Entering graduate students are eligible for research and teaching assistantships as well as fellowships. Research assistantships are usually half-time appointments for the academic year, requiring 20 hours of work per week.

The monthly pay for this academic year (1998-99) is $1460 per month (there are yearly cost-of-living increases). Employment for two summer months at the same rate is usually available. An assistantship includes a waiver of tuition and service fees, except for the hospital-medical fee, which is approximately $1,000 per year. Additional support is also available from fellowships.