, I do feel those some of those other schools actually have better programs than the one I’m in here at Caltech; it was just my choice of advisor here and our personality fit that sealed the deal for me. If I had found a professor at that $31k a year school I liked you can be sure I would have gone there (not to mention me liking the location, weather, and style of the school better). ;)</p>