Graduate Assistant Compensation
The university regularly reviews and compares graduate assistant compensation to other institutions within the Southeastern Conference. This analysis is completed on a regular basis as part of the University of Arkansas’ strategic priority to support student success . Graduate Assistant compensation was last reviewed in 2024. See below for more information and frequently asked questions on how the university analyzes graduate assistant compensation.
The Graduate School compares minimum graduate assistant base pay with other universities in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Graduate assistant base pay was adjusted in 2024 and 2025. The Graduate School will continue to review base pay versus SEC peers annually.
As a result of the benchmarking analysis in 2024, the minimum graduate assistant base pay rate increased approximately 10% on July 1, 2024 (August 12, 2024, for 9-month GAs), and another 10% on July 1, 2025 (August 11, 2025, for 9-month GAs). These numbers represented the minimum base pay required by the Graduate School. Individual colleges, departments and units may have had a base pay above this minimum requirement. See the chart below for more information on adjustments that were made in 2024 and 2025.
| Level | Current Minimum | New Minimum 7/1/24* | New Minimum 7/1/25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters 9-Month | 11,936 | 13,131 | 14,445 |
| Masters 12-Month | 15,914 | 17,508 | 19,260 |
| PhD/MFA 9-Month | 14,322 | 15,750 | 17,325 |
| PhD/MFA 12-Month | 19,096 | 21,000 | 23,100 |
| *Increase applied in October and calculated back to 7/1 for 12-month and 8/12 for 9-month |
|---|
Graduate assistant pay was last adjusted in 2024 and 2025. The Graduate School will continue to review base pay versus SEC peers annually. Below is a chart of the minimum base pay increases that were implemented in 2024 and 2025.
| Level | Current Minimum | New Minimum 7/1/24* | New Minimum 7/1/25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters 9-Month | 11,936 | 13,131 | 14,445 |
| Masters 12-Month | 15,914 | 17,508 | 19,260 |
| PhD/MFA 9-Month | 14,322 | 15,750 | 17,325 |
| PhD/MFA 12-Month | 19,096 | 21,000 | 23,100 |
| *Increase applied in October 2024 and calculated back to 7/1 for 12-month and 8/12 for 9-month |
|---|
The fiscal year for the university is from July 1 to June 30. Pay increases are implemented effective on July 1 or the first day of the appointment period for 9-month GAs.
If you have any questions, please contact your immediate supervisor, your graduate coordinator, department chair/head, or the Graduate School Dean’s Office.