Work Study Options

Work-study is a federally funded program that helps college students with financial need to get part-time jobs. While this program won’t cover all of the costs for your college education, it can be extremely helpful for students who qualify.

Here’s what you need to know:

• To qualify for the Federal Work-Study Program, you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and indicate that you are interested in participating in the program. You can do this online and must resubmit it every year to continue receiving federal financial aid.
• Typically, students are responsible for securing their own work-study jobs. While you might qualify for the program, that doesn’t guarantee you a job.
• About 3,400 colleges and universities participate in the Work-Study Program, but not all schools do. Check with your financial aid office to see if your school is a participant.

Students participating in the work-study program may be employed by:

• The institution itself, doing research assistantships, administrative duties, and more
• A federal, state, or local public agency
• A private nonprofit organization
• A private for-profit organization.

Typically, you can only earn as much through work-study as your financial aid award letter indicates. For example, if your award letter allocated you $4,500 for work-study, you could work as many hours as it takes to reach that amount.

If you successfully qualify for work-study and it’s on your financial aid award letter, you can decline it if you change your mind. However, it’s usually a good idea to turn to grants and work-study programs before taking out loans.