AMERICA'S BEST GRADUATE SCHOOL STIPENDS *2007 EDITION*
SALARIES FOR PhD CANDIDATES IN THE BIOLOGICAL & BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

Cornell Medical College
(New York, NY)

Molecular and Cellular Biology

Ever since I first applied to graduate school way back in the 1900s, Cornell Medical College has consistently offered the highest stipend: currently a staggering $29,858/year. Tied for second place are Harvard's rival programs, Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) and Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), at $28,008. Though BBS boasts more research opportunies with roughly 200 labs to choose from, MCB has the edge with their amazing supplemental funds for laptops ($1500, one-time) and sundry supplies ($800 per year). Since I'm enrolled in the BBS program, and get no such compensation, I'm a little miffed.

Further down my list is Rockefeller University. Rockefeller is rumored to have a bottomless pit of money, which is evidenced by that bizarre, gated compound in New York's Upper East Side, and the fact that the university pays your stipend and fees (rather than the principal investigator of your thesis lab, which is the case for most other schools). When I applied, Rockefeller had the second highest stipend after Cornell Medical College. They also had the best recruitment weekend (an important factor for propective students, or "prospies") - they took me to a Broadway show, plied me with food and drink, and even offered to fly me out for a second trip. Now, Rockefeller's stipend, $26,750, is a disappointing 6th; however, if you factor in Rockefeller's subsidized housing in the Upper East Side and generous research stipend ($3000, as of 2005-2006), Rockefeller might be in first place, where it rightfully belongs. If you can't tell, I occasionally wish I had chosen Rockefeller.

The current stipend at University of Washington ($24,000) might seem really low; after all, I made that amount at Harvard four years ago. However, a cursory glance through the real estate listings on Craigslist revealed that Seattle has a really low cost of living compared to Boston. You can get a one-bedroom apartment for $700, and a two-bedroom for $1000. That's unbelievable - an century-old, asbestos-filled studio covered with 7 layers of lead paint will run you $1500/month in Boston. Plus, graduate students have to pay taxes on their stipends (which amounts to an arm and a leg in Taxachusetts), but Washington has NO STATE INCOME TAX. I think I want to move to Seattle.

Many schools offer additional funding for books, supplies, and travel to scientific conferences, although I couldn't find these details for each school. Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri is notable for offering a $300 moving fee for incoming students. Even more impressive, Wash U offers short-term, interest free loans of up to $300, which you have 60 days to pay back. That would have been helpful the time when Harvard was two weeks late with my stipend payment. That was rough, since I'm practically one paycheck away from homelessness.

New to the list this year is Johns Hopkins University, thanks to an alert reader from Johns Hopkins. Debuting at #11 on my list, the $25,200 stipend isn't very impressive. However, Johns Hopkins has an amazing medical school (second only to Harvard, according to U.S. News & World Report) and the cost of living in Baltimore is extremely low: according to this cost-of-living calculator, $25,200 in Baltimore would equal $33,218 in Boston - which is even higher than the highest known stipend. With all that extra cash, you could even buy a bullet-proof vest for the walk home from lab!

When I was doing the grad school interview circuit, I didn't consider Yale University because a) my mom wouldn't let me live in New Haven and b) according to the other prospies, the best part of the recruitment weekend was going to Barnes and Noble. However, I think you get the most bang for your buck at Yale: $27,000/year, only $1000 less than Harvard, a much lower cost of living, and *almost* the same Ivy League prestige. Furthermore, it's the alma mater of the illustrious George W. Bush, so who could ask for more?

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