<p>Work-study actually does have bearing on co-ops. It depends a lot on what you’re trying to do. I’ve wanted to work at non-profits, and the work-study program at Northeastern will actually pay you for working at your co-op at a non-profit, so the organization doesn’t have to. There were places that I couldn’t even apply because I didn’t have work-study, and places that wouldn’t have paid me, but as a work-study student, I would have made a decent wage. I took one co-op that was an amazing experience, but I was paid a stipend of $200 week (for 40+ hours). If I were work-study, I would have gotten at least minimum wage. </p>
<p>I don’t think they do that for jobs that are not at non-profits, but major can still have a huge bearing on payment. As a journalism major, I know that many people who wanted to do broadcast journalism would not get paid for co-ops. That’s just how it is in the industry because it’s so competitive. Doesn’t matter how proactive and involved they are; for example ESPN would be an amazing opportunity and whoever got it would be an excellent candidate who had done a great job applying, but they probably still wouldn’t get paid (this information is a few years old, so may have changed).</p>