Body
Federal Work-Study (FWS) pays a student to work a part-time job, and it works differently from every other kind of aid:
- A student earns it by working an FWS job, and the money arrives as a paycheck.
- It is not applied to the student account and does not pay tuition.
- It never shows up as a disbursement or refund.
- The amount on the aid offer is a cap on what the student can earn over the year, not money waiting to be paid out.
A student who expects Work-Study to cover the bill should get hired into a position and start working. There's no disbursement coming.
Eligibility
To qualify for Work-Study at SF, a student must:
- Have a completed FAFSA on file and be Pell Grant-eligible for the award year
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
- Be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours in an eligible program
- Be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress
To be considered for a Work-Study award, complete the SF Work Study Interest Form. If you're awarded, it appears in your Financial Aid Portal in eSantaFe [WEB LINK: eSantaFe login].
Award Amount
Work-Study awards vary by student and year. The award is the most a student can earn in FWS that year. A student earns only what they actually work.
Getting Hired
A Work-Study award doesn't place a student in a job. The student finds and applies for a Work-Study position.
To find open positions, log into eSantaFe, open the Finances menu, and click Work Study to see the list of available jobs. Then contact the Work-Study supervisor for an area you're interested in to find out how to be considered.
A student who's been awarded Work-Study but isn't finding a position can contact the Financial Aid Office for help.
Payment
Hourly pay. A student is paid hourly through SF payroll for the hours actually worked. Pay comes twice a month.
Taxable income, not applied to the account. Work-Study earnings are taxable and reported on a W-2. The money doesn't apply to the student's SF account balance, and the student can use it for anything.
Weekly Hour Limits
Students typically work up to 22 hours per week during a semester, with a 25-hour weekly cap under college policy. Actual hours depend on the student's award, the position, and the remaining FWS funds.
Work During Breaks
A student shouldn't work during breaks (winter, spring, or breaks between semesters) unless the Financial Aid Office approves it first. Approval requires confirmed registration for the next semester and continued eligibility.
Enrollment Requirement
A student has to stay enrolled in at least 6 credit hours to keep earning FWS. A student who drops below half time can no longer work under FWS, even if the award hasn't been fully earned.