Work Study

What is Work Study?

Work Study is a financial aid program that allows an undergraduate or graduate student to work on-campus or with approved off-campus employers to earn money to pay for college expenses. Work Study is not a grant (you must work to earn it), and it is not a loan (you don't have to repay it).  Being offered Work Study can help a student be eligible for part-time jobs, both on- and off-campus, that they may not have otherwise been eligible for. 

Students determined to have calculated financial need from the FAFSA can be employed by WWU through Federal, State and Institutional work study programs.

Work study provides help paying for educational expenses while students gain experience and job skills associated with their academic major or career interests.

If you receive work study funding, use the Work Study Center’s job listings to help you find a work study job that fits your interests. Your work study job will provide you with a paycheck like any other part-time employment.  You must maintain at least half-time enrollment status to remain eligible for work study employment. More information on work study and non-work study employment is available at the Work Study Center website. 

For more information or to view terms and conditions of student employment, see the Work Study Handbook.

Benefits to Work Study

Borrow less

If you work just 10 hours per week at an hourly wage of $16.66 (Washington State minimum wage in 2025), you can earn approximately $5,500 during the academic year – or approximately $22,000 over four years. If you were to borrow that $22,000 instead of earning it, you would have to repay the loan AND more than $5,100 in interest, given a typical ten year repayment period with current interest rates.

Opportunity to participate

As a Work Study student, you may work long-term with a department, gaining responsibilities and knowledge working side by side with faculty and staff contributing to Western’s institutional excellence.

Sharpen your resume and career goals

With a Work Study job, you gain practical work experience while exploring potential majors and careers. The real-world experience looks great on your résumé! A college graduate who is academically successful and has solid work experience has a competitive edge when entering the work force.

For more information about Work Study, contact the Work Study Center.

I have Work Study: What do I do now?

  1. Accept Work Study in the Web4U student portal.
  2. The Work Study Center will email a Confirmation of Work Study beginning in late August.  Save this email! You will need this to provide to your future employers as confirmation of your Work Study.
  3. Look for jobs online.  Work study jobs are available both on-campus and off-campus.
  4. Contact the employer(s), once you determine which job(s) you are interested in, for application requirements or send in your application materials as directed in the job posting.