I couldn't agree with Lm more. I am a doctoral student. The stipend they give us is not even close to allowing us to make ends meat. South Florida is very expensive as compared to other areas students could go to school. If I could start all over I would have chosen a different school in a cheaper area. As much as I love FAU it is hard to stomach the amount of money I spend on housing. My wife graduated from the university of Kansas and her rent there was worlds cheaper. Fau better beef up the stipend or lose students to other schools. At the same point FAU 's stpipend is the same as almost every school I looked at. On another note, the education I recieved here is excellent.

imoe27 said

I couldn't agree with Lm more. I am a doctoral student. The stipend they give us is not even close to allowing us to make ends meat. South Florida is very expensive as compared to other areas students could go to school. If I could start all over I would have chosen a different school in a cheaper area. As much as I love FAU it is hard to stomach the amount of money I spend on housing. My wife graduated from the university of Kansas and her rent there was worlds cheaper. Fau better beef up the stipend or lose students to other schools. At the same point FAU 's stpipend is the same as almost every school I looked at. On another note, the education I recieved here is excellent.

I'm also a Doctoral Candidate (post-qualifier) in the College of Engineering. Unfortunately, either the additional fellowships offered (about 10-15 per year are awarded) or loans are necessary to finish a PhD at FAU full-time. I've been at the highest pay level for over three years, but it has not changed a penny. The problem with comparing pay at FAU to other schools is that we are required to pay about $450 a semester in A&S fees (in-state) and that FAU does not subsidize any health insurance for graduate employees working at the maximum. UF, where I got my MS, paid much better, offers health benefits to all graduate employees, has much lower student fees, and is much cheaper to live in. Of course, there is a union for grad students at UF that was able to accomplish this.

FAU was the right place to go to research with experts in my field, but the regard the administration has for people with advanced degrees that choose FAU is deplorable. It will not change any time soon - fortunately I am graduating.