Work-Study Programs

Work-study programs are a form of financial aid in which you perform work in exchange for money for your education. Federal government programs are the primary source of work-study, but individual states or campuses may also offer their own programs to make additional financial aid available to as many students as possible.

Your Student Aid Report (SAR) is one indicator utilized by the college in determining your eligibility for the Federal Work-Study program. The SAR is the response you get after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the first step in the financial aid process.

Work-study programs have rules about whether the work can be on-campus or off-campus and about the maximum number of hours per week you can work. Your campus financial aid office should have the details specific to your program.

To find out if there are campus-specific work-study programs at the school you plan to attend, contact that school’s financial aid office.

Contact your state agency to find out if state work-study programs exist outside of the federal or campus programs.