Work-Study

Work-Study promotes part-time, hourly employment for financially eligible students, who “earn while they learn” on campus. Many departments are eager to hire student employees, and can provide positions relevant to their degrees and hours that fit their academic schedules.

Participants are responsible for finding a job designated for Work-Study students, either through job postings or with the help of the University Career Center, and for meeting hiring requirements. While all employers must pay KU campus minimum wage, pay varies depending on the job and an applicant’s qualifications.

The total amount awarded is disbursed on a regular basis through paychecks from the employer. Students and employers are responsible for monitoring the status of a work-study award. Once the earnings limit has been reached, eligibility ends and employment must be terminated or switched to regular student hourly payroll. (Academic-year earnings are exempt from student contribution calculations on the following year's FAFSA.)

 

Federal Work-Study

To be considered for limited Federal Work-Study (FWS) funds, a student must meet all federal student aid eligibility criteria and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards, then file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Undergraduate FWS recipients may work up to 30 hours per week when classes are in session and 40 hours when not in session, including summer. Hours for graduate-level recipients are governed by this KU policy. 

To be eligible for Summer Federal Work-Study, a student must be enrolled and have filed a FAFSA for the previous academic year (the summer term is considered part of the previous academic year for aid purposes).

Current students interested in this program should contact their financial aid counselor or submit a Federal Work-Study Request.

Important FWS Dates

  • August 17, 2024: Last day to use summer funds.
  • August 18, 2024: First day to use 2024-25 funds.
  • January 18, 2025: Last day to use “fall only” award funds for 2024-25.
  • January 19, 2025: First day to use “spring only” funds for 2024-25.
  • May 24, 2025: Last day to use 2024-25 academic-year funds.
  • May 25, 2025: First day to use summer funds of 2025.

Kansas Career Work-Study

The Kansas Career Work-Study (KCWS) program is a state-funded program intended to provide employers with incentives to hire KU students in career-related positions. To participate, a student must be a resident of the State of Kansas enrolled in a minimum of 6 hours at a GPA of +2.0, have a declared major related to the work performed, and have a FAFSA on file. 



Employers interested in participating must submit an application to the University Career Center (UCC). More information can be found on the UCC website.

Additional resources