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Work-Study Employment

The Benefits of Working as a Student

Student employment is a WIN for both the student and the employer. The student employee benefits from the additional financial resources and an opportunity to develop skills for future employment.  The employer benefits from a creative and motivated workforce.

Student employment provides students with career-enhancing opportunities, the ability to develop skills relevant to any majors, and the necessary preparation and assistance for competitive job markets.  While you may think working as a student will take time away from your academics, studies show that students who work 20 hours or less per week statistically do better in school on average than their non-working peers (Noel-Levitz, 2010). Also, students who are “connected” to campus report a higher satisfaction with their college life, graduate in higher numbers, and graduate more quickly.

DSU research shows that on campus student employment makes a significant difference in retention rates and graduation rates.

Work-Study Definition

Work-Study is a limited-fund financial aid program where students are paid for the hours worked at their work-study job. Students are not paid to study. Payment for the hours worked is deposited in the student’s bank account, it is not credited to the student’s University account.

Students are not guaranteed a job if they are offered work-study. As with any on or off-campus job, students must apply. Some Student Employment job postings can only be filled by students offered work-study. Often students that have been offered work-study can more easily find a job.  Employers are anxious to hire work-study students since they pay only 50% of the student’s wages and the work-study program pays the other 50%.

Work-Study students can be employed at University jobs or with approved off-campus government or non-profit agencies. Some jobs are designed to specifically benefit the community and are designated as community service positions.

To be offered Work-Study, a student must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program
  • Demonstrate a financial need by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year
  • Request to be offered Work-Study when completing the FAFSA
  • Be enrolled for at least six hours as an undergraduate student or five hours as a graduate student. For the summer, graduate students must be enrolled for at least three hours. View information on the impact of dropping classes Academic Regulations

Earning Potential and Hours Limitations

The maximum work study offer for in-state students in $1,500 for the academic year and $2,500 for out-of-state students. Summer maximums are determined each year based on funding availability.

Student hourly limitations are established by State of Delaware Law. Students may work a maximum number of 20 hours per week during the academic year.