Federal Work-Study Program
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Program Objective
To provide part-time employment to eligible postsecondary students to help meet educational expenses and encourage students receiving program assistance to participate in community service activities.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Other
Higher education institutions (public, private nonprofit, postsecondary vocational, and proprietary) meeting eligibility requirements may apply.
Beneficiaries
- University Higher Education
- Non-university Higher Education
- Graduate and Professional Higher Education
Undergraduate, graduate, or professional students enrolled or accepted for enrollment as regular students; are maintaining satisfactory academic progress in accordance with the standards and practices of the institution; have financial need; do not owe a refund on a Title IV grant; are not in default on a Title IV loan; file a statement of educational purpose; file a statement of registration compliance (Selective Service); and meet citizen/resident requirements may benefit.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
The Office of Student Financial Aid determines final awards and notifies participating institutions. Postsecondary institutions determine individual student awards.
Notices of tentative awards sent by February 1 and final award notifications sent by April 1.
Program details & compliance
Description
The Federal Work-Study program ensures access to postsecondary education and lifelong learning by offsetting some postsecondary education costs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need with income from part-time employment. Federal funds are distributed to qualifying institutions whose financial aid administrators select eligible students. Students may be employed by the institution; by a Federal, State, or local public agency or private nonprofit organization; or by a private, for-profit organization.
Mission Categories
Primary: Higher Education
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
The Federal share of compensation paid to students does not exceed 75 percent for work on campus, or work in a public agency or private nonprofit organization, unless waived by the Secretary. The Federal share of compensation paid to students does not exceed 50 percent for jobs with a private-for-profit organization. No more than 25 percent of an institution's work-study allocation may be used for private-for-profit organizations. If it provides FWS employment to its students in that year, an institution is entitled to an administrative cost allowance for an award year of 5 percent of the first $2,750,000 of its program expenditures, plus up to 4 percent for expenditures greater than $2,750,000 but less than $5,500,000, plus up to 3 percent of expenditures in excess of $5,500,000. An institution is required to use at least 7 percent of its total FWS allocation to pay the Federal share of wages to students employed in community service jobs unless it receives a waiver.
Required Documentation
Institutions must document their eligibility and students must demonstrate financial need.
Matching Requirements
Under the funding formula, funds are distributed to institutions, first, on the basis of the institution's base guarantee plus the pro rata share received during the 1999-2000 award year under the FWS Program and, then, on the basis of the aggregate need of the eligible students in attendance. Employers of FWS recipients must contribute 25 percent of the funding, (except in the case of private, for-profit organizations, which must match 50 percent) and in the case of established criteria for which the matching requirement is waived.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements
Formula
42 U.S.C. 2751-2756a