The comparisons below illustrate the financial and enrollment comparisons between a temporary employee working a 40-hour week, and a graduate student appointed as a 90% RA or TA over the Summer Quarter.
These comparisons are for Summer Quarter 2004, and reflect the minimum salary, cost of Cardinal Care insurance and fringe benefit rates as of that quarter. These comparisons are provided as ILLUSTRATIONS ONLY. Individual student circumstances will vary.
Financial
Comparisons |
40-hour per week
employment |
90% assistantship |
| Salary |
$10,990 * |
$9890 ** |
| FICA deduction |
$840 *** |
None |
| Fringe Benefits |
$1000 (9.1%) |
$346 (3.5%) |
| Tuition allowance |
None |
$1860 **** |
| Cardinal Care subsidy |
None |
$216
(half the premium) |
Total cost to department
(salary plus benefits and tuition) |
$11,990 |
$12,086 |
Student net pay
(minus FICA and insurance) |
$9718 |
$9674 |
| * |
Estimated as double the current minimum for a 50% appointment, i.e. $5495 X 2. |
| ** |
90% of the estimated 40-hour salary |
| *** |
The Federal tax code exempts some nonresident aliens from FICA. Eligible international students will not have FICA withheld from their pay. Wages for such students are however subject to the fringe benefit rate for "contingent employees." |
| **** |
The value of three units of standard graduate tuition. In Engineering, the tuition allowance is $1980. For Research Assistants, the University subsidizes a portion of the tuition, i.e., grants and contracts pay 65% of RA tuition allowance (81% in the School of Medicine).
|
The other significant comparison is between enrolled and non-enrolled student status. Some factors to consider include:
Enrollment
Comparisons |
Not enrolled |
Enrolled |
| On-campus housing |
Will remain eligible for on-campus housing
over the Summer Quarter
|
Cardinal Care and
dependent insurance |
Eligible if enrolled in Cardinal Care in the Spring, but must make special arrangements with Vaden
(no subsidy) |
Regular eligibility, including subsidy. |
In addition, enrollment status is an important consideration for international students. In general, international students do not have to enroll over Summer quarter if the student has been fully enrolled for three prior, consecutive quarters and will be fully enrolled the following fall.
If you have any questions in this regard, please contact Ann George (3-9721, anngeo@stanford) or the Student Services Officer in your School.
BACK to May 2004 announcement of policy change regarding Summer Assistantships.