The average cost of tuition and fees based on enrollment for 9 credit hours per semester for graduate students (fall, spring, or summer) is 5,898 for Alabama Residents and 15,978 for Non-Alabama Residents (including Out-of-State and International Students).
No additional cost of tuition is paid if a graduate student is enrolled for more than 9 credit hours in a semester. Similarly, the cost of tuition would be less for those semesters when the student is registered for less than 9 credit hours.
The McWhorter School of Building Science does not charge a Professional Fee for the Ph.D. program.
Various types of financial aid such as subsidized loans, scholarships, and grants may be available based on the specific qualifications and needs of the student.
Some of these types of aid such as loans must be repaid at the conclusion of the degree program, while others do not require repayment, such as scholarships or grants.
Fellowships to support graduate study are available from sources outside the university such as the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
To learn more about these opportunities, students should search each agency’s web site for the graduate fellowship appropriate for the degree being pursued.
Deadlines for such fellowships are typically annual, and the student is responsible for meeting all eligibility and application requirements.
It is often helpful to work directly with a major professor to develop a strong application package for external fellowships. Students interested in pursuing funding under an external fellowship should plan ahead in developing a relationship with the faculty so that they can support efforts in pursuing these opportunities.
A list of potential external fellowships is available at the Auburn University’ Graduate School website under Fellowships and Financial Aid.
Graduate Assistantships
Each academic year, the McWhorter School of Building Science offers several Graduate Assistantships to graduate students with exceptional academic and professional credentials. Three types of graduate assistantships are available.
Students holding a GTA position may be involved in providing support to a faculty member in grading and managing homework assignments for various courses, teaching selected lectures, holding office hours for students, and other requirements determined by the faculty supervisor.
Students with prior teaching experience may be assigned to independently teach an undergraduate course and/or a lab. Full time (100%) GTA positions are for 20 hours and include monthly stipend plus tuition fee waiver (student is still liable to pay the program registration fee which is currently $838 per semester).
The current average monthly stipend is $1,800—the exact amount is commensurate with the candidate’s experience and assigned responsibilities. Positions at less than 100% include pro-rated stipends and waivers.
GTA contracts are limited to one year, with an option to renew pending satisfactory performance.
Annual assessment of all GTAs will be conducted by the PhD Program Chair before renewing their contracts.
Please indicate in your Statement of Purpose if you would like to be considered for a GTA position.
GRA positions provide financial support that is directly linked to an externally funded research grant or contract.
Students on a GRA appointment will have assigned duties that contribute to the overall objectives of that research grant or contract.
GRA appointments are made directly by the faculty member responsible for the specific research project being undertaken and are generally linked to the specific funding time period provided by the research sponsor.
Responsibilities vary based on the specific nature of the research and may include review of the scholarly literature, laboratory or fieldwork, and assistance with publications and proposal writing.
More information about sponsored research being undertaken by faculty can be found on individual faculty webpages.
The amount of tuition waiver and monthly stipends vary from project to project and students are strongly advised to discuss with the faculty member before accepting a GRA position.
Graduate Assistantships require students work on a technical or administrative assignment (such as lab administration, administrative and/or logistical support) on an hourly basis for the duration of the task.
GAs may work up to 40 hours per week contingent to approval of the graduate school but receives no tuition waivers.
If one has equivalent/greater prior coverage and can so demonstrate, that person may choose to opt-out of the University plan.
Those who wish to opt-out must complete the required form by September 5th for the fall and February 16th for the spring.
Waiver applications are accepted for two months following the waiver deadline but are subject to prorated insurance costs. For example, if you turn in your waiver in March for a spring waiver you are susceptible to paying for January and February’s insurance.
Graduate assistants will be automatically enrolled in the Auburn University Graduate Student Group Health Plan (GSGHP). The 2019-20 premium is $2,028, which will be billed in two installments of $1,022 for fall and $1,006 for spring/summer.
International graduate students and dependents in F or J immigration status will continue to be covered and billed similarly under the Mandatory International Student and Scholar Health Plan.
Those graduate students who do not qualify for the automatic enrollment may opt-in to the program. They must complete a request form and submit it to the Graduate School. For further information on optional enrollment, please visit the Detailed Enrollment Information page.
All graduate assistants with assignments of 10 hours (0.25 FTE) or greater for the full semester in the fall and/or spring semesters, who meet the minimum monthly stipend established by the Office of the Provost, and are in good academic standing are required to have health insurance coverage.