Graduate Assistantship Program

Graduate assistantships offer degree-related experience and financial support for graduate students enrolled in the Higher Education Leadership and Administration (HELA) program.

  1. Offices & Departments
  2. Student and Campus Life
  3. Graduate Assistantship Program

About the Program

Eligibility

  • Admitted to a graduate program at Seattle University
  • Make satisfactory progress toward your degree during the assistantship
  • Take an average of 6 credits per term to complete your program in two or three years (per the recommendation duration of your degree program), but more or less can be taken depending on the student’s progress through the program
  • Apply for a graduate assistantship as per the instructions below

Terms of Employment

  • Most annual contracts run from mid to late-August to mid-June
  • Intention is for the student to remain in the position for two academic years. A student can remain in the position per the decision of the position supervisor if they are enrolled in a three-year program. 
  • Second and third year students may apply
  • Admission into a graduate program does not guarantee an assistantship

Graduate Assistant Timeline

Timeline Event
February 1 Deadline for HELA admissions and graduate assistantship applications
Late February Applicants receive notification of admission
February Graduate assistantship interviews start and continue until positions are filled
March and ongoing  Applicants receive the status of any position for which they applied. 
March 17 Synchronous Virtual Preview Day
Mid-May Contracts and new hire paperwork
Late August Mandatory orientation for graduate assistants

Please contact Eunice MacGill at macgille@seattleu.edu or (206) 296-6066 with questions regarding the graduate assistantship program.

Graduate Assistantship Application Process

  • Complete your Seattle University graduate admissions application by the priority deadline of January 5.
  • Check each of the position description below for contact information for the hiring manager of each GA position for which you wish to apply. Send the hiring manager of the position the following application documents:
    • A current resume.
    • A cover letter, which is separate from the letter of intent or any other SDA application materials, that responds to the following prompt: In relation to Seattle University's educational mission and values, (a) share your current work history and leadership experience, and (b) describe which specific departments and/or areas in student development you are most interested in learning about through an assistantship and why.
    • The names and contact information for three references. They can be the same as or different from those you included in your SDA admissions application. If possible, however, references should be able to speak to your professional experience and skills. 

GA supervisors will review your application materials. Hiring managers will contact each applicant they wish to interview to schedule an interview.  Interviews are 25-30 minutes each. Candidates are not guaranteed to be invited to interview for the position for which they applied.

As of January 1, 2026, Graduate Assistants will be compensated at a rate of $24.62 per hour and total earnings for the year may not exceed $17,726.40 before taxes (total earnings limits are adjusted for 12-month positions). Graduate Assistants work an average of 20 hours per week. GAs who work in Housing and Residence Life also receive a single on-campus apartment and meal plan. Graduate Assistants are paid semi-monthly on the 10th and 25th day of the month by direct deposit. Earnings can be used to fund tuition, books, fees, living expenses, or for other purposes at the student’s discretion. Additional details will be provided during the interview and hiring process.

Graduate Assistants do not receive tuition remission and are not eligible for the employee tuition benefits program.

Graduate Assistantships for 2026-2027*

Thank you for your interest in the Graduate Assistantship Program offered through Student and Campus Life. To be eligible for any graduate assistant positions, you must be a current or incoming graduate student at Seattle University who does not currently hold a graduate position for the 2026-27 academic year.

All available graduate assistant positions offered through Student and Campus Life for the 2026-27 academic year are listed below. Position descriptions are available by clicking on each position title. Please check back periodically to see if additional positions have been added and if any positions have been filled.

Graduate assistant positions offered through Student and Campus Life  will initially be made available to Higher Education Leadership & Administration (HELA) students between February 1 and March 1, 2026. As of March 2, 2026, graduate students in other graduate degree programs at SU can apply for any graduate position that has not been filled for which they meet the applications requirements.

Any graduate assistant positions that are still available as of March 2 will be posted on the Seattle U student employment website, Handshake, and any qualified graduate student who is a current or admitted student is welcome to apply. You can find information about Handshake on the Career Engagement Office Navigating Handshake page. Seattle University students log into Handshake with their Seattle U credentials and apply through the Handshake application process for any of the positions listed for which they meet the application requirements.

Incoming graduate students may not have access to Handshake until 90 days before the start of the term in which they will start their degree program. For these students, please email your application materials to the hiring manager listed in the position description. If you are applying for more than one graduate assistant position, please submit an application for each position and include the requested application material. One application will not be accepted for more than one position.

We are recruiting for the following graduate positions for the 2026-27 academic year:

Center for Student Involvement

Housing and Residence Life

MOSAIC

  • Graduate Program Assistant (4 positions available)

Orientation Programs

Student and Campus Life, Cornish College of the Arts

University Recreation

 

*Please check back periodically to see if additional positions have been added.