Federal Work-Study

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a federal financial aid program that allows undergraduate students with financial need the opportunity to earn a determined amount of money for living and school-related expenses by working in an approved Work-Study job on or off-campus. FWS does not function like other forms of financial aid (e.g., Grants, Loans, Scholarships). Other forms of financial aid are directly disbursed and applied toward a student’s balance with Student Accounting. To access and earn Work-Study funds, students must obtain and actively work in an approved Federal Work-Study job. Earnings are paid semi-monthly in the form of a paycheck through direct deposit, not deducted from your student bill. 

The program is designed to provide students with opportunities for personal and professional growth and development as they begin to learn the skills that will prepare them to enter the workforce upon graduation.

Students in FWS positions will demonstrate their capacity to:

  • Link disciplinary content to the real world.
  • Apply disciplinary content and knowledge gained from experience, including lived experience, within work settings.
  • Develop a sense of connection to an office, project/work team, and/or professional setting.
  • Explore professional development and career preparation issues that are personally meaningful.

Contact Federal-Work Study at VCU

Give us a call at (804) 828-6181 or email workstudy@vcu.edu. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For students

To be considered for FWS, students must:

  • Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by VCU’s priority deadline
  • Be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours) in a degree-seeking program
  • Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements
  • Have a Student Aid Index (SAI) less than or equal to 15,000. The SAI is a direct output of the FAFSA and can only be obtained via the FAFSA.
  • Have sufficient remaining financial need as determined by the Department of Education

To determine whether you received a Federal Work-Study award, log in to eServices. Click the “Financial Aid” tab, followed by the “Financial Aid Dashboard”, then click on the “Offer” tab. If you received Federal Work-Study, you will see it under the “Self-Help Aid” section. To accept or decline the award, if received, then utilize the drop-down button next to the award and select your choice. Accepting your award does not guarantee you will – nor does it obligate you to – obtain a Work-Study position. Accepting or declining your award also will not impact your future award eligibility. You must, however, accept your award to explore Work-Study jobs and internships. After clicking "accept" and waiting 1-2 business days for the system to update, a new filter called "Work-Study" will show up in Handshake. Please note that incoming freshmen and new transfer students must also be enrolled in classes before a Handshake account is created. Review "Searching for FWS jobs" below to learn more.

Federal Work-Study is awarded based on the assumption that a student will be enrolled full-time (minimum of 12 credits) for the full academic year (fall and spring semesters). Any potential changes to a student’s enrollment status must be reported to the Federal Work-Study office to determine any potential impact on FWS eligibility.

Please review the Federal Work-Study Student Guide for a brief overview of the program. For more in-depth information, please review the Federal Work-Study Student Handbook. Please contact the Federal Work-Study office for additional questions.

For employers

The FWS program provides support staff to VCU departments and community organizations in Richmond at little or no cost to the employer.

The FWS program covers 100% of FWS student wages. Employers are not required to contribute toward student wages. However, employers may be required to pay any student earnings over the student's FWS allotment or if there are any changes in a student’s eligibility. This labor distribution and cost coverage is effective for the 2025-2026 academic year only and will be reevaluated yearly. Read the Federal Work-Study Employer Handbook for details.

August 10, 2025 is the earliest possible date authorized students can begin working for the AY 2025-2026. The last day of the FWS program for AY 2025-2026 is May 9, 2026.