Paying for College

Federal Work Study

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. 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. These jobs must be awarded on a need basis by the colleges that take part in this program. 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

Other Part-Time Work

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. It is always best to try to get a job through the Federal Work Study program first because those earnings do NOT count in figuring the student’s financial aid for the next year. If that is not possible, however, a student should remember the following:

• Be careful not to work so many hours that grades start to slip


• Be careful not to earn too much money if you are receiving need-based financial aid because it may affect financial aid for the next year (see Key Tips to Remember box).


• The best jobs provide experiences that develop skills and even help secure future jobs