Which university gives more funding?

[Churchill]

Hi all!
Does anyone know which Top 20 universities offer the most funding, both in terms of number of fellowships/TAs/RAs and in terms of money?
Thanks.

[Bored]

I don't know about number of fellowships, but I think Stanford has some of the most generous.

I know someone with a two year fellowship that pays 37K in the first year and something slightly higher in the second (standard RA/TA deal after the second year).

[Churchill]

Thanks! According to NYU, they provide "full financial aid for every entering Ph.D. student"

[commodore]

Yale is giving 36K to the new students next year. In terms of purchasing power, that has to be the highest stipend of any school. Prices are significantly lower here than at Stanford.

[avkuvalekar]

On a side not, not just about the univs in the US but LSE, Warwick too, how frequent is it that an entering PhD student doesn't have any source of funding (no fellow, RA , TA) and would have to bear living expenses on his own?

[Bored]

One of the schools provided, in an admissions packet or just on their website, a break down of what they were providing in support and what an equivalent package would be in other locations (that is, accounting for purchasing power).

Does anyone else remember seeing this? I can't seem to find it, and I thought it would be pertinent for this discussion.

[Ipsofacto]

In real values, the amount Stanford gives out only come to par with other programs in relatively cheaper areas. 22K in Chicago may provide you a life as good as 35K at Stanford.
Provide that, I think Yale's funding is probably the most generous in the market.

[signal08]

Originally Posted by commodore

Yale is giving 36K to the new students next year. In terms of purchasing power, that has to be the highest stipend of any school. Prices are significantly lower here than at Stanford.

is the 36k fully a stipend? (or does it also include fees, tuition, etc)?

[manet]

Originally Posted by signal08

is the 36k fully a stipend? (or does it also include fees, tuition, etc)?

The package is tuition waiver + health care coverage + stipend, where stipend = 36k for first 4 years and 25k for 5th year.

Stanford is more vague: 32k or 37k for first year, and unstated amount for the remaining years.

[Bored]

Originally Posted by Ipsofacto

In real values, the amount Stanford gives out only come to par with other programs in relatively cheaper areas. 22K in Chicago may provide you a life as good as 35K at Stanford.
Provide that, I think Yale's funding is probably the most generous in the market.

I imagine people overestimate the effect of cost of living adjustment. Grad students are likely to consume a very different set of goods than the average consumer. Differences that really drive cost of living adjustments like housing costs and utilities are often offset by subsidized housing given by Universities in places like New York City. Transportation is also less likely to be a significant cost for a grad student as are entertainment related costs like fine meals and baseball games.

Nevertheless, I would agree the Yale is almost certainly the most generous school once you factor in cost of living