UW Colleges Money Matters
Employment
Federal Work-Study is a federal financial aid program. It is one of the three campus-based aid programs. (Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and Federal Perkins Loan are the other two campus-based programs.) Work-Study allows you to earn money to help pay educational expenses and encourages community service work and work related to your course of study to the extent possible.
In order to apply for Work-Study, you must complete the FAFSA. You should complete your FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 in order to be considered for the limited funding for Federal Work Study. In addition, you must have sufficient financial need based on the analysis of your FAFSA.
Students employed through the Federal Work-Study Program are paid at least the current federal minimum wage (or state-wide minimum wage if higher). Students work approximately ten hours per week although the number of hours an individual student can work is determined by the amount of the Work-Study award and pay rate. Students cannot earn more than the amount of their awards.