What Is Federal Work Study And How Much Does It Pay For College?

Work study is a form of financial aid that can allow you to earn money on campus to pay for your college expenses. However, we like to call work study "fake aid", because it's not that helpful to actually pay for college expenses - and you'll see why below.

Working part-time during your college career is a great way to cover your living expenses, avoid some amount of student loan debt, and gain skills as an undergraduate.

One way to keep a part-time job during your undergraduate, graduate, or professional school career is through the Federal Work-Study program. The Federal Work-Study program provides part-time jobs to students demonstrating financial need.

The income from Federal Work-Study jobs is taxable, but is exempt from Social Security taxes (known as FICA). Here’s what you need to know about the Federal Work-Study program.