<p>Why should I get a work-study job instead of a regular job? Don’t I get paid more with a regular job and plus the fact that I can work there as long as I want? And why doesn’t the money I earn from a work-study not go directly to paying off tutition and such, rather than it being directly put in my hands? Is the only good thing about a work-study job is that it is non-taxable income and that people are more willing to hire me on-campus? Is it the school that is paying me or the store itself? Someone please explain to me how work-study operates in layman’s terms! 
Thank you.</p>
<p>A few things I know about work-study - one advantage is that you are basically guaranteed an on-campus job. So, it eliminates the having to look for a job - you go to your school’s financial aid office - and they show you what is available - you might have a quick interview as a formality and you are hired. The money does go to you directly - just like a regular job - and then you can use it for books and other expenses. Income from a work-study job is taxable - just like income from any other job - if you earn enough money to be over the threshold for where you have to file a federal and/or state tax return. I am not aware of work-study job income being treated in a different manner. So, unless you find a job that pays more and gives you as many hours as you want - I think work-study is a good deal.</p>
<p>Work study also does not count against your EFC or student contribution.</p>
<p>Work study jobs are NOT guaranteed.</p>
<p>However, many on campus jobs are designated as w/s, so only those with w/s can even apply for those jobs.</p>
<p>W/S income doesn’t affect EFC</p>
<p>A person can always have a regular job in addition to a w/s job, if desired.</p>
<p>How many hours per week do students usually work? Also, is it usually minimum wage?</p>
<p>And why doesn’t the money I earn from a work-study not go directly to paying off tutition</p>
<p>Because tuition is due before a student has had a chance to earn their work-study money. Plus, when you consider the amount of money a student earns from work-study on a bi-weekly basis, it is more commensurate with what a student would need for day to day expenses.</p>
<p>The hours you’d be able to work per week with a workstudy job is determined by the amount of workstudy funding you’ve been awarded, the particular job you take, and you finding the right balance between classes and studying and work. Any one, or any combination of those things might determine how many hours you work in a week.</p>
<p>My daughter started this academic year working about 10-15 hrs a week at her job. It’s a workstudy job as a research assistant to a professor. There were some projects going on in the office that required more time from her. Now they’ve cut her back to about 6-8 hours a week. She also has earned her entire workstudy amount, but the university is paying her out of their own recourses now. Sometimes schools will do that, other times once you’ve earned your full award you have to leave the job.</p>
<p>If you get awarded a huge amount in workstudy then that isn’t usually the problem. Then the problem is actually being able to work enough hours to earn your full awarded amount.</p>
<p>My son just works a few hours a week. It’s the nature of his workstudy job, there are only so many hours to go around for the students who do that job. He can’t get anymore. He has not been inclined to look for more work on campus, but he could if he wanted to.</p>
<p>Like another poster said, you can also work a regular job in addition to a workstudy job if you want to and it works with your schedule. One advantage to workstudy jobs is that they are used to working around student schedules and tend to be flexible and understanding when you’re swamped with papers, tests or other demands of school.</p>
<p>Pay varies, and sometimes it’s quite good depending on the job, but most workstudy jobs run between $8-11/hr in my experience.</p>
<p>As others have said, although a workstudy job is not guaranteed, it’s often much easier to find a job if you have a workstudy award. This is because it is the government that is funding your wages, not the college itself. It’s basically free labor for the college… naturally they’ll take as much of that as they can get. ;)</p>
<p>Work Study is not necessarily minimum wage. My current Work Study job pays about $12 an hour. (And there were higher paying jobs, but I really liked this particular job.) The higher wage you’re paid, the less hours you have to work, since you can get up to the maximum amount of your WorkStudy award and no more.</p>
<p>The jobs are really nice because they’re usually (but not always) on campus, you can sometimes (not always) “get in” with something related to your major or department, and often you’re working for people who understand that college students may have a weird/flexible schedule. </p>
<p>There’s also a tax advantage that I don’t fully remember at the moment. I think it’s that your WorkStudy money is subtracted from you AGI when the school calculates your financial aid, which lowers your EFC.</p>
<p>As far as why it’s not applied directly to tuition, different people use WorkStudy for different things. I have enough other financial aid to cover my CC tuition so I use my WorkStudy money for living expenses (rent, food, etc.)</p>
<p>what I don’t understand is the part about if you don’t work enough hours to meet the reward, you lose the work-study? What money is lost when you are already getting paid money directly to you?</p>
<p>Auburn, if you’re awarded say $4,000 in work study but you’re only able to work a few hours a week, then you’ll forfeit whatever part of the $4K you didn’t earn. The award is a ceiling, not a floor.</p>
<p>Naturally, I believe the tax advantage is that work study isn’t subject to the normal Social Sec. and Medicare deductions from gross wages.</p>
<p>The government gives the college a sum of workstudy funds to work with. The college then allocates that sum to students as they choose. If you don’t earn the maximum amount of workstudy funds you are awarded, that money is just unused by the university and would be retained by the government. Like any government grant that was unclaimed. The difference is that with workstudy, the student earns the money through part-time work rather than just being awarded it.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s possible to earn less than the maximum amount of WorkStudy offered. So if you earn $1000 and your maximum WorkStudy award was for $1500, you don’t get the additional $500. </p>
<p>I think this is what you’re asking about?</p>
<p>One thing about w/s jobs is that since they are campus jobs most of the employers understand if you have a big exam or something school related you have to deal with. Off campus you might just get fired.</p>
<p>I would just comment that it is possible to have both. My d. has always worked both private jobs and work-study during her 4 years of college. She attends school in Manhattan so its pretty easy to find part-time work. </p>
<p>I’d note that the campus work-study jobs look better on a resume – for example, research assistant to professor (work-study), vs. waiting tables at local cafe (non work study).</p>
<p>So if you are going to earn 2,800 though work study for a year, then you need to get $2800 before you enter school? Or is that money due at the end of the school year?</p>
<p>Also what type of jobs do you normally get through work study? Whats the chances of getting a good job like being in the tech department during your first year?</p>
<p>Sorry for just jumping into this thread.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Work study earnings are for the student. They are for the student to spend on “day to day” expenses. If you work, then you get money to spend. If you choose not to work, then you won’t get a paycheck to spend.</p>
<p>So, the money isn’t “due” anywhere. It’s a job for you to earn pocket money.</p>
<p>There are all kinds of different W-S jobs. Some are clerical, some are helping profs, some are working in campus bookstores or dining venues. You need to contact your school to find out what is available.</p>
<p>Collegeguz, work study is just a type of job you have while in school. First, you find the job the first week you are there. Then you go do the work scheduled. Then two weeks later you get a paycheck made out to you. You put it in the bank or cash it, then spend it as you see fit. Repeat until the last week of May.</p>
<p>I understand that, but for example, for me to attend my university i need the work study money which is $2,800. So would I need to find those $2,800 before I enter the school?</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>I’ve forgotten what the breakdown of your aid package is from Loyola. Do the grants cover your tuition and room/board? How about books? Copy/paste your COA and aid package so we can see how much cash you need to start out with to buy your books and such.</p>
<p>I doubt you’d need $2800 to start with. After all, you don’t need to buy your second semester books until winter.</p>
<p>At the same time my parents can’t take the loan so I pretty sure I need the work study to cover it all.</p>
<p>COA: $48,110 (living on campus).</p>
<p>Joseph A. Sellinger S.J. Scholars $6,250
Federal pell Grant $5,000
Federal ACG Grant (1year) $750
Federal Supplemental Grant $1,250
Claver Grant $22900
Federal Work study $2800</p>
<p>Federal Direct loan-subsidized $3,500
Federal Direct loan-Unsubsidized $2,000</p>
<p>Other resources:
MD educational assistance grant: 3,000
Federal Direct Plus load eligibility: 5,320</p>