University raises stipend minimum again for PhD students

Dear Purdue graduate students,

We write to provide you an update on our continued efforts to support and invest in your education and efforts to drive our university forward. In the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars, not only do daily support functions continue, but new programs and additional resources are also deployed.

Beginning with Fall semester, on August 12, 2024, the new minimum stipend will increase to $28,000 for FY appointments.

As this universitywide minimum applies to both TAs and RAs, a university fund will be available for faculty whose current funded projects do not permit rebudgeting to apply for potential bridge funds.

This latest investment, when combined with the previously announced investment over the last two years, will have raised the minimum stipend by about 35%, bringing the university increase in graduate student support to $22 million.

Even with this new minimum, we expect around 80% of graduate students will receive stipends above that amount. We are also engaging with each college for a careful review to achieve competitive stipend levels for their respective disciplines.

The university will also be supporting a new Presidential Excellence PhD Award to assist with recruiting top students. These awards will be a $10,000 supplement on top of a base stipend over a period of four years. Recipients of the award are expected to maintain satisfactory academic and research progress as defined by their academic unit and research advisor and to participate in professional development and mentoring activities organized for award recipients. Each year 100 new awards will be offered. Colleges’ allocations will be proportional to their PhD student enrollment.

In total, the university now invests $229 million in graduate student stipends and fellowships. 

We are also pleased to announce the anticipated launch in January of a training module for graduate students on freedom of expression and free inquiry. More information, including frequently asked questions, will be posted to the Human Resources and Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars websites.

Again, we thank you for your contributions to excellence at scale at Purdue University.

Patrick Wolfe
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Diversity

Eric L. Barker
Jeannie and Jim Chaney Dean of Pharmacy and Professor
Associate Provost for Graduate Programs (acting)