GSG Housing Task Force

Plots of Graduate Stipends and Rents

1. The Graduate School has mandated a 5.575% increase for FY2007. This brings the new minimum 9.5 month assistanceship to $13,224.
   • Graduate Pay Grades:
     • Step I is for the first-year graduate assistant only
     • Step II is for second-year assistants, as well as those students, new or continuing, holding a master's degree
     • Step III is reserved for doctoral candidates (after comps/proposal)
   • The graduate school does not have minimums for Step II or III
   • Departments are allowed to pay graduate students more than the minimum, as long as it is consistent across the department
   • Open questions: How many graduate students get more than the minimum? What is a typical stipend?
2. Historical Rents at Graduate Hills/Graduate Gardens
   • These rents are set by formula that averages properities in the College Park area
   • Source: Resident Life
3. Historical Computer Science Department Stipends
   • Computer Science Department has enjoyed better pay raises than the graduate school minimum.
   • Source: Computer Science Department Graduate Program
4. Percent of Stipends Paid to Rent (post-taxes) for Computer Science graduate students at Graduate Hills/Graduate Gardens
   • "2 Bed (shared)" indicates paying half of the rent for a two bedroom unit, i.e., with a roomate.
   • Computer Science Department is paid more than the minimum amount indicated by the graduate school
   • Current CS graduate students pay 58-67% of their income for a one bedroom and 35-41% of their income for a shared 2 bedroom.
   • Efficiencies prices are listed here because the increase is disproportionate to 1 and 2 bedrooms. Currently, CS graduate students pay 51-59% of their income for rent on efficiencies.
   • 20% tax estimate comes from my personal paycheck. Graduate students are in the 15% Federal Tax bracket and pay state and local taxes, so this is a reasonable approximation.
   • These figures ASSUME that graduate students get summer assistanceships at their same 9 or 9.5 month funding rate. This is not necessarily true and can dramatically impact the above plots.
5. Current (i.e., not computer science) graduate students who receive the minimum stipend ($13,224 for 9.5 months):
   • Earn $1,113 a month, after taxes (est. 20%, as above)
   • Living at Graduate Hills/Graduate Gardens:
     • Pay 71% of their salary to rent for an Efficency
     • Pay 81% of their salary to rent for a 1 Bedroom
     • Pay 48% of their salary to rent for a 2 Bedroom with roomate