College Work-Study

A student can earn money to help pay educational expenses and gain valuable work experience with work-study. While most positions are on-campus, opportunities may involve community service work, and when possible, work is related to a student's course of study. Positions range from tutoring young children to clerical positions to data entry.

Types of Work-Study

The Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) is a federally funded program that pays 75% of the student’s pay while the hiring department pays 25%. If the student is employed in an off-campus tutoring CWS job the federal government funds 100% of the student’s pay.

The State Work Study Program is a state-funded program that pays 75% of the students pay while the department pays 25%.

Eligibility

The Financial Aid Office must receive a student’s FAFSA results by the first-priority deadline, which is April 1 for that academic year. It's recommended the FAFSA be completed as soon as possible after January 1, but no later than March 1 in order to make the priority deadline. In order to qualify for work-study, the FAFSA must indicate sufficient financial need as determined by government guidelines.

Applying for Work-Study

To apply for work-study, a student marks "yes" to the question on the FAFSA that asks if the student is interested in student employment and completes the FAFSA.

Work-Study Pay and Maximum Number of Hours

Work-Study positions are hourly wage jobs in which a student works for an employer according to a mutually agreed-upon schedule and is paid by check on a bi-weekly basis for the hours worked. The maximum number of hours a student may work per week is 20.

Work-study awards are not automatically applied towards a student’s tuition bill, nor is the amount of the award guaranteed. An award simply authorizes a student to participate in the program and sets a limit as to the amount of income a student can earn during the academic year.

It is the responsibility of the student to work enough hours to reach the earnings limit and to budget the money wisely throughout the year to meet necessary college costs.

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