Federal Work Study

Federal Work-Study is one of the more unique forms of financial aid available, rather than receiving funds directly; you earn them through part-time employment while you are in school. It is a great way to offset your costs, build professional experience, and stay connected to your field, all at the same time. This page covers everything you need to know about how the program works, how to find a position, and how to manage your award once you have accepted it.

How Federal Work-Study Works

Federal Work-Study is a federally funded program that provides eligible students with part-time employment opportunities on campus or with approved off-campus employers. The federal government pays a portion of your wages, and your employer covers the remainder, which means participating employers are more likely to hire students like you, since the cost to them is reduced.

A few things that make Work-Study different from other aid:

Funds are earned, not disbursed. Your Work-Study award is not applied to your student account. Instead, you receive a paycheck for the hours you work, just like any other job.
Your maximum award, the total amount you’re eligible to earn, is listed on your financial aid notification. You cannot earn more than this amount through the Work-Study program in a given award period.
Eligibility is based on financial need and requires you to have submitted a FAFSA.

Program Features & Policies

Here is what you need to know about how the program operates throughout the academic year:

You must maintain at least half-time enrollment to participate during regular terms. This requirement does not apply during the summer term.
During regular terms, you may work a maximum of 20 hours per week. During break periods (such as winter break), this increases to up to 37.5 hours per week.
Positions held during the fall, winter, and spring terms terminate at the end of the spring term, or on your last date of enrollment, whichever comes first.
Positions held during the summer term terminate at the end of the summer term.
Once you have earned the full amount listed on your financial aid notification, you are no longer eligible to participate in Work-Study for that award period. However, if your employer is willing to pay your full salary, you may continue working in the same position using non-Work-Study funds.

Finding a Position

Work-Study job opportunities may include on-campus positions as well as approved local off-campus employers. Positions vary by school and term, so it’s worth searching early; popular positions can fill quickly.

Search Available Work-Study Positions in Student Gateway

Accepting Your Work-Study Award

Once you receive your financial aid offer, you can accept or decline your Federal Work-Study award through the student gateway. You have a few options:

Accept the full award — you will be eligible to earn up to the full amount listed on your notification.
Accept a reduced amount — if you would like to accept less than the full award, indicate your preferred amount on the Aid Change Request Form.
Decline the award — if you decide Work-Study is not the right fit for you, you can decline it entirely. Depending on your situation, you may be able to convert that eligibility to additional loan funding. Contact our financial aid office to discuss your options.
Log In to Student Gateway

Your Employment Authorization Form

Once you have accepted your Work-Study award, you will have access to your Employment Authorization Form through the Student Gateway. This form is unique to you; it confirms your Work-Study eligibility, lists your approved earning amount, and is required before you can begin working in any Work-Study position. You must provide this form to your employer before your first day of work.

How to access your Employment Authorization Form:

Log in to Student Gateway
Navigate to Finances → Financial Aid
Select “Work-Study Employment Authorization” from the dropdown menu

Tracking Your Earnings

It is your responsibility to keep track of how close you are to your Work-Study earning limit. Our Student Employment office will notify you when you are within $500 of your total allotment. Do not wait for that notification to start paying attention. Once you have reached your limit, you cannot continue earning Work-Study funds for that award period.

If you reach your limit but want to keep working, talk to your employer; some are willing to continue employing you using their own funds once your Work-Study eligibility is exhausted.

Contact Student Employment

Questions About Work-Study?

Whether you are trying to find a position, understand your award, or figure out how Work-Study fits into your overall financial picture, our financial aid and student employment teams are here to help.

The Office of Financial Aid is here to help you explore your options, to answer questions, and to create a plan that works for you.

Contact the Office of Financial Aid at [email protected]

Contact Us

Our advisors are available to answer questions and to help you explore both the pros and cons of various financial aid options.

Contact Financial Aid