Paying for College
Caught in the Middle
Federal Work StudyMany college students find it necessary to work a few hours each week to help pay for books or a portion of their bills. Furthermore, studies show that college students who work a reasonable number of hours each week (10-15 hours) may do better in school than students who do not work at all or students who try to work too much. Sometimes students are able to do that through the Federal Work Study program, but sometimes they have to do it outside of that program. Federal Work Study jobs must be awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need by participating colleges, so some students from middle income families are not eligible for these jobs. However, in most college towns, there are other employment options for students wanting to work a few hours a week.Federal Work Study is a work program in which students work a few hours a week while at college and the money earned is applied toward their college bills. It is important to note that the dollars a student earns through a Federal Work-Study job are the only dollars a student can earn that do NOT count in figuring the student’s financial aid for the next year, so it is often a good idea for students who plan to work during school to accept these jobs first rather than seeking other local employment. For more information on this federal program, visit the funding section of http://studentaid.ed.gov |
Federal Work Study Requires the FAFSA To be considered for this program, a student must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There are steps involved in the FAFSA process which every student must take. Click here for more on the FAFSA process. |
