What is Work-Study?

Key takeaways

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a financial aid program that lets you earn money for college without impacting your financial aid eligibility.
Typically, college students can earn up to $2,340 per year. Amounts vary by participating school, degree of financial need, and application submission date.
Eligibility is determined by financial need and academic progress. To apply, submit your 2026-27 FAFSA form before the June 30, 2026 deadline. FWS funds are limited and may be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

It might seem as if working a part-time job in college won’t make much of a dent in paying your tuition or accommodation fees. Yet part-time wages can make a difference to covering miscellaneous expenses such as books, transportation, and even food — potentially offsetting loans.

However, students may not realize that income earned from part-time work must be reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form as “additional earned income,” which could reduce the amount of financial aid they are awarded for the following academic year.

Not so with income earned through the Federal Work-Study program.

What is Federal Work-Study?

When you receive an offer of financial aid from your school’s financial aid office, your letter might list a combination of grants, loans, and a “Federal Work-Study award.” But what is that, exactly?

Despite being called an “award,” this is not a grant or a scholarship. The awarded amount is not automatically given to you. Instead, that amount indicates how much you can expect to earn if you work a part-time job through the Federal Work-Study program.

The FWS program provides students who demonstrate financial need with part-time job opportunities, making it easier to earn money for educational expenses. These jobs have distinct conditions.

If you qualify for FWS and get an eligible job, the federal government pays up to 75% of your wages, while the remainder is covered by your university or employer. Each year, the government spends $1 billion on FWS, and one out of every 10 full-time undergraduates participates in Federal Work-Study. A work-study program is also known as a student employment subsidy.

Unlike income earned from working a regular part-time job, your FWS earnings will not affect your eligibility for federal need-based scholarships. You do not need to report FWS income as “additional earned income” when filling out the FAFSA form for the following academic year. You can also apply for other need-based scholarships.

You have the option not to earn your FWS award, or to earn only some of it. Think of the award as an opportunity, not an obligation.

Frequently asked questions about Federal Work-Study:

How is Federal Work-Study different from a part-time job?

You will have to meet your school's criterion for satisfactory academic progress to remain eligible for FWS.

You can have a traditional part-time job in addition to, or instead of, a Federal Work-Study job. If you do not qualify for FWS or do not see an FWS component on your university’s financial aid offer letter, you usually can still work a part-time job on- or off-campus.

Some universities may suggest a part-time work component in your financial aid offer letter even if you do not qualify for FWS. The university may even help you find an on-campus job where you can earn that amount.

But bear in mind that non-FWS wages are not federally subsidized, and you will have to report non-FWS earnings as additional earned income on the FAFSA, which could shrink the following year’s financial aid award.

Which jobs are eligible for Federal Work-Study?

FWS-eligible jobs tend to pay minimum wage, with taxable income. Think library assistantships, administrative staffing positions, and cafeteria or barista gigs. Ask your school's financial aid office how to apply for these jobs.

FWS jobs are designed with the needs of working students in mind, and they typically offer more flexibility than traditional part-time roles.

For example, you may not need to work evenings or weekends (unless you want to), and you could have wiggle room to adjust your schedule around midterms or finals — a significant perk when term gets busy.

Participating workplaces can provide a rewarding sense of community for student workers, too. First-year students, in particular, may appreciate walking into a ready-made community where they can spend time with others from similar backgrounds from the first day. To find scholarships tailored to your background which you might combine with FWS earnings, sign up for a Scholarships.com account.

How is a Federal Work-Study award different from a scholarship?

To cash in the awarded earnings amount, qualifying students must apply for and obtain a job. By contrast, a scholarship is typically awarded to you when you win.

Working to earn the amount you have been offered in your financial aid offer letter is neither required nor guaranteed. Ask your school’s financial aid office about how to apply for jobs which participate in the program.

In addition to part-time work, you can also apply for merit-based scholarships to help cover educational costs.

How much is a Federal Work-Study award?

There is an annual cap on the amount you are awarded. The cap varies by student financial need, school, and application submission date.

The typical undergraduate is awarded $2,340 per year. Graduate students might earn more.

Colleges and universities are allocated a certain amount of FWS funds by the federal government, and these amounts vary significantly between institutions.

For example, New York University receives more FWS funds annually than the City University of New York's 24 institutions combined. These allocations are based upon historical arrangements between each institution and the government, dating back to the start of the program in 1964.

Check with your school’s financial aid office to see how much you might receive.

How do you apply for Federal Work-Study?

You must indicate interest in participating in Federal Work-Study on the FAFSA form when you submit it. Plan to submit the form as soon as possible, as funds are limited and FWS awards may be administered on a first-come, first served basis.

If you do not earn your FWS award or earn only some of it you can still be considered for FWS the following year. However, unearned funds do not carry over to other years.