The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate financial need. FWS gives the student a chance to earn money to help pay for educational or personal expenses while working on campus or in community service work.

A FWS student is paid through a combination of institutional and federal funds. FWS Students are eligible to receive an award during Fall, Spring, and Summer terms within an academic year.  Any amount unused within an awarded term will be voided at the conclusion of the term.  Once the FWS award is earned, the FWS student is no longer eligible for employment unless chosen to be hired as a Student Assistant and paid through the hiring department's budget.

FWS students may work up to 20 hours per week. FWS pay rates may start at $10.00, varying based upon position.

Federal Work-Study Eligibility

In order for a student to be eligible for FWS, students must have a completed financial aid file, have financial need, be enrolled at least half-time, and have at least a 2.0 Adjusted GPA (undergraduate students) and at least a 3.0 Adjusted GPA (graduate students) earned for KSU classes. Interested students should complete the following requirements to determine their eligibility for the FWS program:

Eligibility and Requirements

Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is necessary to request KSU to be listed as your school's choice. The code for KSU is 001577.

FWS Award at KSU

  1. All students currently interested in receiving Federal Work-Study must complete the FAFSA,  by March 1st. 
  2. To apply for a Federal Work Study position, all students must have a current financial aid award, which can be viewed on Owl Express. This is the first step in determining your eligibility for the Federal Work-Study Program.
  3. After completion of FAFSA application, applicants will receive a response in their  KSU email which verifies that their application has been satisfied, denied, or is under review.

KSU Student Employment Requirements

The KSU employment policies are the same for all KSU students, whether Student Assistant or Federal Work-Study Student Assistant. However, FWS student assistants cannot exceed their awarded amount.

  • All student employees must be enrolled in at least half-time enrollment (6 eligible credit hours for undergraduate students and 5 eligible credit hours for graduate students).
  • All student employees must be in good financial and academic standing and have at least a 2.0 Adjusted GPA (undergraduate students) and a 3.0 Adjusted GPA (graduate students), although some departments require a higher GPA.
  • FWS students cannot work more than 20 hours per week total.

To learn more about student employment, please visit Student Employment website below.

If I am hired as a Work-Study Student Assistant, I understand that:

  • I cannot earn more than my award amount.
  • I may not work more than 20 hours per week.
  • I will not be allowed to work during my classes.
  • I must notify my supervisor if I am unable to work at my scheduled time.
  • I cannot work on class assignments or projects during scheduled work hours unless approved by my supervisor.
  • I must maintain a 2.0 Adjusted GPA (undergraduate students) or a 3.0 Adjusted GPA (graduate students).
  • I understand that I must be enrolled at least half-time in eligible coursework for FWS eligibility.
  • I may be dismissed for refusing to work, not showing up during my scheduled time, punctuality problems, performance problems, or creating a disturbance within the office.
Student Employment student job openings