Hey prospective grad students: as you head to interviews (congrats and good luck!) be sure to ask grad students in the program about $$! And seriously consider if the grad stipend is actually enough to live on. Some suggestions: 1/
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Ask grad students how much they make. If you’re not comfortable asking, that’s fine! Ask how much the typical student pays for rent, health care/insurance, and transportation. Do you need a car? If applicable, how much is child care? 2/

Compare the stipend to the federal poverty level. Keep in mind if you would make <200% FPL, you’re probably eligible for state benefits like food stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, and TANF. That’s how little your university is paying. https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/federal-poverty-level-fpl/ 3/

The FPL is a TERRIBLE measure and doesn’t actually capture to cost of living for most people in most places (it’s calculated by taking a 1960s estimated food budget, adjusting by inflation, and multiplying by 3). Instead, compare your stipend to the @EconomicPolicy Institute’s 4/

Family Budget Calculator, which estimates the income needed for a “modest but adequate” standard of living for a given family size and location. You may need to adjust the numbers based on what grad students told you, what your uni provides, & your debt 5/ https://www.epi.org/resources/budget/

In sum: think seriously about the financial side of choosing a grad program! Listen to what current students say. And most of all, good luck!!