Programs
A Master's Degree at A-State: Cost, Scholarships, Assistantships
If you are trying to figure out how much a master's degree in the US really costs, this article gives you concrete numbers from Arkansas State University (A-State) — and, more importantly, explains how many international students significantly cut that cost through a Graduate Assistantship (GA). This is a piece of the puzzle that often gets overlooked early in the research process, yet it can make or break a study-abroad budget.
Graduate tuition and realistic yearly costs
International graduate tuition at A-State is $777 per credit hour, plus a college fee of roughly $27–55 per credit depending on your program. For a typical graduate schedule around 9 credits per semester — common for students balancing a 20-hour-per-week assistantship — the estimated annual cost (tuition, fees, housing and dining around $12,220, and mandatory health insurance around $1,100) comes to about $28,976. This is an illustrative estimate based on that credit load, not a fixed number for every program or semester.
| Item | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Tuition (9 credits/semester) | $777/credit |
| Housing + dining | ≈ $12,220/year |
| Health insurance (mandatory) | ≈ $1,100/year (about $570–650/semester) |
| One-time costs: application, deposit, health screening, housing deposit | $50 + $350 + $280 + $100 |
International payments are typically made through Flywire or Convera. Tuition, fees, and living costs can change year to year, so confirm current figures using the cost-of-attendance calculator or by asking the Vietnam Office directly.
Graduate admission requirements
- Minimum GPA: 2.75
- TOEFL: 79, or IELTS: 6.0, or Duolingo: 120
These are the university-wide minimums. Individual departments may require additional materials — a writing sample, letters of recommendation, or a specific standardized test — and these requirements vary by program, so confirm directly with your target department before you apply.
Graduate Assistantships (GA): the biggest cost-reduction tool
This is the part worth paying closest attention to if you are weighing the true cost of a US master's degree. A-State awards 250-plus Graduate Assistantships each year. GA students work about 20 hours per week for a department or office — teaching assistance, research support, or administrative help — and in exchange receive a waiver of out-of-state tuition, which is the portion international students normally pay above the in-state rate.
The stipend attached to a GA and exactly how much tuition gets waived (full or partial, and whether fees are included) vary by department. There is no single figure that applies to every program, so always confirm the specifics with the department or the Graduate School before building your budget around it.
A key timing detail: the "11th class day"
Many GA positions are finalized around each semester's "11th class day" — the point at which departments typically lock in their assistantship lists based on budget and workload needs. In practice, that means applying early and reaching out to the department well before that date gives you a real edge, rather than waiting until move-in week to ask.
How to reach out to a department or professor
GA positions don't always run through one centralized application — many are decided directly by a professor or department chair. A few practical steps:
- Find your target department's website and look at the faculty list and their research areas.
- Send a short, specific email introducing yourself, attaching your CV, naming the research area or assistantship role you're interested in, and asking whether any GA positions are currently open.
- Reach out roughly 2–3 months before the semester starts — earlier than the general application deadline — since departments plan staffing well in advance.
- If you don't hear back within 1–2 weeks, a polite follow-up is completely normal.
- Be ready to answer whether 20 hours per week fits alongside your course load.
This outreach does not replace the formal graduate admission application, which you still need to complete in parallel. See the graduate admissions page for details.
Deadlines to keep in mind
As of this article's publication (October 16, 2026), the open cycles are: Spring 2027 — deadline November 1, 2026 and Summer 2027 — deadline March 2, 2027. The Fall 2027 deadline has not been published as of this writing; check the deadlines page for the current date. Since GAs are typically decided around each semester's 11th class day, applying early and contacting the department as soon as you receive an admission decision helps you avoid missing the window.
Talk to International Admissions for specifics
Costs, assistantship terms, and deadlines can shift from year to year and department to department, so don't rely on a single article to plan your finances. Reach the A-State Vietnam Office at study@astate.edu.vn or hotline 097 586 1994, or leave your details on the contact page. The team can confirm the latest figures and connect you with the right department.
