Graduate Student Support Plan for Administrators
GSSP Minimum Stipend
The Graduate Student Support Plan is a mission-critical program established in 1997 to attract top graduate students to NC State. The eligibility criteria have remained unchanged since the program’s inception. In FY 2023, the Graduate School and the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost conducted an assessment of the program and its eligibility requirements. Based on that review and to accommodate inflationary increases, stipend guidelines were updated. These important changes are detailed below:
- The minimum stipend for Graduate Student Support Plan (GSSP) increased to an annualized amount of $15,000 for Master’s students and $20,000 for Doctoral students to receive GSSP benefits. These minimum stipends are applicable to Graduate Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, combination Teaching and Research Assistant, and Extension Assistant appointments. Graduate Services Assistants continue to be ineligible for GSSP benefits and are not impacted by the change in minimum stipends. Minimum stipends for Primary Fellowships can be found here. TA, RA, TA/RA and Primary Fellowship appointments must begin on or before Census and last the duration of the semester for students to be eligible for the full tuition award.
The following table provides a breakdown of the GSSP minimum annual stipend and equivalents paid out based on the duration of assistantship by semester and academic year:
| GA Term | Start Date | End Date | # of Pay Periods | Master’s – GSSP Minimum Stipend | Doctoral – GSSP Minimum Stipend | |
| Annual | 8/16/2024 | 8/15/2025 | 26 | $15,000 | $20,000 | |
| Fall 2024 | 8/16/2024 | 12/31/2024 | 9.8 | $5,654* | $7,538* | |
| Spring 2025 | 1/1/2025 | 5/15/2025 | 9.7 | $5,596* | $7,462* | |
| Academic Year 2024 (9 Months) | 8/16/2024 | 5/15/2025 | 19.5 | $11,250* | $15,000* | |
| Biweekly | $769.00* | $577.00* |
The Graduate School has developed a GSSP Funding Structure tool to assist departments to readily determine the funding source for GSSP cost depending on where the GA or Fellowship stipend is funded.
*This the approximate rate that is actually paid based on the duration of the appointment; Stipend must be entered as annual stipend in the NextGen system.
Funding for GSSP Costs
The GA or Fellowship stipend funding source (project number/type of funds) determines “who pays” for GSSP benefits. The GSSP funding structure establishes the funding criteria for these costs. The Graduate School has developed a GSSP Funding Structure tool as general guidance to assist departments to readily determine who will pay for the GSSP benefits.
*Please note that, if a student’s stipend source is split (salary or stipend distributed across more than one funding source/project), so too will “who pays” for GSSP benefits. In other words, GSSP benefits are distributed according to the salary or stipend distribution.
Graduate Student Health Insurance (GSHI) Benefit Rates
The following table provides current year and recent RA-TA health insurance benefit rates:
| Academic Year | Monthly Rate | Fall Rate (5 months) | Spring Rate (7 months)* | Annualized Rate |
| 2024-2025 | $278.95 | $1,394.75 | $1,952.65 | $3,347.40 |
| 2023-2024 | $257.75 | $1,288.75 | $1,804.25 | $3,093.00 |
| 2022-2023 | $246.45 | $1,232.25 | $1,725.15 | $2,957.40 |
For previous years refer to RA-TA Health Insurance Benefit Rate History
Learn about Summer health insurance for new graduate students.
For semester GSSP-related insurance and tuition journal information, please contact the GSSP Office (gradschool-gssp@ncsu.edu).
Eligibility Changes Post-Census
Changes to student eligibility after Census may impact a student’s tuition benefits. Below are potential implications of loss of eligibility at Census:
| Issue | Impact |
|---|---|
| Enrollment falls below full-time (including term withdrawals) | Student will lose the full tuition award(s) for the term and the charge will be returned to student bill |
| Assistantship is terminated early | Tuition award will be prorated |
| Degree Change | Doctoral students changing to a master’s degree or students changing to or adding a distance education subplan may lose tuition award eligibility |
| Immigration Change – International to US Permanent Resident (USPR) | USPR’s are subject to the same residency guidelines as US citizens, so they are only eligible for Tuition Remission for the first two semesters of enrollment. |
Students will not be dropped from the RA-TA health insurance after qualifying for this benefit at Census.
GSSP Exception Requests
Departmental DGP’s can work in coordination with the student’s major advisor to submit exception requests with compelling justification for students who are deemed ineligible for GSSP benefits. Program Graduate Services Coordinators can also submit these requests for evaluation on the Director of Graduate Program’s behalf.
Guides & Instructions
Grad Support Roster Instructions
VIDEO: RA-TA Insurance from Blue Cross Blue Shield
VIDEO: BCBS Mental Health Resources for RA-TA Insurance Plan
Request to Waive Academic Load Policy (pdf) – Instructions for requesting a waiver of the academic course load policy on behalf of a graduate student.