The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program is a campus-based program, administered directly by the financial aid office at each participating school. Not all schools participate in programs like this - check with a school's financial aid office to find out which programs, if any, they participate in.

How much aid you receive from programs such as FWS depends on your financial need, on the amount of other aid you receive, and on the availability of funds at your college or career school. Campus-based programs provide a certain amount of funds for each participating school to administer each year. When the money for a program is used up, no more awards can be made from that program for that year. Each school sets its own deadlines for campus-based funds, and those deadlines are usually earlier than the Department of Education's deadline for filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Federal Work-Study 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 recipient's course of study.

Will I be paid the same as I would in any other job?
You'll be paid by the hour if you're an undergraduate. No FWS student may be paid by commission or fee. Your school must pay you directly (unless you direct otherwise) and at least monthly. Wages for the program must equal at least the current federal minimum wage but might be higher, depending on the type of work you do and the skills required. Your total Federal Work-Study award depends on when you apply, your financial need, and the funding level at your school. The amount you earn can't exceed your total FWS award. When assigning work hours, your employer or financial aid administrator will consider your award amount, your class schedule, and your academic progress.

What kinds of jobs are there in Federal Work-Study?
If you work on campus, you'll usually work for your school. If you work off campus, your employer will usually be a private nonprofit organization or a public agency, and the work performed must be in the public interest.

Your school may have agreements with private for-profit employers for Federal Work-Study jobs. This type of job must be relevant to your course of study (to the maximum extent possible). If you attend a career school, there might be further restrictions on the jobs you can be assigned.