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Work Study

Federal Work-Study allows you to work part-time (no more than 20 hours per week) and earn money for your education. To be considered for a work-study job at Saint Louis University, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Fast Facts About Work-Study and SLU

Here are a few things to know about federal work-study at SLU:

  • It does not reduce your tuition.
  • Funds are limited and awarded to students based on their financial need.
  • Work-study jobs are real jobs, so you’ll need to apply and interview to be selected for any open positions. Receiving a work-study award does not guarantee you’ll be hired for a position.
  • Earnings from your work-study job are paid directly to you based on your hours worked on a bi-weekly basis. Earnings are NOT automatically applied to your student account. 
  • Students may only work one work-study job at a time. 
  • Students in programs outside the United States, such as study abroad or the Madrid campus, are not eligible for Federal Work Study as labor laws may differ.
  • Awards will be offered as long as funds are available.
  • Awards for the upcoming academic year will begin March 1.

Frequently Asked Questions about Work Study

What is Federal Work-Study (FWS)? 

FWS is a form of Federal Financial Aid administered by the Federal Department of Education to help students pay for their educational expenses via earned wages from a FWS job.

You must submit a FAFSA to be considered for FWS.

How do I receive my FWS award?
  • Your FWS award is the amount you can earn, not the amount you will earn. You must find and
    work a FWS job to receive any FWS money. The amount you actually earn is dependent on your
    hourly wage and the number of hours you work.
  • Once you secure and begin a FWS job, you will be paid what you earn via a biweekly paycheck.
    • This money will be directly deposited to your bank account or paid via a physical check.
  • Be sure to track your earnings to not exceed your FWS award. If you are running low on FWS funds,
    you can email SFS_FWS@slu.edu to request an increase. Increases are based on whether you
    have remained unmet need and are not guaranteed.
Will my FWS earnings be applied directly to my tuition/student account? 

No. All FWS earnings are paid directly to the student via a biweekly paycheck. Earnings cannot be automatically applied to the student account.

Your FWS earnings will never be applied directly to your student balance.

What can I use my FWS earnings for? 

Your FWS earnings are yours to do whatever you would like with. We of course encourage you to use your earnings to pay for educational expenses, but the money is paid directly to your personal bank account and thus is yours to use how you’d like.

I didn’t accept my FWS award; why is it accepted on my financial aid offer?

In past years, FWS awards were awarded in “offered” status and required students to go into their financial aid offer and accept the award before they could apply to FWS jobs in Handshake. This meant that students who hadn’t accepted their award, although eligible for FWS, could not apply to FWS jobs. Because of this, Student Financial Services made the decision for the 2024-2025 academic year to award FWS in “accepted” status so all FWS eligible students can apply for FWS positions in Handshake without having to manually accept their award.

Please note that there is no financial difference/impact on you whether the FWS award is in offered or accepted status. Regardless of the award status, you will not receive any FWS money unless you find and work a FWS job.

If you know you don’t want to use your FWS award, we can decline it for you. Just email sfs_fws@slu.edu to request this.

How many hours a week can I work at my FWS job? 

Students can work up to 20 hours per week at a FWS job while classes are in session.

Students can work up to 40 hours per week during university breaks.

Can I work more than one FWS job? 

No. Students can only work one FWS job at any given time.

However, students can work one FWS job and one student worker job at the same time. If working a FWS job and student worker job at the same time, the student cannot exceed 20 hours per week total, not per job.

Can I work an FWS job during university breaks? 

Yes! As long as you have financial need, you can work a FWS job during university breaks. Students can work up to 40 hours a week during university breaks.

Working a FWS job during the summer requires filling out a Summer Financial Aid Application, which can be accessed on our Financial Aid Forms page. 

You must be enrolled in summer classes or planning to enroll in classes for the following fall semester to be awarded summer FWS.

Working during other university breaks (spring, fall, winter) does not require an additional form.

Do I have to use my FWS award? Will I be penalized if I do not?

No! There is no obligation to use the award, and there will be no penalty if you accept a FWS award but never use it.

If you are awarded but are not planning on pursuing a FWS job, please email sfs_fws@slu.edu and we can remove the award from your financial aid package.

Are all FWS jobs on-campus?

The majority of FWS jobs offered are on-campus. However, we also offer several off-campus community service jobs at local schools/nonprofits/government agencies through the Center for Social Action.

Reach out to sfs_fws@slu.edu for more information on community service FWS opportunities.

Are there FWS jobs with a remote-work option? 

The majority of FWS jobs require you to be on-site and do not offer a remote-work option. Opportunities do arise where remote-work may be available, but they are very rare.

What is a FWS job vs a Student Worker job? 

From the student’s perspective, working a FWS job vs. a student worker job is functionally the same. The main difference is that 75% of your wage from a FWS job is provided by the Federal Department of Education via the FWS program, with only 25% of your wage being paid by SLU. Wages earned from student worker jobs are paid entirely by SLU.

Applying for Work-Study Positions at SLU

To apply for work-study positions at SLU, you’ll need to create an account on Handshake. Once you’re logged in, you can create a profile, upload your résumé and browse job openings.

When you find a job you’re interested in, make sure it’s work-study eligible, and click on the job title to open the description. From there, click on the “apply” tab to submit your application. You will be notified by the department via email or phone if you are selected. Don’t hesitate to contact your financial aid counselor if you haven’t heard anything within two weeks of applying.

The policies, regulations, procedures, and fees are subject to change without prior notice, if necessary, to keep Saint Louis University policies in compliance with state and federal laws and/or with rules and regulations of Saint Louis University.

Tips for Applying for Campus Jobs