Federal Work Study

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a federal aid program through which you can work and earn money for your education.

Earnings are given to students based upon the rate of pay and the hours worked on a bi-weekly basis. At SLU, FWS does not reduce the tuition, but rather provides a resource for a student's living expenses through a paycheck issued directly to the student. Funds are limited and are awarded to those with financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

To apply, complete the following forms depending on the term when you’d like to work.

5 Tips for FWS Applicant Success

1. Request funds early. Funding is limited for this federal aid program. The earlier you complete the required forms, the greater possibility that you’ll be awarded.
2. Accept the award. If you are eligible and funds are available, funds will be posted for you to accept under your financial aid award via your mySLU account. You can decline the funds at any time if you make other employment plans.
3. Find a job. After you’ve been awarded, you should diligently begin your search for a position. While there are many available positions on campus, being award FWS funds does not guarantee a position. To pursue positions on campus, register online via Handshake. Set up your personal profile so you can search and apply for open positions. You may hold an FWS and a regular student work position concurrently, but you may only have one FWS position at a time. There are also FWS positions with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and Land of Lincoln. Students must contact the organizations to apply.
4. Follow-up after applying for jobs. Maintain a record of positions and contact information each time you apply. Don't hesitate to politely follow up with your contact if you haven't heard anything within two weeks of application. Ensure that your personal contact information is up-to-date and you are checking your email/voicemail regularly.
5. Start earning, but budget accordingly. FWS is a form of financial aid. The award does count toward your cost of attendance budget and may reduce the amount you may receive in other sources of financial aid. Wages are paid directly to student workers bi-weekly and are never automatically applied to a student's SLU account. Under this federal program, you can work no more than 15 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters and no more than 40 hours per week during breaks. Have a non-FWS job, too? Keep in mind that per ABA Standard 304(f), a student may not be employed more than 20 hours per week in any week in which the student is enrolled in more than 12 credit hours.