Federal Work-Study (FWS) provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help cover non-billable educational expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study. Positions are available at every Penn State campus.

How to apply for Federal Work-Study

To be considered for federal work-study, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you are awarded FWS, it will appear on your Award Offer in LionPATH.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Federal Work-Study, you must:

Due to limited funding, not all students who are eligible will receive this award. If you are not awarded Federal Work-Study, other employment opportunities are also available.

Types of Federal Work-Study at Penn State

There are three types of positions:

  1. Traditional Work-study
    FWS 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.
  2. Nittany Lions Read/Nittany Lions Count
    A mentoring program designed to enhance early reading, math, and science skills of children from surrounding communities, while providing Penn State students the opportunity to give back to their community, gain work experience, and earn federal financial aid through FWS.
  3. Community Service Work-Study
    Penn State FWS that encourages eligible Penn State students to participate in community service and service-learning experiences that benefit the community, promote social responsibility, and enhance their educational experiences.

How to find a Work-Study job

Work-study positions for all campuses are available on the Penn State studennt job search website.

  • Filter your search by ‘campus’ and ‘federal work-study' to find the most appropriate opportunities for you.
  • Consider your academic interests, professional aspirations, position location, class schedule, and course load when determining if a position is right for you.

How much would I earn through Federal Work-Study?

Typical Federal Work Study Offers per academic year is $3500 for undergraduate students and $4000 for graduate students.

Undergraduate work-study students will typically earn $12.00/hour and graduate work-study students will typically earn $14.00/hour. Some positions, however, may offer a higher wage. Nittany Lions Read/Nittany Lions Count and Community Service work-study students will earn $14.00/hour.

  • You will receive a warning email regarding the balance of your award when you have earned 50% or more of your award total.
  • You will receive a warning email when you are close to exhausting your award.

Although a form of student aid, Federal Work-Study earnings are not applied as credit on your tuition bill. All wages earned are directly deposited into your checking or savings account every two weeks according to Penn State’s Bi-Weekly Pay Schedule.

Track your FWS hours worked

Federal Work-Study participants may never work more than 8 hours a day and 20 hours a week, during fall, spring, and summer semesters.

If you have more than one work-study job, you must keep each employer informed of your total hours worked so you do not exceed your award amount. Submitting falsified time cards is considered fraud against the University and the federal government and legal action may be taken against the employee or employer.

To ensure optimal use of your award through the semester, plan your work schedule before you begin earning funds.