Research/Teaching Assistants (RA/TA)
Departments: Please visit Tuition Remission for instructions on entering waivers.
Graduate Assistants, as defined in Graduate Student Appointment Information, may be eligible for tuition remission and a fee waiver, depending on the percentage of your appointment. See the information below for details.
All students on graduate appointments of at least 15% who work a minimum of 12 weeks in a semester receive tuition coverage as part of their compensation package. The amount of tuition coverage is calculated based on the percent time of the appointment.
Tuition Remission Table
| Hours employed per week | Tuition remission | Appointment |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3 credit hours | 15% |
| 8 | 4 credit hours | 20% |
| 10 | 5 credit hours | 25% |
| 12 | 6 credit hours | 30% |
| 14 | 7 credit hours | 35% |
| 16 | 8 credit hours | 40% |
| 18–20 | 9–18 credit hours | 45–50% |
All students employed as Graduate Assistants, Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants, or Graduate Part-Time Instructors, who work at least 12 weeks during a semester at 20% time or greater also receive a waiver for fees listed below. Waivers will be applied to the student account within 24 hours after your department has entered your appointment. Check your account on the Tuition & Fees card in Buff Portal. Click Balance Summary, then View/Pay Bill and View Account Details. Then scroll down to the Credits and Payments section.
2024–25 Fees Waived Per Semester
| Description | One class of 5 or fewer credit hours | More than 1 class | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arts & Cultural Enrichment Fee | $10.00 | $10.00 | |
| Career Services Fee | $14.00 | $14.00 | This fee is charged in fall and spring only; does not apply to Law JD and students in grad status D |
| Graduate Professional Student Government (GPSG) Fee | $15.57 | $15.57 | |
| Mental Health Resource Fee | $107.40 | $107.40 | Exception: Students in grad status D will be charged this fee only if they select a student health insurance plan (SHIP). Grad status D students who waive the SHIP are not charged this fee. |
| Recreation Center Expansion Fee | $85.27 | $106.96 | Students in grad status D would not be charged this fee. |
| Student Activity Fee | $48.01 | $312.80 | |
| Student Computing Fee | $67.24 | $67.24 | |
| Student Health Center Fee | $97.07 | $97.09 | Exception: Students in grad status D would be charged $97.09 for this fee only if they select a student health insurance plan (SHIP). Grad status D students who waive the SHIP would not be charged for this fee. |
| Transit Pass Fee | $101.18 | $101.16 | |
| Total Amount WAIVED Per Semester | $545.76 | $832.24 |
Also waived: A&S Tech (ASSET) Fee $1.32 per credit hour (applies to all classes in the College of Arts and Sciences, regardless of a student’s major or program of study)
Fees NOT Waived Per Semester (if applicable)
| Description | Fee Amount | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Law Student SRVCS/Activity Fee | $190 | Applies to law JD students only |
| Immigration Compliance Fee | $40 | Applies to international students only |
| New Student Fee | $62–$145 | This is nonrefundable one-time fee is $62 for new domestic graduate students and transfers and $145 for new international graduate students and transfers |
| Total Amount of Fees NOT WAIVED Per Semester | $292–$375 |
2025–26 Fees Waived Per Semester
2025–26 Mandatory Student Fee Changes: The following changes to fees will be in effect starting in Fall 2025; student services will remain the same:
- The A&S Tech (ASSET) Fee will be eliminated for all students starting in Fall 2025.
- The following fees will be converted to tuition starting in Fall 2025 and will no longer be assessed individually (student services will remain the same): Arts & Cultural Enrichment Fee, Career Services Fee, Mental Health Resource Fee, Student Computing Fee, Student Health Fee and the Transit Pass Fee.
| Description | One class of 5 or fewer credit hours | More than 1 class | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Professional Student Government (GPSG) Fee | $15.57 | $15.57 | |
| Recreation Center Expansion Fee | $85.27 | $106.96 | Students in grad status D would not be charged this fee. |
| Student Activity Fee | $48.01 | $322.80 | |
| Total Amount WAIVED Per Semester | $148.85 | $445.33 |
Fees NOT Waived Per Semester (if applicable)
| Description | Fee Amount | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Law Student SRVCS/Activity Fee | $190 | Applies to law JD students only |
| Immigration Compliance Fee | $40 | Applies to international students only |
| New Student Fee | $62–$145 | This is nonrefundable one-time fee is $62 for new domestic graduate students and transfers and $145 for new international graduate students and transfers |
| Total Amount of Fees NOT WAIVED Per Semester | $292–$375 |
All CU Boulder undergraduate and graduate students have access to a full range of on-campus health and wellness services in addition to a variety of virtual offerings. Visit Health & Wellness Services for more information.
Health Insurance
In addition to the tuition remission, you receive $2,420 per semester ($4,840 per academic year) towards the cost of the Anthem Gold Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for fall and spring. There is no health insurance benefit for summer appointments but if you have the SHIP coverage for the spring, you are covered through the following summer. Please check with your department if you have questions.
2024–25 Tentative Student Health Plan Costs for RA/TA
| Health Plan | Cost Per Semester | Benefit | Your Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthem Gold Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) | $2,420 | $2,203 | $217 |
| BuffCare Supplemental Coverage | $275 | $0 | $275 |
2025–26 Tentative Student Health Plan Costs for RA/TA
| Health Plan | Cost Per Semester | Benefit | Your Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthem Gold Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) | $2,442* | $2,222* | $220* |
| BuffCare Supplemental Coverage | $275 | $0 | $275 |
*Tentative until approved
Graduate students enrolled in one credit hour or more are charged automatically for the Anthem Gold Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). If you choose to waive the health plan, you will need to provide proof of your health insurance coverage (policy number, group number, effective date of plan coverage, etc.). BuffCare Supplemental Coverage is available to help cover out-of-pocket expenses for students with private health insurance coverage. See Student Health Insurance Requirements for more information. Students with less than 20 percent appointment or who waive the SHIP are not eligible to receive the insurance benefit.
Dental Insurance
Dental insurance is provided at no cost to the student. Visit Graduate Student Dental Insurance for more information.
Fall: Oct. 5
Graduate assistants who qualify for tuition remission and the fee waiver can pay the bill by the second due date of the fall semester (Oct. 5) without incurring late and finance charges or registration holds.
If Spring is Your First Term, Pay By Mar. 5
If spring is your first term, graduate assistants can pay the bill by the second due date (March 5) without incurring late and finance charges. If you are a graduate student on appointment and you feel you were not given this opportunity, please contact the Bursar’s Office at bursar@colorado.edu. You are responsible for paying your portion of the bill by the due date, even if your department has not entered the RA/TA tuition waiver. Late and finance charges will be assessed if payments are not received on time. See Paying Late for more information.
We offer payment plans each semester and in summer. Visit Payment Plans for more information.
Retroactive changes to any prior semester record can result in additional charges to your account. The Bursar’s Office is unable to bill a department for a retroactive change of record, even if you had an RA/TA appointment for that term. If a department wishes to pay for any additional tuition added to your account, they need to contact Jason Swope (jason.swope@colorado.edu) in the Provost’s Office at 303-492-0107, who will then notify the Bursar’s Office. Please check with the Bursar’s Office (bursar@colorado.edu) if you have any questions regarding the financial consequences of retroactively adding, dropping or expunging credit hours.