This is an initiative of the United States Government to assist undergraduate or graduate students with needs, granting them part-time work opportunities either on campus or with specific, official off-campus employers of labor. While the work-study program relies on federal funding, participating schools play a major role in allocating funds to their students and managing work-study opportunities.

It’s crucial to note that just because a student’s financial aid award says that they qualify for work-study doesn’t mean that they are guaranteed a job. Students have to secure their own work-study jobs.

Students must fill out the FAFSA to be eligible for the work-study program. When filling it out, a student needs to select the box that indicates they want to be considered for work-study. The FAFSA should be filled out as quickly as possible because some types of aid are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Choosing the option doesn’t guarantee that the student will be provided with a work-study option, and it doesn’t bind them to accept the opportunity if it’s offered. Colleges allocate work-study funds based on the availability of funds, financial needs of a student, and other financial aid they are eligible for.

While a student can decline the award, getting a work-study job is usually a wise decision. It becomes particularly beneficial if it decreases their student loan borrowing and the amount of student debt they will face after graduation.

Many work-study jobs are on-campus and may include administrative duties in a campus office, research assistantships, or working in the library. Other work-study gigs may be off-campus at private companies or nonprofit organizations. Lots of schools have online portals that list work-study jobs, and students are encouraged to apply for the ones that relate to their field of study. Work-study jobs offer flexible hours so students can more easily balance school and work.

Students can opt to get paid by direct deposit or check or have the money credited to their school accounts to cover fees, tuition, or room and board.

Work-study jobs vary in responsibilities and qualifications, and hence, the pay depends on the job that a student is hired to do. It may also be determined by the policies of the school and/or the state’s minimum wage requirements.

There’re various factors that can come into play when determining whether or not a student receives work-study from year to year. These include their financial need or family income, whether they used the previous year’s work-study funds, and/or the amount of work-study funding their school receives that year.