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How does a Federal Work-Study work?

By Sarah Smith

Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study. It’s available to full-time or part-time students.

Should I accept Federal Work-Study?

1. Being awarded Federal Work-Study does not guarantee you a job. Accepting the Federal Work-Study funds you’re offered is just the first step. In order to receive those funds, you need to earn them, which means you need to start by finding a work-study job.

Do you have to pay back Federal Work-Study?

Federal Work Study is a form of financial aid What is work study, exactly? Like scholarships and grants (but unlike loans), work study is a type of financial aid that does not have to be paid back. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in financial need are eligible for the work study program.

Who qualifies for Federal Work-Study?

The work study program is for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who are enrolled in school at least part-time. Eligibility for the program is based on financial need determined after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.)

Can you decline federal work study?

Students who choose not to work during the academic year can opt to decline federal work-study. They can choose instead to make up that amount through loans, savings or a nonwork-study job, among other options.

Should you accept work-study?

Students should accept work-study aid for at least the first two years of college. Colleges determine how much students can earn, which positions students can apply to, how many hours they can work a week – no more than 20 – and what happens when a student earns the maximum amount.

Is a work-study job worth it?

While it is true that most work-study jobs are tailored for students, if you have a heavy course load and a heavy workload in those classes, you might not have enough time to do work-study. So to sum it up: Work-study is worth a try if it pays well enough and it doesn’t interfere with your studies.

Is it bad to decline work-study?

If work-study is on your financial aid award and you don’t intend to use it, you can decline the award. However, in most cases, getting a work-study job is a good idea, especially if it decreases your student loan borrowing and the amount of student debt you’ll face after graduation.

Is it better to do work study or get a job?

If you want to keep your hours to a minimum and like the idea of taking out less in student loans, a work-study job might be the right choice. If you’re looking for more work hours and more money in your pocket, a part-time job is possibly the way to go.