Grants, student loans, and scholarships are just some of the financial aid options available to help students pay for their college educations. However, a large portion of this financial aid is directed to the institution to cover the costs of tuition, books, and boarding. Some students who want to work part-time while still in school can apply for a work-study job to help them get by. Work-study jobs are usually funded by federal or institutional programs and are part of a student’s overall financial aid package.
A work-study job is typically assigned by a financial aid department at the institution. Students who are eligible for the program are matched with various job openings across campus. While a student’s work-study job may be based on his or her career interests, such as a culinary arts major working in the campus cafeteria, not all work assignments are. Routine clerical or labor jobs, such as working for the campus bookstore or the school’s janitorial services, may be part of some work-study assignments.
The hours of a work-study job may be very flexible because the employee is also a student. To remain eligible for the program, a student worker may be required to work a certain number of hours per week, but he or she may have the freedom to choose which days and times to work. Others in a work-study program may not have control over their schedules, but they are limited to working no more than 20-25 hours per week. Because federal and private sources of funding are used to fund work-study programs, many students do not work for the school directly.
However, not all work-study jobs are on-campus or entry-level “make work” positions. Some colleges allow students to work off-campus in a work-study position with real-world responsibilities. Pre-law students, for example, might volunteer at a local legal aid center, while medical students might volunteer at a free clinic. Through a privately funded work-study job bank or an institutional program, students with specific interests can be matched with local employers.