The Federal Work-Study Program provides funding for part-time employment to students who are US citizens or permanent residents and have financial need as demonstrated by their FAFSA results. Work-study funded students can reapply for work-study each year by completing the FAFSA.
Eligibility Related Questions
To be eligible for work-study, a student must:
- Complete a FAFSA every year and complete FAFSA verification if selected
- Have enough unmet financial need
- Be enrolled at least part time (6 or more credits) each semester
- Meet the requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Be a US citizen or eligible permanent resident
If work-study has been awarded to you, you will find it listed in your financial aid package, which you can view on your MyMichiganTech account. You can also contact the Financial Aid Office to ask if you might be eligible.
Indicating that you want to be considered for work-study on the FAFSA does not require you to participate in the program. If you are awarded work-study and later decide that you will not be able to work a job during the year, just email the Financial Aid Office and let us know that you would like to decline work-study.
To determine if you are eligible for work-study, please email the Financial Aid Office to ask. Be sure to include your M number in the email.
Unfortunately, no. Federal regulations do not allow students to receive funding from the Federal Work-Study Program unless they are a US citizen or eligible permanent resident.
As long as you are enrolled in at least 6 credits each semester, you can still potentially be eligible for work study.
Award Related Questions
Students earn the funds from their work-study award by working an on-campus work-study job. Students get paid for their hours worked in the form of a bi-weekly check (or direct deposit).
No. Work-study funds never apply directly to the student bill. To apply work-study funds to a student bill, students would need to save the money they earn from working and then use that money to help pay their next bill.
Shortly before the start of the school year, students that are awarded work-study as part of their initial financial aid package will receive an email providing information about how to find a work-study job. Students will then be able to find work-study jobs posted on Handshake that they can apply for with a resume and any other required documents. Any questions about a specific job can be directed to the department that posted it.
If you have earned all of the work-study funds awarded in your financial aid package, your supervisor should work with you to end your work study job. In some cases, your department may be willing to place you in a regular student hourly job when your work-study funds have been exhausted. Any questions about these processes can be directed to your supervisor or the Financial Aid Office.
To determine if you are eligible for work-study, please email the Financial Aid Office to ask. Be sure to Include your M number in the email.
Job Related Questions
Students see very little difference between a work-study job and a regular student hourly job. The way students apply for jobs and receive their pay for jobs is the same, and the kinds of jobs that may be available are often the same. The department that hires the student sees the biggest difference, because part of the funding to pay the student for the work-study job comes from the student's work-study award in their financial aid package.
The number of hours a student works varies based on the department they are working in and how much the student is comfortable working. Most students work an average of 8-10 hours per week.
Students have worked a wide variety of work-study jobs in the past. These have included jobs as office assistants; lab assistants; research assistants; as well as jobs within Dining Services, University Images, the Campus Bookstore, the library, the mineral museum, and IT. These are just some of the options available to work-study students.
No. Due to the limited availability of funding for the program, students can only work one work-study job at a time. Students are able to work additional on-campus jobs that are not work-study.
- Students eligible for work study can apply for work-study jobs through Handshake, the school’s recruitment platform. Simply login in using your ISO username and password, filter by the “work-study” job type and complete the application giving any information requested.
- Students eligible for work-study will also receive a direct link to the work-study jobs on Handshake.
- If you are interested in working for a specific department that is not listed on Handshake, feel free to reach out to each department about jobs and notify them of your work-study eligibility.
Students are paid directly for their work-study jobs. Any money earned from hours worked are accumulated and paid biweekly through the student’s method of preferred payment (check or direct deposit). The work-study award amount is reflected on a student’s financial aid package, but it does not apply to the bill.
You may be able to continue working your work-study job over the summer, but it cannot be classified as a work-study job. You will need to talk with your supervisor about continuing to work. Your job would need to be changed to a regular student hourly job for the summer.
It is possible to work the same work-study job multiple years in a row. Be sure to indicate on your FAFSA that you are interested in the Federal Work-Study program. Also, let your supervisor know during the spring that you are interested in working the following year.
No. You can look at other jobs as well. You will just need to let them know that you have work-study and they will need to reach out to the Financial Aid Office to have your job classified as a work-study job.
Other Questions
If you would like to speak to someone in person about work-study, please stop by the Student Financial Services Center on the first floor of the Administration Building.
There are many other student jobs on campus. Handshake is a great place to look for an on-campus job.