Costs and Financial Assistance
IMPORTANT NOTE: To be considered for financial aid, you must submit your completed application by the third week of January. Otherwise please follow the application deadlines set forth by the Graduate School (see below.)
The Economics Graduate Program offers financial assistance to qualified doctoral students in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships and, rarely, fellowships. We do not offer funding to master's students. Awards are merit-based, determined by an applicant's academic history and predicted success in the program.
In most cases, students receiving an assistantship are also eligible for the Graduate Student Support Plan (GSSP). The Graduate Student Support Plan is a highly competitive support package used to attract top students to NC State. Under the Plan, students supported on a teaching or research assistantship or a fellowship of at least $666.67 per month and who meet the minimum registration requirement, receive (at no cost to the student and for a limited number of semesters) health insurance and payment of tuition.
Important Note to International Applicants
We do fund international students. In the case of non-native English speaking students, we give strong preference to those who have at least one year of academic experience at a North American university.
Graduate School Application Deadlines
Applications and all supporting documents must be received on or before the Graduate School Deadlines or the Program Deadlines, whichever is earlier. In the case of programs where deadlines for international applicants are not explicitly distinguished from domestic deadlines the Graduate School deadline for internationals takes precedence where it is earlier. The Graduate School Deadlines are shown below. Please be aware of specific program and Graduate School deadlines that may affect your choice of year and semester of entry. All applications submitted will be processed but late applicants are considered for admission only on a "space-available" or special exception basis. All application fees are totally non-refundable. Before applying for admission you must determine if you are within the appropriate applicable deadline in order to make your choice of year and semester of entry. Your application is considered as "received" upon receipt of your application fee. This date will be later than "submission" date for applicants choosing to pay their fee by means other than credit card.
| Fall | Spring | Summer I | Summer II | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Citizens | June 25 | November 25 | March 25 | May 10 |
| Internationals | March 1 | July 15 | December 15 | December 15 |
Assistantships
Teaching Assistantships consist of helping faculty in grading student assignments and examinations, leading discussion sections for economics principles classes or monitoring the program's computer lab. These assistantships carry a stipend of $10,000-$12,000 for the academic year.
Research Assistantships are also available in the areas of agricultural and resource economics. These assistantships require the student to work with faculty on designated research projects and offer stipends of $13,000-$14,000 for the fiscal year. Additional research assistantships supported by faculty grant moneys are available to advanced students as they begin dissertation research.
Lectureships
Students at the dissertation stage who are interested in pursuing a career in academia may qualify for lecturerships. These pay higher stipends and give students experience in teaching basic undergraduate courses. Students on lectureships are solely responsible for the course they are assigned to teach including choosing the text, and developing lectures, course materials, exams, etc.
Fellowships and Awards
A small number of fellowships are available to support students with research interests in specific areas; most often the fellowships are geared toward students with interests in agricultural and resource areas of economics. The most notable of these fellowships is the USDA National Needs Fellowship. There are also University funded, merit-based, fellowships available for exceptionally well-qualified first-year students. Again, these fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis.
Profile of Funded Doctoral Students Entering Fall 2004
- Number funded: 14
- Average GRE Scores: V 500, Q 737, AnWr 4.4
- Average GPA: 3.81
- Domestic: 6
- Female: 7
- Entering with Master's degree: 3
Student Fees
Students are required to pay their own student fees. View current rates at the university cashier's website.