Federal Work-Study
For most students and their families, paying for college is a huge part of college planning. Financial aid, loans, grants, and scholarships can be a complex topic, especially when thinking of the FAFSA and federal student aid. Within that conversation are federal work-study programs.
Students can benefit from the federal work-study program while in college by working part-time. But it can be difficult to figure out your federal work-study eligibility or how it fits into your financial planning.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about federal work-study programs, answering questions like:
- What is federal work-study?
- How does federal work-study work, and how does it fit into federal student aid?
- How do I determine my eligibility?
- How do I know how to apply for work-study?
- How does federal work-study work when you’re actually in college?
- How does work-study compare to loan-based federal student aid?
- How does work-study differ from other part-time jobs for students?
- Is federal work-study a good form of financial aid for me?
There’s a lot to learn and a lot to cover. If you’re ready to learn more about federal work-study, let’s get started with the work-study meaning.
What is Federal Work-Study?
Let’s start simple with the work-study definition. Work-study, as the name implies, is a form of aid that requires you to work while you study. What is federal work-study specifically? It’s a government-administered aid program allowing eligible students to earn money from part-time work while in school. It’s a way for students to cover part of their tuition by working.
Unlike grants and scholarships, federal work-study is, well, work-study, meaning you have to work to get those funds. If work-study shows up on your financial aid package, it means you’ll need to get a part-time job on campus. By the very nature of the work-study definition, you need to do some additional work.
Let’s nail down the work-study meaning with an example. It’s April, and you’re looking at your financial aid offers from a few different universities. One offer letter in your hand says you get $3,000 from a work-study program, plus other aid. Unlike other institutional or federal student aid, work-study aid isn’t disbursed upfront. So precisely how does federal work-study work as a part of paying for college?
How does Federal Work-Study work?
First and perhaps most importantly, like any federal student aid, work-study begins with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is key to federal work-study eligibility; a student can’t get the benefits without it. Universities use a student’s FAFSA information to determine a student’s federal work-study eligibility and how much they can receive. Note that there are other forms of financial aid, so an offer letter may have work-study alongside grants, scholarships, and loans.
To take advantage of a federal work-study offer, students must, of course, accept their financial aid and enrollment offers. Once on campus, to get federal work-study aid, students must then find and apply for eligible jobs. There are all sorts of jobs for students both on and off campus. We’ll discuss more about the “work” part of the work-study definition later.
It’s important to note that federal work-study eligibility doesn’t guarantee part-time jobs for students. Students eligible for work-study programs must still search for and apply for jobs. Once hired, work-study jobs are like any other part-time work: you’’re paid’ll earn an hourly wage for working shifts. You can earn money up to your designated federal work-study limit, which is on your financial aid documentation. This money isn’t automatically applied to tuition or class fees, so it’s up to you to decide how it’s used. Of course, if you stop working, you also stop getting funds from work-study.
One important note: hitting the limit of your work-study award doesn’t force you out of your job. A federal work-study award sets out how much the institution has determined you qualify for based on the FAFSA. It doesn’t put a hard limit on how much you can earn from part-time work.
Who is eligible for Federal Work-Study?
Before learning how to apply for work-study, you should know if you’re eligible. Federal work-study eligibility relies on information from the FAFSA, including the Student Aid Index (SAI), which quantifies financial need. Just like financial aid awards vary among colleges, federal work-study eligibility has no discrete SAI cutoff or required income. Each university has its own formula for determining upper limits on work-study earnings. What is federal work-study eligibility based on? Universities factor in figures like cost of attendance, other financial aid, and the university’s allotted work-study funding that year.
Students who qualify for Pell Grants are often eligible for federal work-study programs because of substantial financial need. That’s not to say that students must be Pell eligible in order to get work-study benefits. Nor does it mean students who qualify for the Pell are always eligible for federal work-study programs. However, this is a common trend at many institutions.
One reason for all of these caveats is that different institutions have their own policies surrounding work-study programs. Students may find one university offers a few thousand dollars in work-study benefits, while another gives none at all. Despite using the same FAFSA information, each school allots aid differently, which may or may not include work-study programs. When researching colleges, try to look for information about work-study programs and federal work-study opportunities on campus.
Once you’ve determined your federal work-study eligibility, you’re ready to learn how to apply for work-study.
How to Apply for Federal Work-Study
Learning how to apply for work-study starts long before you get into college. It may even start before you decide where you want to go. To get the ball rolling, you have to complete the FAFSA. Usually, students fill out federal student aid information during the application process; your guidance counselor may be able to help you.
Some colleges and universities require additional information for financial aid eligibility. For instance, the CSS Profile is a common requirement for non-federal institutional aid. Private institutions often use this information in order to give grants and scholarships from their own endowments or other sources. Pay close attention to financial aid applications and special requirements, as a missed form may cost you thousands of dollars.
When you get your financial aid package along with an enrollment offer, see if a work-study program is part of the deal. If it is, there may be additional steps to accept a work-study award like sending in an e-form. Searching for work-study jobs usually happens on campus; many institutions have resources to help students find work. Positions may require applications, resumes, and interviews before you get hired and start earning money.
When job-seeking, what is federal work-study compatible and how do students know? Campus job boards, student employment portals, financial aid offices, or individual departments all advertise job openings on campus. For example, UCLA has a Work Study Job Bulletin and the UCLA Handshake, as well as organizations like ASUCLA with openings. West Virginia University also uses Handshake as an online job portal for work-study opportunities. Wichita State University, meanwhile, has its own online job board for federal work-study jobs.
As mentioned before, federal work-study eligibility doesn’t guarantee a job. You may need to apply to several positions before getting hired.
What is Federal Work-Study like in college?
So you’ve found yourself a job and gotten hired. What is federal work-study like, actually? Well, work-study jobs are like many other part-time jobs for students. You have a supervisor, scheduled hours, a set hourly wage, and assigned tasks and responsibilities like many other employment situations.
One perk of federal work-study jobs is that they’re typically scheduled around classes. On-campus employers understand that coursework takes priority. A student may have a three-hour shift at the library circulation desk that fits neatly between two classes. Rather than having to restructure course schedules around shifts, work-study jobs are designed to be more convenient for students.
That’s not to say that work-study jobs aren’t a time commitment; students must still be diligent about their schedules. A work-study job may be up to 20 hours a week, spread out in gaps between classes. Some jobs may require evening, weekend, or early morning shifts, depending on the type of work you’re doing. Usually, weekly hours and shift times are in job listings; when in doubt, ask while applying. You may even be able to negotiate certain hours to better fit your schedule.
With all that said, it’s important to balance work-study with coursework. After all, half of the work-study definition is study — you’re at university for your education. On a more practical level, failing to keep up with class can negatively affect your grades. Poor grades can make you ineligible for certain forms of financial aid, including federal work-study. So make sure you’re prioritizing academics when putting your work-study plan together.
What types of Federal Work-Study jobs are available?
There are many types of federal work-study jobs available for students. You may already have an idea: library or office assistant, IT support, fitness center receptionist, tutor, or admissions assistant. These are all very common roles for students in federal work-study programs, and for good reason. There’s always a need for them, and they’re generally easy to slot into a student’s schedule.
There are a variety of off-campus work-study jobs, too. Non-profit organizations, schools, government agencies, and community service groups all hire students on work-study programs. External entities that can offer work-study jobs are vetted — not just any employer can support federal work-study students. This is another reason why it’s helpful to look for jobs on university job boards: they clearly delineate work-study jobs.
For students looking to get work experience within their major or intended career path, there are usually work-study opportunities available. Academic departments often hire undergraduates as research and laboratory assistants; individual labs may even have their own hiring priorities. Again, asking around can be a big help in finding jobs, as can information like posters and mailing lists.
Not every university has the same offerings, which is why it’s crucial to look at work-study opportunities available to you. Rather than assume that your university has the same jobs as another college, get up-to-date, relevant information. Look at your campus job board or department’s mailing list for job openings. If you’re not seeing something you’re looking for, don’t be afraid to ask someone who might have a lead. Be proactive in seeking out jobs and information.
How much does Federal Work-Study pay?
There is no national standard pay rate for federal work-study jobs. Again, they’re like other jobs, meaning they pay based on job requirements, skill level, location, and more. They must pay at least the applicable federal, state, or local minimum wage. Beyond that, however, the pay rate is mostly up to the employer.
Remember how work-study awards have an upper limit? That limit — the award amount — is related to the hourly wage. Let’s say you’re eligible for $3,000 per academic year through your work-study award. You get to campus and find a job in the theatre’s costume department that pays $15 per hour. To get the full amount of your work-study award, you’d need to work 200 hours. Depending on how many hours you work in a week, you may hit that $3,000 limit sooner or later in the year.
Some colleges have pay tables for student jobs and federal work-study jobs. Job listings, especially for students, usually include their hourly rate; they may also have expectations listed for weekly hours. If any information is unclear, reach out to the employer or supervisor for more information about pay scales.
Again, work-study earnings aren’t given up front, instead being paid by direct deposit or check based on hours worked. You can choose what to do with that money. You might pay tuition directly, buy books or other class materials, or repay student loans while in school. Like any other job, the money is yours to use as you see fit.
One very important thing to note is that federal work-study earnings count as taxable income. Students filling out tax returns in the spring may need to report their earnings. Supervisors will send out relevant tax forms throughout the year, so keep track of those.
Is Federal Work-Study worth it?
There are a number of benefits to doing federal work-study. You get to earn money for your education without taking on debt, while also gaining job experience. If you’re working within your department, there’s the added bonus of acquiring experience in your field. Because work-study jobs are designed with students in mind, you can also work knowing you won’t have to rearrange your class schedule.
Additionally, federal work-study earnings generally don’t impact how much federal student aid a student qualifies for the following year. This makes it a safe option for students keeping a close eye on their federal student aid eligibility.
There are potential drawbacks, though. Jobs aren’t guaranteed, and they may be limited in the number of students they can hire. There’s also the possibility that you can’t find a work-study job that fits you well. Another downside is that federal work-study awards have a cap to how much you can officially earn through the program. The most glaring trouble area is work-life balance — perhaps a better term is work-study balance. At the heart of it, what is federal work-study? It’s a part-time job, which you have to navigate alongside coursework. It may take some effort to juggle everything.
Ultimately, everyone gets something a little different out of federal work-study. The value you get out of it depends on the job(s) you have. While the wage and hours translate into monetary value, don’t underestimate the additional value of convenience and overall fit. A job that fits well into your schedule and feels useful to your larger goals may be more sustainable.
Federal Work-Study vs. Student Loans
Compared to student loans, what is federal work-study bringing to the table? First of all, let’s look at the basics. Work-study money is earned by working as a student, while loans are borrowed and must be repaid. Not only do loans need to be repaid, but they also charge interest on top of the original loan amount.
They are also distributed on different schedules. As mentioned before, federal work-study is like a job; as such, students are typically paid biweekly. That means funds come in gradually throughout the semester. Student loans, in contrast, are disbursed all at once. This can be helpful for covering large bills at the beginning of a term.
Consider a student with a $3,000 federal work-study award and another with a $3,000 federal student loan. The first student works 15 hours per week for $15/hour, earning their $3,000 in just under a semester. The second student gets half of their loan disbursed at the beginning of the fall semester. In the spring, the first student continues working — though not officially earning money through work-study anymore, they get the same pay. The second student gets the remaining half of their loan.
The difference? The loan has to be repaid at some point. Some students do work-study and take out loans, putting some work-study money toward loan repayments. Certain federal loans don’t accumulate any interest while the student is in school, making this a wise choice. Regardless, there’s a tradeoff between working now and paying later.
One final note is that work-study can’t easily be substituted one-to-one with loans when planning how to pay for college. The work-study money isn’t a fixed amount, only a maximum, so the true amount earned varies.
Federal Work-Study vs. Part-Time Jobs
Federal work-study is very similar to other part-time jobs for students. The main difference on paper is that work-study connects to a student’s financial aid package. However, there are several other differences between working in labs on campus and waiting tables at a local restaurant.
First and perhaps most obvious, work-study jobs are usually more convenient for students. They’re on campus and typically scheduled around classes, making them easy to fit into a student’s schedule. The tradeoff is that off-campus part-time jobs have more variety and the potential for more hours — and, therefore, more pay.
Another upshot of federal work-study is that earnings can’t negatively impact future financial aid. Since the FAFSA accounts for your income, big earnings from a regular part-time job could reduce your calculated financial need. For students hoping for a generous federal student aid offer, ordinary employment income may actually be detrimental.
Speaking of earnings, regular part-time income doesn’t have a limit the way federal work-study income does. The only real limit on part-time work is the number of hours you can legally work. Compare that to federal work-study, which is offered with the explicit understanding that it’s limited. The amount on your award letter is the upper limit of what you can earn through the program. How does federal work-study work if you go over the limit? As mentioned before, it’s possible to work on campus even after hitting that limit. You just won’t officially be earning money under the work-study program anymore.
Should you accept Federal Work-Study on your financial aid offer?
There are a few things students should consider when deciding whether or not to accept federal work-study. The first question is simply, do you want or plan to work while in college? Not everyone does. If you do, how much do you need to earn? And with your anticipated schedule, how many hours can you reasonably manage? How does federal work-study work for you? You may need to try to find out.
If your college has a publicly accessible work-study jobs board, poke around to see what’s available. Take note of their pay, hours, locations, and potential value to your academic and professional goals. Compare them to regular part-time jobs in the area that interest you. If you know any current students or even alumni, ask them if they have experience working part-time during college. They may have insights you can’t find online.
When making the decision, remember that federal work-study isn’t like a grant; it isn’t an automatic discount on the cost of attendance. You still have to find and secure a job when you get on campus. To get your award, you have to work throughout the semester. But if you see options that meet your needs, it might be just the thing for you.
What is Federal Work-Study? Final Takeaways
The federal work-study program is a great way for students to earn money toward paying for college. It’s relatively easy to learn how to apply for work-study, and most universities have many resources to help students find employment. Unlike loans which have to be paid back, work-study is your own hard-earned cash.
You’ll need to apply for federal work-study.
As a federal program, work-study requires students to fill out a FAFSA to determine eligibility. However, accepting a work-study award offer isn’t like cashing a check. Students must find a job on campus, secure employment, and work throughout the academic year. Federal work-study offers an upper limit on what students can earn through the program. However, on-campus employment can continue even after hitting that limit, so student workers can rest easy.
Federal work-study is no small commitment.
You could potentially work up to 20 hours a week around coursework and other activities. At the same time, it can provide valuable employment experience, major-related experiences, and even professional development. For students who can manage it, work-study can be a great opportunity.
Paying for college is different for everyone.
Some students do work-study, some do regular part-time jobs, others take on loans. Many do a combination of the three, if not all of them.
It can feel daunting to plan your college finances, but CollegeAdvisor is here to help. Our admissions experts provide individualized guidance on every step of the college application process. Do you want to learn how to apply for work-study? Are you building a college list or filling out the FAFSA? Wherever you are, we’ve got something to offer you. Ready to get started? Register today!
This article was written by Gina Goosby. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.
