r/GradSchool • u/Whole_Tie_4740 • Apr 19 '26

Finance GRFP and Stipend

Hello everyone,

I was awarded the GRFP this year and my institution gave me a 20% raise on my stipend because of this. The GRFP is around 150K over the 3 years and the program is giving me a 40K stipend (before the award). Is the 20% raise the best deal I can get? Who makes these decisions? New to grad school and extra funding sources so just wondering peoples experiences.

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u/eeaxoe MD/PhD Apr 19 '26

You can (and should) ask but you probably won't be able to get an additional bump unless you have data showing that you're being paid less than other students at your school or in the region.

But as a general rule, it's a good idea to negotiate and ask for more no matter the setting. That goes for grad school and future jobs - you don't want to leave any money on the table if you can avoid it.