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Home > College Offices > SFS Updates > Types of Financial Aid > Student Employment > Work Study FAQ
Work Study FAQ
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Frequently Asked Questions
I'm a freshman and I'm only working 2 hours in dining commons, can I work anywhere else?
Yes! Head to the JobX student employment page and search out other opportunities that interest you.
What if I don’t use my workstudy, how does this affect my financial aid?
Work study is not applied to your tuition account and is not mandatory; it’s available to help you with your personal and book expenses. Can I replace my workstudy with loan or grant?
It may be possible to replace your work study with loan depending on your loan level. If you have not reached the maximum eligibility for your Federal Direct Student Loan, you may be able to replace work study with additional loan. Your work study will not be replaced with grant.
I need to work more than my MEL(Maximum Earnings Limit) in order to pay my family contribution, how much more can I work?
You should not be working more than 8-10 hours a week during the semester. You really should not be working more than 10 hrs a week. J-Term earnings have been removed from the MEL, which will allow you to earn more. You may contact Student Financial Services if you would like to discuss your earnings limit and options that might exist.
What if I go over my MEL?
You should try to keep your excess earnings within $300 of your packaged work study.
I don’t have workstudy in my package – can I work more?
All students are expected to work no more than 8-10 hours regardless of their workstudy status. You are a student first!
Do J-Term earnings apply to MEL?
The majority J-Term earnings are not applied to the MEL. This was changed in order to give our student population an opportunity to have greater earning power. The only positions that earnings will be applied to the MEL are the Community Service and America Reads positions as these are federally funded programs.
My schedule will allow me to work more in the fall than in the spring. Do I have to stop working when I reach $1000-1050?
Your work study is divided equally on your financial aid package but if your work availability is greater in one semester vs. another, you are not constrained by those amounts. However, you should be working no more than 8-10 hours.
I want to work with America reads/community service but I don’t have federal workstudy. Can this be switched?
A director will need to look at your package in order for that to be determined. Contact Student Financial Services.
Does my HP/SA stipend count toward my MEL?
Yes, your stipend does count as earnings and will be monitored. Your contract with the housing office stipulates that you should not be working elsewhere, so you should verify with the housing office to clarify if there is any conflict with your working in another department.
I have to pay my int'l tax and I want to increase my workstudy.
If a student’s tax is greater than $250 a semester, her work study earnings limit can be increased to accommodate the taxes. For those students who are below the $250 minimum, there is leeway with work study earnings, but they should not exceed the $300 minimum. This tax will be due every year and you should anticipate it with your summer/J-Term earnings. If a student would like to increase her work study earnings to help pay for the international tax, she should email Student Financial Services.
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