How to Get a Work-Study Job on Campus

Work-study is a part-time job program for students who received it as part of their financial aid package

Work-study is not something you apply for separately. Instead, your school awards it to you through FAFSA, the same way it awards grants or loans. When your financial aid letter arrives, it will list a work-study amount — usually between $2,500 and $3,000 per year, though this varies by school and your financial need. That amount is what you're allowed to earn during the school year.

Once you have work-study on your aid package, you then find an actual job on campus (or sometimes off-campus) and work the hours you choose, up to that limit. Your paycheck comes from your employer, not from the government. The difference between work-study and a regular campus job is that the federal government subsidizes part of your wages, which means your employer can afford to hire more student workers.

If your financial aid letter does not list work-study, you were not awarded it for that year. You can still work on campus — most schools hire students without work-study — but you won't have the same wage subsidy.

Key Takeaways

• Work-study appears on your financial aid letter if you received it; you do not submit a separate form to get it.
• After you receive work-study, you search for jobs through your school's employment portal or career center, just like any other job hunt.
• You choose your own hours and can work as little or as much as you want, as long as you stay under your annual work-study limit.
• Your employer pays you directly; the federal subsidy helps them afford to hire you, not you directly.
• If work-study is not on your aid letter, contact your financial aid office to ask why, since you may be able to appeal.

Check your financial aid letter for your work-study amount

Your school sends your financial aid letter after you submit FAFSA and the school processes your information. This letter breaks down all aid you received: grants, loans, and work-study. Look for a line item that says "Federal Work-Study" or just "Work-Study" with a dollar amount next to it.

If you received work-study, that dollar amount is your annual limit. If you work 10 hours a week at $15 per hour, you would earn $150 per week, or roughly $600 per month. Over a nine-month academic year, that's about $5,400 — which would exceed a $3,000 work-study award. In that case, you'd work fewer hours or your pay would stop once you hit the limit.

Keep this letter in a safe place. You'll need to show it to your employer when you start a job, and you may need it later if questions come up about your earnings or aid.

Find work-study jobs through your school's employment system

Most schools have an online job board where employers post work-study positions. This might be called a career portal, employment portal, or job board. Log in with your student ID and search for jobs marked "work-study may be able to access" or "federal work-study." Common positions include library assistant, resident assistant, tutoring, administrative support in campus offices, and dining hall work.

If you can't find the job board on your school's website, ask your financial aid office or career center — they can point you to the right place or give you a link. Some schools still post jobs on bulletin boards in the student center or financial aid office, so check there too if the online system seems limited.

You can also ask departments directly. If you want to work in the writing center, biology lab, or admissions office, call or email and ask if they have work-study positions open. Many employers hire this way, especially in academic departments.

Apply for jobs the same way you would any other position

When you find a job you want, you'll submit an application or resume, just as you would for any employer. Some campus jobs have formal applications; others just ask you to email your resume and availability. Follow whatever process the employer lists.

When you apply, mention that you have work-study on your financial aid package. This tells the employer they can hire you with the federal wage subsidy. If the job posting says "work-study may be able to access," the employer already knows they can hire work-study students, but it doesn't hurt to confirm you have it.

The hiring process is usually faster for campus jobs than off-campus work — often just a few days to a week. Once you're hired, your employer will have you fill out tax forms (a W-4 and I-9) and set up your pay schedule.

Understand how your work-study limit works

Your work-study amount is a cap on what you can earn, not a may provide of hours. If your award is $2,500 for the year, you can work as many or as few hours as you want, as long as your total earnings don't exceed $2,500. Once you hit that limit, you stop earning work-study wages for that year.

Some students work 5 hours a week; others work 15 or 20. It depends on your schedule, your classes, and how much money you need. Many schools recommend not working more than 20 hours per week during the school year, since full-time study plus full-time work is difficult to manage.

Your employer will track your hours and pay. When you're close to your limit, they'll usually let you know so you don't accidentally go over. If you do go over, you may have to repay the excess, or your employer may absorb the cost — policies vary by school.

Know what happens if work-study is not on your aid letter

If your financial aid letter does not list work-study, you have a few options. First, contact your financial aid office and ask why. Sometimes work-study is not awarded because your school ran out of federal work-study funding, or because your financial need was not high enough. Ask if you can appeal or if there's a waitlist.

Second, you can still work on campus. Most schools hire non-work-study students for campus jobs. You won't have the federal wage subsidy, so your employer pays your full wage from their own budget, but you can still earn money. The job search process is the same.

Third, if you need more aid overall, ask your financial aid office about other options: additional loans, grants, or scholarships. Work-study is just one piece of a financial aid package.

Track your earnings and stay under your limit

Keep records of your paychecks and hours worked. Your employer should give you pay stubs that show your cumulative earnings for the year. Compare this to your work-study award amount so you know how much room you have left.

If you're approaching your limit and still need to work, talk to your employer about what happens next. Some employers will keep you on the payroll but stop paying you once you hit the limit (you'd work unpaid, which is not ideal). Others will let you transition to a non-work-study position if one is available. Plan ahead so you're not surprised.

Your earnings from work-study count as income on next year's FAFSA, which may affect your financial aid for the following year. This is not a reason to avoid work-study — you need the money — but it's something to know when you're planning ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to work if I received work-study?

No. Work-study is an offer, not a requirement. If you don't want to work, you don't have to. The money won't be added to your aid package automatically; you only earn it if you actually work a job. Some students decline work-study because they want to focus on classes or already have other income.

Can I work off-campus with work-study?

Most work-study jobs are on campus, but some schools allow off-campus work-study positions at nonprofits or public agencies. Ask your financial aid office which off-campus employers participate in your school's work-study program. Off-campus positions are less common and may have different rules.

What if I work more hours than I planned and go over my work-study limit?

Contact your employer and financial aid office right away. Policies vary: some schools require you to repay the overage, others absorb the cost, and some will switch you to a regular (non-work-study) position for the remaining hours. Don't ignore it, because it can affect your aid or create a debt to the school.

Does work-study pay more than a regular campus job?

Not necessarily. Work-study and regular campus jobs often pay the same hourly wage. The difference is that the federal government subsidizes part of the work-study wage, which allows employers to hire more student workers. From your paycheck perspective, you won't see a difference.

Can I use work-study to pay for tuition directly?

No. Your paycheck goes to you, and you decide how to spend it. You can use it to pay tuition, but you have to do that yourself — the money doesn't automatically go to your school bill. Some students have their employer set up direct deposit to a savings account so the money is there when tuition is due.