PhDStipend · 798 programs

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OfferCalc adjusts stipends for cost of living. Free to use.

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798programs
100universities
$real stipend data
798programs tracked 100universities

Sample preview of the stipend database.

●The database

Inside the PhD stipend by university database: 798 real records

Every record carries 19 data fields. This is the live dataset OfferCalc runs on. Sample records below, straight from the database.

Sample records from the live PhD stipend by university database.
University NameCityStateProgram Name
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMAPhD in Computer Science
Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochesterNYElectrical and Computer Engineering
North Carolina State UniversityRaleighNCElectrical Engineering
University of OklahomaNormanOKPhD in Computer Science
University of California, San DiegoSan DiegoCAComputer Science

OfferCalc queries these 798 records every time you search, so your results reflect real data, not estimates.

•FAQ

Frequently asked questions

PhD stipends, funding and benefits: straight answers.

Can you live on a PhD stipend in an expensive city?
It depends on the stipend-to-rent ratio, not the stipend alone. Many students in Boston, New York or the Bay Area make it work with roommates; others find the math punishing. Our cost-of-living-adjusted figures show what each stipend is actually worth city by city. Compare the adjusted numbers before you fall in love with a location. Comparing PhD stipend by university on adjusted numbers is the only comparison that matters.
Do PhD stipends cover tuition and fees?
In most funded US programs, tuition is waived or covered alongside the stipend, but fees sometimes are not. We track tuition and fee coverage per program because a “full” offer that bills you $3,000 a year in fees is not the same as one that does not. Always check the fine print behind the headline number.
PhD stipend after taxes: take-home pay
Stipends are taxable income in the US, so take-home runs roughly 10 to 15% below the headline for most students, varying by state. Our per-program pages note whether published figures are pre- or post-tax where programs disclose it. Budget on the after-tax number, not the offer letter’s.
Universities with 5-year guaranteed PhD funding
Many top programs guarantee five years through TA or RA positions, but policies differ by department, not just university. We flag guaranteed funding years for each of the 798 programs so you can filter for five-year guarantees. A guarantee in writing beats a verbal promise every time.
Highest PhD stipend relative to cost of living
A $46,000 stipend in an expensive coastal city can be worth less than $36,000 in a low-cost college town once rent, taxes and fees are counted. Benefits like health insurance and summer funding shift the math further. Our adjusted comparisons rank the PhD programs that pay the most in real terms, not just on paper.

●The offer

What you get with OfferCalc, the PhD stipend comparator app

OfferCalc compares your PhD offers side by side, adjusted for cost of living. Enter stipend, city, and funding years for each offer: see which one actually leaves you with more money after rent and expenses.

Exactly what is included

  • ✓ Side-by-side offer comparison
  • ✓ Cost-of-living adjustment per city
  • ✓ Funding duration and guarantee comparison
  • ✓ Net-after-expenses ranking
  • ✓ Stipend database by university and program
  • ✓ Free to use: this feeds the detailed offer-report service

Free (service funnel)

Who it is for: Admitted PhD students choosing between offers who want the real financial picture, not just the headline stipend. Your search for "PhD stipend by university" ends here.

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