National Service Stipend & Living Allowance Calculator
Estimate your total National Service stipend and living allowance based on your program, education level, service duration, and number of dependents.
100 = national average. Use ~85 for rural/low-cost states, ~130–160 for CA/NY/HI.
Formulas Used
Adjusted Base Stipend = Program Base Stipend × Education Factor × (COLA Index ÷ 100)
Dependent Allowance = min(Dependents, 5) × $150/month
Housing Allowance = Program Housing Base × (COLA Index ÷ 100) [if housing not provided]
Total Monthly Compensation = Adjusted Base Stipend + Dependent Allowance + Housing Allowance
Total Service Compensation = Total Monthly Compensation × Duration (months)
Grand Total Value = Total Service Compensation + Education Award (if applicable)
Education Factors: HS/GED = 1.00 | Some College = 1.05 | Bachelor's = 1.10 | Graduate = 1.15
Assumptions & References
- AmeriCorps State & National base stipend: $15,000/year ($1,250/month) — Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) 2024 minimum living allowance.
- AmeriCorps NCCC base stipend: ~$400/month cash; room, board, and uniforms provided separately.
- AmeriCorps VISTA base stipend: ~$1,050/month (national poverty-level equivalent, 2024).
- Peace Corps living allowance: ~$375/month U.S. average across all countries of service.
- Senior Corps stipend: $2.65/hour × 20 hours/week × 4.33 weeks ≈ $229/month (Foster Grandparents/Senior Companions only).
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $7,395 (2024 full-time award, indexed to Pell Grant maximum).
- Dependent allowance of $150/month per dependent (up to 5) is based on AmeriCorps supplemental allowance guidelines.
- Housing allowance applies only when housing is not provided by the program; base rates are national averages.
- Cost-of-living index of 100 = U.S. national average. Source: Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) composite index.
- Education adjustment factors are illustrative program-level estimates; individual sponsors may vary.
- This calculator does not account for federal/state income tax treatment of stipends (AmeriCorps stipends are generally taxable; Peace Corps allowances may be partially exempt).
- References: AmeriCorps.gov, PeaceCorps.gov, CNCS Grant Terms & Conditions 2024, IRS Publication 525.