Federal Work-Study (FWS)

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program provides part-time jobs for students with financial need to help them pay for their education.

The program is administered by participating schools. It's designed to put you to work in the community, or in a job related to your studies, whenever possible.

Fast Fact: More than 3,400 schools participate in the Federal Work-Study program. In 2009, over 900,000 students received work-study aid.

Will I be paid the same as I would in any other job?

You'll be paid by the hour if you're an undergraduate. No FWS student may be paid by commission or fee. Your school must pay you directly (unless you direct otherwise) and at least monthly. Wages for the program must equal at least the current federal minimum wage but might be higher, depending on the type of work you do and the skills required. The amount you earn can't exceed your total FWS award. When assigning work hours, your employer or financial aid administrator will consider your award amount, your class schedule, and your academic progress.

What kinds of jobs are there in Federal Work-Study?

If you work on campus, you'll usually work for your school. If you work off campus, your employer will usually be a private nonprofit organization or a public agency, and the work performed must be in the public interest.

Your school might have agreements with private for-profit employers for Federal Work-Study jobs. This type of job must be relevant to your course of study (to the maximum extent possible). If you attend a career school, there might be further restrictions on the jobs you can be assigned.