Federal Work-Study
Welcome to our Federal Work Study Hub! Looking for general information, have already accepted an FWS offer, or are a FWS Supervisor? Click on the links below to learn more, read some FAQs, and access our FWS employee/supervisor resources!
What is Federal Work Study? Frequently Asked Questions Federal Work Study Resources
Student Testimonials
My Federal Work Study job understands that I am a student first! The flexible hours make it so easy to work, even with my busy class schedule!
Kelsey O.
What is Federal Work Study?
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program encourages and promotes the part-time employment of students on campus. FWS awards are primarily offered to undergraduate students who exhibit financial need, as determined by information provided in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which becomes available by October 1st every year.
Awarded students receive an average of $2,500 per academic year. The exact amount you receive is determined by how many hours you actually work. Awards are based on an average of 5-10 hours a week in order to earn each term’s full award.
Your total work-study award depends on:
- When you apply
- Your level of financial need
- Tech’s funding availability
FWS funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so we strongly encourage you to complete the FAFSA as soon as it becomes available!
FWS students earn $10.00 an hour and are paid once a month. You are strongly encouraged to fill out a Direct Deposit form on Eagle Pay so that your paycheck can be automatically deposited into your bank account of choice.
All money earned through FWS is considered income. Therefore, it cannot be credited to a student's account or used to confirm registration.
Note: Under no circumstances is a student permitted to work during scheduled class periods. If the student's class ends early or is cancelled, the student cannot report to work until the scheduled class time has ended. Failure to obey this Federal guideline can result in termination from the FWS Program.
If you did not receive a Federal Work Study offer through your FAFSA but wish to receive a FWS award, please submit an email to financialaid@tntech.edu that expresses your interest in FWS and includes your name and T# so we can add you to our waiting list. Please note that, due to an ever-growing list and limited funds, we cannot guarantee positions. If you require immediate job placement assistance, please see the Center for Career Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
- » I keep getting an error when I try to log in to the Student Job Portal. Why?
- » How do I apply for Federal Work Study?
- » I have received an FWS Offer. How do I accept it?
- » Will my Federal Work Study pay towards my account balance?
- » When should I start applying for FWS jobs?
- » Where do I search for available FWS jobs?
- » What steps do I need to take before I can start working in my FWS job?
- » When and Where do I report my time worked?
- » Am I able to switch Federal Work Study positions?
- » Am I guaranteed an FWS award next year if I received one for this year?
Federal Work Study Resources