Graduate Student Support Plan
The Graduate Student Support Plan (GSSP) is a competitive package used to attract top students at NC State University. Graduate students who meet the GSSP eligibility criteria receive Graduate Student Health Insurance and standard tuition support (for a limited number of semesters) for Fall and Spring semesters.
Take a sneak peek into the Graduate Student Support Plan (PDF)
GSSP Benefits
Graduate Students who meet the eligibility criteria will receive the following benefits at no cost to the student:
- Graduate Student Health Insurance
- Standard Tuition for Fall and Spring semesters for a defined number of semesters; Premium Tuition and Student Fees are not covered by GSSP
Students can check their GSSP status and if GSSP benefits are applied to their account in MyPack portal after initial billing for the semester. See instructions on how to check your GSSP status here.
GSSP Eligibility
Graduate Students must meet the following three eligibility requirements in order to receive GSSP Benefits – health insurance and standard tuition support (for a limited number of semesters):
Supported On Qualifying Graduate Assistantship or Primary Fellowship:
| ASSISTANTSHIP/ FELLOWSHIP TYPE | DEGREE | MINIMUM STIPEND | APPT. DURATION (TO RECEIVE BENEFITS) | APPT. DURATION (To Receive Full Tuition Benefits) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching Assistantship Research Assistantship Teaching/Research Assistantship Extension Assistantship | Master’s Doctoral | Annual – $15,000 Annual – $20,000 | – Appt. must begin on or before the Census Date* – Appt. must extend beyond 30 days from first day of Classes | – Appt. must last until November 30 (for Fall) and April 30 (for Spring) in order to receive full tuition benefit. – If appt. is terminated prior to those dates, the tuition support will be prorated according to that early GA appt. end date |
| Primary Fellowship | Master’s Doctoral | Annual – $15,000 Semester – $5,625 Annual – $20,000 Semester – $7,500 | – Fellowship must begin on or before the Census Date* – Expected to last the duration of the semester -Not applicable to fellowships external to the university | |
Enrolled Full Time:
Typically Graduate Students must be enrolled for a minimum of 9 credit hours during a semester to be considered a full-time student. However, once the student has completed the required minimum credits for the degree program, students can register for fewer hours to be considered full-time. Refer to Graduate Student Handbook Section 3.14 B for requirements for Full Time Registration. The following table provides additional details regarding minimum credit hours for full-time status:
| Degree | Minimum Required Credits for Degree | Minimum Hours Completed | Required Hours per semester for Full-Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis Master’s | 30 hours | No | 9 hours |
| Thesis Master’s | 30 hours | Yes | 3 – 8 hours |
| Non-Thesis Master’s | 30 hours | 9 hours | |
| Thesis Doctoral | 72 hours | No | 9 hours |
| Thesis Doctoral | 72 hours | Yes | 3 – 8 hours |
Enrolled in On-Campus Master’s or Doctoral Program:
Graduate Students must be enrolled in an on-campus Master’s or Doctoral program only. Distance Education and Graduate Certificate Programs do not qualify for the GSSP Benefits. Students should refer to their Admissions letter or the MyPack Portal to confirm if their degree program is designated as “Distance Education”.
Health Insurance Waiver
QUICK LINKS and OTher Contacts
GSSP Contacts
For additional details, please email us at: gradschool-gssp@ncsu.edu (departments can use this to contact the Graduate School for any GSSP information).