If you’re college bound, or already in college, you know that you can always use a little extra money, whether it’s to buy groceries or to help pay your tuition bill. One of the best ways to earn it is to take advantage of Federal Work-Study.
Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing students to earn money similar to a part-time job. The program encourages community service work and work related to the recipient's course of study.
Work-study jobs are a great way to help “pay your way” through college. If your school offers work-study, it will be included in your financial aid award, along with instructions on how to go about getting that job once you get to campus. In some cases, for example, you may be required to apply for a job through the college’s job listing site and you may go through an interview process, the same as a regular applicant would. However, Work-Study applicants are usually given priority.
Work-Study also has an advantage over a part-time job you may find on your own, because the income is excluded from next year’s EFC calculations when you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Additionally, the hours worked revolve around your class schedule, so every time your semester schedule changes your work-study hours will also change.
Students receive at least minimum wage for working up to 20 hours a week depending on your financial aid award, and pay raises are likely to be given for jobs worked on campus or off.
Make sure that you check “work study” when filling out your FAFSA to find out if you are eligible for this program. For more information on Federal Work-Study, ask your college or click here.