Ibrahim Gardner
Auburn University offers tuition waivers and tax benefits to graduate students who meet certain criteria. Graduate students may be eligible for tuition waivers if they hold specific assistantships, are from out-of-state, or are pursuing a second master's degree. Additionally, graduate assistants are considered non-exempt employees and are generally paid for hours worked, with taxes withheld from their income. The university also provides tax forms, such as Form 1042-S and Form W-2, to individuals employed at the university. In this article, we will explore the tax implications for graduate students at Auburn University and provide information on the tuition waivers, fellowships, and other financial considerations for graduate programs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Graduate students' tuition and student services fee waiver | Offered if they are on a one-third time or greater appointment and are paid according to the approved salary structure as a Graduate Research or Teaching Assistant |
| Tuition waivers for graduate assistants not engaged in teaching, research, or extension | Subject to taxation and income tax withholding |
| Non-Alabama resident graduate assistants | May receive a waiver of the out-of-state portion of their tuition if they are on at least a 25% graduate assistantship |
| Tuition Fellowship Program | Pays for a second master's degree only if the two degrees are part of a joint degree program recognized in the University Curriculum |
| Graduate Tuition Fellowships | Pay the resident tuition and enrollment fee |
| Non-resident graduate students | Appointed on qualifying assistantships of at least 1/4-time will be classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes, and the out-of-state portion of tuition will be waived |
| Students initially classified as ineligible for resident tuition | Will retain that classification until they provide clear and convincing evidence that they have established a permanent domicile in Alabama |
| Tax forms | 1042-S and W-2 |
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What You'll Learn
Graduate students' tuition and student services fees
Graduate students at Auburn University are required to pay tuition and student services fees. However, there are certain cases where these fees may be waived. For instance, graduate students who are employed as Graduate Research or Teaching Assistants for at least one-third of the time and are paid according to the approved salary structure may have their tuition and student services fees waived. In such cases, they are still required to pay the GRA/GTA/GA student services fee each semester. Additionally, non-Alabama resident graduate assistants with at least a 25% graduate assistantship (33% for appointments beginning in Fall 2013) and receiving a minimum monthly stipend may be eligible for a waiver of the out-of-state portion of their tuition.
The tuition and student services fees at Auburn University contribute to various expenses, including instruction, physical training and development, laboratory materials and supplies, maintenance and expansion of facilities, library resources, and student activities. The student activities portion of the fee supports Intercollegiate Athletics, Student Center Operations, Campus Recreation, and Student Activity Projects, such as the Auburn Student Media Group, Black Student Union, and International Student Organization.
The cost of tuition and fees at Auburn University varies depending on the student's degree program and credit hours. On average, graduate students are expected to enrol for nine credit hours per semester. It's important to note that student payments alone do not cover the full cost of providing educational programs, and supplemental tuition or student fees may be required to maintain the high-quality learning environment that Auburn University strives for.
In terms of refunds, Auburn University allows full refunds only when a student withdraws before the first class day. Exceptions to this policy may be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School for military or critical medical reasons. For specific information about refunds and withdrawals, students can refer to the Auburn University Bulletin or the website provided.
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Graduate assistantships and fellowships
Graduate assistants can be international students or non-Alabama residents. International graduate students on F1 visas cannot hold more than a 50% work appointment, while those on F2 visas cannot hold any work appointment. Non-Alabama resident graduate assistants may receive a waiver of the out-of-state portion of their tuition if they are on at least a 25% graduate assistantship (33% for appointments beginning in Fall 2013) and are paid a minimum monthly stipend. These assistants are also eligible to have their out-of-state tuition waived for the summer semester if they have been on assistantship for consecutive fall and spring semesters.
Graduate assistants are non-exempt employees and are generally paid for hours worked, including during official university holidays and breaks. To be eligible for a graduate assistantship, students must be registered for at least one course per term, meet the minimum course load, and demonstrate satisfactory progress toward their degree. Graduate assistants may hold multiple assistantships, but the cumulative appointment should not exceed 0.50 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE), or 20 hours per week.
Graduate Tuition Fellowships are also available for graduate students on assistantship, provided they meet certain criteria. Additionally, international graduate teaching assistants must provide evidence of satisfactory speaking skills and proficiency in English. As of January 1, 2014, all new graduate student employees, including graduate assistants, are required to undergo a background check as a condition for appointment at Auburn University.
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Graduate tuition fellowships
Auburn University provides Graduate Tuition Fellowships to graduate assistants who meet or exceed specific requirements. These fellowships are administered through the Graduate School. There is no application process for this program.
The Graduate Tuition Fellowship System (GTUFS) provides Auburn University graduate students with a record of their Graduate Assistantship and Tuition Fellowship Program (tuition waiver). The GTUFS shows students the number of hours taken toward their degree for the current semester, the number of hours allowed under the tuition waiver, and the number of tuition hours remaining to be covered by the waiver.
Students must be enrolled for at least 1 hour each semester they receive the tuition fellowship. No student will receive more than 12 semesters of support while remaining a master's student, and no doctoral student will receive more than 24 semesters of support (inclusive of master's study supported at Auburn).
The Tuition Fellowship Program will pay for a second master's degree only if the two degrees are part of a joint degree program recognized in the University Curriculum. Master's students with ongoing qualifying assistantships who maintain good academic standing will be supported by tuition fellowship until the number of university-paid hours exceeds the minimum program plus 10 hours. Doctoral students will be supported by tuition fellowships until the number of university-paid hours exceeds the minimum doctoral program plus 20 hours (minus any hours already taken in another graduate program at Auburn University).
Graduate assistants who have received a 0.33 FTE or higher assistantship for two semesters of a given academic year and are not on assistantship for the third semester will receive tuition support during that semester. When the support available to students through the tuition fellowship program is exhausted, they will continue to receive a waiver for the non-resident portion of tuition as long as they maintain their assistantship.
Non-Alabama resident graduate assistants may receive a waiver of the out-of-state portion of their tuition if they are on at least a 25% graduate assistantship (new appointments beginning in Fall 2013 must be at 33%paid a minimum monthly stipend set each year by the provost. Such graduate assistants who have been on assistantship for consecutive fall and spring semesters are eligible to have the out-of-state portion of their tuition waived for the summer semester whether or not they are on assistantship that semester.
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Alabama and non-Alabama students
At Auburn University, graduate students' tuition and student services fees are waived if they are appointed to a one-third-time or greater assistantship and are paid according to the approved salary structure as a Graduate Research or Teaching Assistant. Their appointment date must be effective as of the eighth class day of the fall and spring semester or the fifth class day of the summer semester. However, professional and program fees are not waived.
Graduate students receiving financial aid are exempt from FICA if they are enrolled in at least 3 credit hours of classes each quarter for which the exemption is claimed. There are no limits on the number of hours worked. Graduate students can also benefit from the lifetime learning tax credit. After June 30, 1998, anyone paying tuition became eligible for a tax credit. Students could take a tax credit of up to $1,000 on 1998 tax returns for tuition payments made in 1998. The tax credit is 20% of up to $5,000 in 1998 and 1999, increasing to 20% of up to $10,000 in 2000. Additionally, interest paid on student loans is tax-deductible for up to five years of interest payments. However, the more money a student earns, the less interest they can deduct, and itemized deductions are required to take advantage of this benefit.
Assistantships are considered compensation for work performed, and any portion of a fellowship exceeding tuition, fees, and required books and equipment is subject to federal income tax. Taxes will be deducted from any portion of a fellowship that includes a teaching assistantship, as this is considered compensation.
In terms of residency status, students initially classified as non-residents for tuition purposes will retain that classification until they provide clear and convincing evidence that they have established a permanent domicile in Alabama. Non-resident students with a typical academic load (7 hours or more per term for graduate students) will be presumed to be in Alabama primarily for educational purposes and have not demonstrated the intent to establish a true domicile in Alabama. To be reclassified as a resident, a student must show a 12-month history in Alabama as a full-time employee, defined as 35 hours per week, demonstrate financial self-sufficiency without parental support, and not attend school full-time during that 12-month period. Evidence of local banking activity in Alabama for 12 consecutive months prior to the application for residency change is also considered.
Non-resident undergraduate students awarded academic, athletic, or other scholarships funded by external sources, and non-resident graduate students appointed on qualifying assistantships of at least one-quarter time, will be classified as non-residents for tuition purposes, with the out-of-state portion of tuition waived, leaving them responsible for resident tuition. Additionally, non-resident students selected for programs in the Southern Regional Education Board Academic Common Market will be classified as non-residents if they change to a non-included program, their course load drops below 12 hours per term, or they fail to maintain a 3.00 GPA.
The Office of the Registrar at Auburn University determines whether a student is classified as an Alabama or non-Alabama student, and the Residency Committee or Chancellor may review this decision upon written request. Students seeking a review or appeal must submit a residency review packet.
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Tax forms
Graduate students at Auburn University may have their tuition and student services fees waived if they are on a one-third-time or greater appointment and are paid according to the approved salary structure as a Graduate Research or Teaching Assistant. Non-Alabama resident graduate assistants may also receive a waiver of the out-of-state portion of their tuition if they are on at least a 25% graduate assistantship.
Graduate assistants are non-exempt employees and are generally paid for hours worked. Tuition waivers for graduate assistants not engaged in teaching, research, or extension are subject to taxation and income tax withholding.
For those employed at Auburn University, the 1042-S tax form and Form W-2 are typically mailed or uploaded simultaneously. Form 1042-S may also be received by those who had federal taxes withheld on a non-qualified scholarship, travel grant, and/or a prize or award. The 1098-T tax form is available via AU Access by the end of January each year. This form includes information on qualified tuition and related expenses, which are those billed for enrollment or attendance at an eligible educational institution. Non-qualified expenses, such as housing and meal plans, are not included.
For tax year 2018, the IRS mandated that all institutions of higher education report payments received (Box 1) rather than qualified charges billed (Box 2). If an individual did not submit an SSN/TIN upon admission, they will be requested to provide this information before the end of the year. These individuals should complete IRS Form W-9S and submit it to the Student Business & Account Services department at Auburn University.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, graduate assistants at Auburn University who are not engaged in teaching, research, or extension are subject to taxation and income tax withholding. Graduate assistants are non-exempt employees and are generally paid for hours worked.
Individuals employed at Auburn University typically receive the 1042-S tax form and Form W-2.
Non-resident graduate students appointed on qualifying assistantships of at least 1/4-time will be classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes, and the out-of-state portion of tuition will be waived. However, this may vary depending on the appointment date and other factors.
International graduate students on specific visa types may have work appointment restrictions. They may also be required to demonstrate English proficiency and meet other eligibility criteria, which can impact their tax status.
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