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I am trying to decide between UCSC and CU Boulder. Neither school offered me funding in the first year. Both schools suggested I would be able to get it in years 2-5. CU Boulder said in their acceptance letter "After your first year in the program, if you maintain at least a 3.50 grade point average and make normal progress through the program, we guarantee you full funding in years two through five (in the form of a teaching or teaching assistantship that covers 9-18 tuition credits per semester plus a stipend)." UCSC said in their letter "After the first year of study, financial support (i.e. fellowships, teaching or research assistantships) is awarded based on academic achievement. Students making satisfactory progress are eligible to receive support from the Economics department. We have had a strong record of supporting continuing students through completion of their Ph.D. degree." When I emailed UCSC about this further they said "The TA salary for 2014-15 is $6244 per quarter, less taxes. The salary seems to increase each year." Any current PhD candidates at Boulder have an idea what the funding situation is like? I read in another thread that it is "very competitive" but could someone provide actual numbers? If no one responds here I will of course contact that department about it. In fact I'm likely to do this anyway, but I would love to get some input from current students if there are any out there.