Graduate Student Support Plan for Administrators
GSSP Minimum Stipend Increase for Fall 2024
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:
- Effective Fall 2024, 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. The GSSP benefits and eligibility criteria related to full-time enrollment and on-campus programs remains unchanged.
The following table provides a breakdown of the GSSP minimum annual stipend and equivalents paid out based on the duration of appointment 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 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).
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.