Managing your NSF Graduate Research Fellowship stipend
Last updated June 23, 2026
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship pays you a $37,000 annual stipend; a separate $16,000 cost-of-education allowance goes to your institution, not to you, so you do not track it. Track your stipend across living expenses, research and professional costs, and a tax set-aside. The stipend is taxable with no automatic withholding, so plan for taxes.
What the GRFP provides
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship provides a $37,000 stipend per year directly to the fellow, plus a $16,000 cost-of-education allowance paid to your institution in lieu of tuition and fees. It funds three years of support over a five-year period, about $159,000 in total, with no indirect costs.
The cost-of-education allowance is handled by your school, so the money you actually manage and track is the stipend.
Track the part you control
Use the stipend for your living expenses while you study. Many fellows also fund research and professional costs such as conference travel, supplies, and memberships, sometimes alongside other support they solicit separately.
Because the stipend is paid without tax withholding, set money aside for taxes through the year so nothing catches you out.
Buckets to track
A simple structure is living expenses, research and professional, and taxes and savings. Log each expense as you go and watch your stipend balance across the year.
Common questions
How much is the NSF GRFP stipend?
$37,000 per year, with a separate $16,000 cost-of-education allowance paid to your institution.
Is the NSF GRFP stipend taxable?
The stipend is generally taxable income with no automatic withholding, so set money aside for taxes.
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