Federal Work-Study
Federal Work-Study (FWS) is an employment program intended to encourage and promote the part-time employment of students with demonstrated financial need, as well as, assist the University. This program is awarded primarily to undergraduate students with financial need as determined by the results from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which becomes available by December 1st of every year. Due to funding restrictions, there is no guarantee FWS awards will offered to all eligible students.
Student Success Story
"FWS has made such a positive impact on my time here at Tech by allowing me to gain
skills for future careers and making connections that will last a lifetime. This has
been such an amazing opportunity for me to get involved on campus and love Tech even
more. By working on campus, benefits such as working in between classes have always
made a huge impact on me and my ability to work while in school. I am forever grateful
for FWS and all the opportunities it brings!" – Kennidy McClain, Student Worker for The Office of Financial Aid

Federal Work-Study Awards
The FWS Program Awards Tech students an average of $2500 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!
You will earn $10.00 an hour and be 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.
- » I keep getting an error when I try to log in to the Student Job Portal. Why?
- » How do I apply for FWS?
- » How do I accept my FWS award?
- » Will FWS pay towards my account balance?
- » When should I start searching for a FWS job?
- » Where do I search for a FWS job?
- » What do I need to complete before I can start working?
- » When and where do I report my time?
- » Can I switch FWS positions?
- » Will I get FWS again next year?
For help with entering & editing your time sheet, please reference the Time Sheet section of the website!