Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships

A graduate assistantship is a part-time employment opportunity offered to graduate students, involving roles in teaching, research, or administrative tasks, along with financial benefits like tuition waivers and stipends. At NJCU, graduate assistantships are most frequently administrative work experiences and skill sets that help fulfill administrative ÃÛÌÒtv needs are highly valued.

Graduate Assistantships allow full-time, degree-seeking students the opportunity to receive a total of $4,000 or $2,000 stipend (depending on the type of assistantship received) and a waiver of tuition to complete their degree in a timely manner while gaining work experiences at the University. Tuition is waived at the current tuition rate only and the student is responsible for any difference.  

Prospective students may apply for consideration prior to taking their first graduate class at NJCU, however, only a student that is matriculated and enrolled full-time in a graduate program will be selected as a graduate assistant. Graduate assistants are required to work at the university in an allocated unit(s) or department(s) for twenty or ten hours per week (depending on the type of assistantship received), September 1st to June 30. The Graduate Assistantship waiver and stipend may result in a reduction of individual student loan eligibility and/or increased tax liability.

Eligibility 

  • Graduate students must be matriculated and enrolled in a degree program.
  • The student must be enrolled full-time regardless of full or partial funding.
  • Current graduate students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. (If incoming to NJCU, final GPA from last institution will be used for consideration.)
  • The student must submit a complete and relevant application package.

If you are a new full-time graduate student or a full-time graduate student with a GPA equal to or higher than 3.00, you may submit your application to NJCU Graduate Assistantships.

Graduate Assistantships are only valid for the academic year awarded and can be approved for a maximum of 2 years per student. However, Graduate Assistantships are not renewed automatically for the next academic year, and there is no guarantee to be selected again. All Graduate Assistantship positions are contingent upon the available funding. 

Decisions on selected assistantships are expected to be made by mid-April 2025. Revisions to this timeline will be communicated on the website.

Please note the following important points:

Full Graduate Assistantships

  • Full Graduate Assistantships are for a maximum of 2 years per student.
  • Cover tuition for 18–21 credits per academic year, based on program requirements (waived at the current tuition rate).
  • Graduate assistants receive a stipend of $4000 over an academic year ($2000 per semester).
  • Once the student is accepted into the program, the student is expected to work at the university for 20 hours per week, September 1 to June 30.
  • Full Graduate Assistants may enroll in more than 9 credits per semester. The assistantship covers up to 10 credits per semester for three semesters, with partial coverage for one additional semester, depending on the program.

Partial Graduate Assistantships 

A graduate student may be awarded a partial assistantship.

  • Partial Graduate Assistantships are for a maximum of 2 years per student.
  • Cover tuition for 10 credits per academic year (waived at the current tuition rate).
  • Partial Graduate assistants receive a stipend of $2000 over the academic year ($1000 per semester).
  • Once the student is accepted into the program, the student is expected to work at the university for 10 hours per week, September 1st to June 30.
  • Partial Graduate Assistants may enroll in more than 9 credits per semester; however, the assistantship covers no more than 4.5–5 credits per semester, depending on the program.

All full or partial graduate assistantships are closed for the 2026 academic year. Updates to the timeline for the next cycle of applications will be communicated on the website.

Submit ONE online form application which includes the application form with your uploaded CV/resume.

  1. Combine all required documents into one pdf file, and upload them into the application.
  2. For the college that you are/will be matriculated, please use the following abbreviations:  
    - For School of Business: SOB 
    - For College of Arts and Sciences: CAS
    - For College of Education: COE
    - For College of Professional Studies: CPS
  3. If you have any further questions, send your questions to graduateassistantships@njcu.edu 

Please note:  

  • Paper-based applications will not be accepted.
  • Incomplete applications will not be processed (i.e. missing resume, information)
  • In case of withdrawal from a course, received stipends must be reimbursed retroactively and proportionally. In case of failure of a course, relevant semester’s stipend ($2,000 or $1,000) must be reimbursed, and GA will be terminated for the upcoming semester.
  • Full Graduate Assistants are allowed to take more than 9 credits per semester; however, the assistantship will not cover more than 9 credits per semester.
  • Partial Graduate Assistants are allowed to take more than 9 credits per semester; however, the assistantship will not cover more than 4.5 credits per semester.
  • Students may specify an office or department that would be of particular interest for employment, but this is neither required nor guaranteed.
  • A student may be assigned to an office or department unrelated to their area of study.
  • GA allocations are assigned by the Office of Graduate Studies; however, GA will be selected by the department/unit.
  • All information is subject to change without notice. 

 For Units/Departments:

Requests for full or partial graduate assistantships are closed for the 2026 academic year.

In so much as these are work-based positions, it is important that you consider both the skills and behavioral characteristics, as well as supervision ÃÛÌÒtv you will require to decide about a possible offer to a graduate student.

The Graduate Assistantship Program is a competitive process. There are far more applications from qualified individuals and jobs that need to be done than the university can adequately fund at this time. Not every request will be honored. All requests and student applications will be reviewed by a committee of three people from divergent offices and backgrounds across campus. The committee will sort and group applications with the most appropriate requests where it is possible to do so. Requesters will have the opportunity to interview top applicants for their respective roles before offers are presented. The target deadline for decisions is mid-April.

Students admitted to graduate programs are eligible to apply for Graduate Assistantships (GAs). An assistantship covers 50%–100% of tuition and provides a stipend for on-campus work.

Incoming International Students (First Year)

  • First-time international graduate students applying from overseas are not eligible for assistantships in their first year. This is because GA awards are made after the deadline to issue an I-20 and schedule a U.S. visa appointment.
  • First-time international graduate students may become eligible to apply for an assistantship in a subsequent academic year once enrolled at NJCU.
  • Graduate students who are transferring to NJCU are eligible to apply for an assistantship if they have been accepted at NJCU and already have their I-20 and visa.

Current International Students (Subsequent Years)

International students who are already enrolled at NJCU may apply for assistantships, provided they meet the following requirements:

  1. Full-Time Enrollment
    • Must maintain 9 or more credits per semester to remain eligible for both the GA appointment and visa status.
  2. Visa and Work Authorization
    • Only students on F-1 or J-1 visas are eligible.
    • Employment is restricted to on-campus work per U.S. immigration regulations.
  3. Work Hour Limits
    • May work up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters (this includes all on-campus work).
    • Up to 40 hours per week may be permitted during official university breaks (summer/winter), if reappointed or employed on campus.
  4. Social Security Number (SSN)
    • A valid SSN is required to begin employment. The Office of International Programs will assist with the application process.
  5. Taxes and Payroll
    • GA stipends are subject to U.S. federal and state taxes. Some students may qualify for tax treaty benefits. F and J students are generally not required to pay Social Security or Medicare taxes; consult the Payroll Office for details.
  6. Orientation and Compliance
    • Must attend a mandatory orientation with the Office of International Programs before beginning GA duties.
    • Ongoing compliance with NJCU policies and U.S. immigration regulations is required.