The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. FWS encourages students to perform community service and work related to their courses of study to help pay for education expenses.

Salary

If you qualify for FWS aid, your salary may start at the federal minimum wage. But it could be higher, depending on the type of work and required skills. The total Work-Study award depends on the application date, the level of your need, and how much FWS money your school has.

Undergraduate students are paid by the hour. Unlike a loan program, money is not paid before you earn it. No FWS student may be paid by commission or fee. Students must be paid by the school directly at least once a month.

• Undergraduate students are paid by the hour.
• Graduate students are paid by the hour or by salary, depending on the job.

Hours

The amount you earn cannot exceed your total FWS award. When assigning work hours, the employer or financial aid administrator takes your class schedule and academic progress into consideration.

Location

On-campus versus off-campus jobs:

• On-campus work is usually done for the school.
• Off-campus work is usually provided by a private nonprofit organization or a public agency, and the nature of the work must be in the public interest.

Some schools have agreements with private for-profit employers for FWS jobs, which must be judged to be relevant to the course of study. If you attend a proprietary school, there may be additional restrictions on available jobs.

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