Federal Work-Study
The Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) is a federal program that provides part-time employment opportunities for undergraduate and graduate matriculated students.
Overview
Unlike other forms of federal aid, FWS is not automatically applied to a student's bill, as it is earned through hours worked rather than a guaranteed static amount of direct aid or loans. FWS allows funding from which eligible students are paid for their hours worked, meaning the amount earned each federal aid year is determined on how many hours the student works. For this reason, the amount of FWS offered is meant to reflect a maximum amount a student might be eligible to earn dependent on the institutional needs of the office in which the student is employed.
Eligibility
Eligibility is based on need as determined by information on the most recent FAFSA received by Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS). If a student makes changes to their FAFSA, changes their number of credits enrolled, receives a scholarship, or reports other information that impacts their overall unmet need for the federal aid year, it may either change the maximum amount for which they may be eligible or impact their eligibility overall.
For the 2025-2026 federal aid year, full-time students may work up to 20 hours a week while classes are in session and 35 hours a week during holiday breaks and vacation periods, earning an annual amount of up to $4,000; part-time students may also be eligible for FWS by either submitting a Change of Award Form prior to the start of the semester to confirm their part-time enrollment status OR after mid-to-late September for Fall semesters / mid-to-late February for Spring semesters once their financial aid is adjusted to reflect part-time status. Students are paid bi-weekly at an hourly wage for work performed.
Employment Opportunities
Employment opportunities are numerous and intended to provide career-related experience. Employment options exist on campus in a variety of campus departments, offices, and programs that have been approved for FWS budgets, such as the university library, laboratories, facility operations, health services, and more. In certain situations, and as long as there is a non-OFAS on-campus supervisor to supplement the on-site supervisor, Southern may also award FWS funding to students working for local, off-campus nonprofit agencies as related to their role as a student at the university.
Please see the JOBSS link below for current job listings through the Office of Career & Professional Development (OCPD). Once a job is secured, students are required to complete the current federal aid year's FWS Hiring Packet for processing, as found on the Financial Aid section of Southern's One Stop Forms page.