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John Chambers College of
Business and Economics
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Graduate Assistantships, Tuition and Financial Planning

Graduate Assistantships

The Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant will serve under the supervision of a faculty member in the Department of Accounting. In general, the following duties are to be carried out throughout the semester of appointment, including times when classes are not in session, but not including days when the University is closed.

  • Coverage of office hours for faculty members.
  • Assistance in teaching duties as required by faculty members.
  • Research duties including assistance with literature reviews and other research duties delegated by the faculty member.
  • Coverage of the Business Resource Learning Center.
  • General administrative duties including but not limited to copying, filing, etc.
  • Other duties to be named at a future time.

Students who are awarded a graduate assistantship will receive the following:

  • Tuition waiver for fall and/or spring semesters
  • Health insurance waiver
  • Approximately a $13,500 stipend/20 hours per week of work over a nine to twelve-month period

Please submit the following to  begradprograms@mail.wvu.edu if you wish to be considered for the graduate assistantships:

  • Statement of Purpose regarding why you want the GA position and how it will align with your career goals.
  • Completed  GA Recommendation Rubric by a faculty member or current supervisor.

Tuition and fees

Tuition and fees for the program are calculated on a per semester basis when taking nine or more credits and are based upon the current  WVU Fee Schedule: Graduate and Professional. 

The WVU Financial Aid Office will work with you to access federal student loans to assist with the costs of your master’s degree education. You can contact the WVU Financial Aid Office at 304-293-1988 or  https://financialaid.wvu.edu/.

For additional resources to help fund your graduate education, please review the following:

  1. Federal Direct Student Loans
  • Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible graduate and professional students, but the student does not have to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the loan.
  • Must submit the  Free Application for Federal Student Aid each year.
  • Must be degree seeking (graduate certificate programs are not eligible as they are non-degree).
  • Maximum annual amount $20,500 (unsubsidized only) or cost of education.
  • Must be enrolled at least half-time (a minimum of 4 credit hours in fall/spring and 3 credit hours in summer) during the term for which the loan is processed.
  1. Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans
  • Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to eligible graduate and professional degree students who need to borrow more than the maximum unsubsidized loan amounts to meet their education costs.
  • Credit based loan (a credit check will be done).
  • Must submit the  Free Application for Federal Student Aid each year.
  • Must be degree seeking (graduate certificate programs are not eligible as they are non-degree).
  • Maximum annual amount is the cost of attendance minus any other financial assistance received
  • (including Federal Direct Student Loan).
  • Must be enrolled at least half-time (a minimum of 4 credit hours in fall/spring and 3 credit hours in summer) during the term for which the loan is processed
  1. Private Loans
  • Private student loans are nonfederal loans, made by a lender such as a bank, credit union, state agency, etc.
  • Credit based loan (a credit check will be done).
  • Must submit application materials directly to the private lender.
  • Eligibility, interest rates and repayment provisions will vary by lender.
  • You have the right to select the private lender of your choice.
  • Access the  list of lenders used by WVU students (No specific endorsements of these lenders are intended by WVU, the Financial Aid Office or the Chambers College).

Important Information about the Financial Aid Process

To allow sufficient time for processing, submit the FAFSA at least 8 weeks prior to the term in which you want financial aid. For students who have selected to begin the MAcc program during the spring or summer semesters, please make sure to fill out the current and upcoming academic year FAFSA forms.

In order to have aid processed in a timely manner, you must accept any aid offered to you that you wish to use. Information about your financial aid is available through the MIX/STAR system—Mountaineer Information Xpress (MIX) and Student and Technology Achieving Results (STAR). The WVU Financial Aid Office uses your MIX email to communicate with you. If you do not have your MIX email formally set up, then please contact the WVU Financial Aid Office directly, 304-293-1988 or  https://financialaid.wvu.edu/, to inquire about your financial aid.

You must be pursuing a master’s degree. Financial aid is not available to non-degree students or students in graduate certificate programs.

Students who use federal loans will have to complete a promissory note and review loan counseling information if there is no record of previous borrowing through federal programs.

Financial aid may be adjusted if you alter your enrollment during the fall/spring/summer terms or if you do not earn at least one passing grade in a term. Previously awarded aid may be adjusted if you obtain additional funding that was not originally part of your financial aid package. Adjustments to financial aid can result in the need to return funds to WVU.

You must maintain a certain level of academic progress in order to retain potential eligibility for aid, also known as satisfactory academic progress. Students must successfully complete 67% of all attempted credits and maintain at least a 2.75 cumulative grade point average. For more details review the entire policy on  satisfactory academic progress for graduate students.