Membership
A New Approach to LSA Dues: Making Membership More Equitable
FEASIBILITY STUDY RESPONSES
“I feel seen and represented here – as someone in a small liberal arts teaching college.”“I fully support this. It would increase my dues, but more importantly, it will reduce those of colleagues who do not have the job stability I have as a tenured professor.”
“Making it possible for more people to become members is in line with our mission.”
Income-based Dues
The LSA Executive Committee has decided to pilot an income-based membership dues structure for Fiscal Year 2027 (October 1, 2026-September 30, 2027). This shift is designed to be a bridge to membership for Linguists, ensuring equitability across the range of socioeconomic conditions, institutional affiliations, and career development phases represented by LSA members.Their decision was based on the results of a feasibility study in which we heard from 533 linguists through interviews and surveys. Ninety percent of interview respondents supported the shift, and survey results indicated that under an income-based dues structure, current members would be significantly more likely to renew, and lapsed members significantly more likely to rejoin.
One survey respondent explained their views this way:
The income-based dues structure seems to me to be an equitable approach. I also think it better reflects the realities of our professional lives... There is a lot of contingency and uncertainty in our professional lives, so I think that having more nuance and flexibility in the dues structure will be more accommodating to that uncertainty, as well as hopefully encouraging broader participation and a more supportive sense of inclusion.
Under this model, dues are tied to income rather than a flat rate for everyone. While some feasibility study respondents suggested using tiers based on rank or title, that approach does not account for the disparities in salary levels within rank across institution types and geographic areas. Income based dues addresses the disparities directly. If your income is below $100,000, regardless of rank, your dues will be lower than in previous years, making full participation in the LSA more affordable. If your income is $100,000 or over, your dues will go up, making it possible for the LSA to offer membership at a lower price to less financially secure linguists while sustaining the programs, publications, and advocacy that benefit the whole field.
How it works
Starting October 1, 2026, when you join or renew, you will see a table showing dues levels tied to income ranges.You are welcome to base your starting point in considering the income categories on either your individual income or your family income -- whichever feels like the right measure for your situation. From there, feel free to adjust up or down: we recognize that income alone doesn't always reflect what you can afford. You might be supporting extended family members, or facing significant childcare costs, including costs tied to a child with special needs. We trust you to weigh these circumstances and choose the income level and dues level that fits best for you.
All responses to the income/dues question are confidential (for more information, see the LSA Privacy Policy).
Note that during the pilot, existing lifetime memberships will continue to be honored, but there will be a pause on the sale of new Lifetime Memberships. This pause will allow us to conduct a thorough evaluation of the costs and benefits of Lifetime Membership for individuals and the organization, and consider possible improvements for the future.
We believe the new income-based dues structure reflects our shared commitment to a linguistics community that is open to everyone, regardless of financial circumstance. It also reflects our commitment to assuring the long-term viability of the Linguistic Society of America so together, we can continue to advance scholarly excellence in the discipline, support future generations of linguists, and advocate for the use of linguistic insights and findings for the common good.
We invite any questions or concerns about the decision, the transition, or how we will evaluate the success of this pilot year. We also welcome positive responses to the change! If you want to reach out, please contact us at lsa@lsadc.org.
Want to learn more about the feasibility study?
Get started here
Never before been a member of LSA?
Are you a current member or former member?
Click the link below to log into your member portal; then click "Renew Membership." Note: if your membership expired more than about two years in the past, your old record may no longer be available. In that case, you'll need to join as a new member.
Have questions about LSA membership?
What are the membership categories and dues?
Student membership:
Available to anyone who is currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student.
Departments can purchase student membership in bulk.
Learn more and purchase bulk student memberships.
Departments can purchase student membership in bulk.
Learn more and purchase bulk student memberships.
Regular membership:
Available to working linguists in academic, government, nonprofit, corporate, and other settings.
If you have recently received your PhD, LSA offers one year of free membership. Claim your benefit using the Dues waiver application.
If you have recently received your PhD, LSA offers one year of free membership. Claim your benefit using the Dues waiver application.
Associate/Retired membership:
Available to retired linguists as well as non-linguists who would like to support LSA and its work.
Indigenous Scholars of the Americas: Complimentary
Individuals who have a deep and personal connection to an Indigenous community of the Americas or the historically United States-affiliated Pacific and who are engaged in scholarship focused on the language(s) of that community are eligible for complimentary membership.
Dues waiver application.
Dues waiver application.
K-12 Teachers and Students: Complimentary
We welcome currently enrolled K-12 students who are interested in linguistics as LSA members and to attend the LSA Annual Meeting (with a chaperone). K-12 students do not receive the LSA election ballot.What are the benefits of membership?
By becoming a member, you can help strengthen the scientific study of language and contribute to advocacy based on the empirical findings of linguistics.
You can also:
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