Work Study
Federal Work-Study and Student Employment
Working while you attend CCC can help with college and everyday expenses while giving you experience you can use in future jobs.
CCC students may have access to Federal Work-Study (FWS) positions as well as other student employment opportunities. Federal Work-Study is part of the federal financial aid program, but it works differently from grants and loans because you earn the money by working a job.
What Is Federal Work-Study?
Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for students with financial need. The program helps eligible students earn money while attending college. Work-Study positions may be on-campus at CCC or off-campus with an approved community service organization.CCC has worked with community partners such as the Flagstaff Public Library and The Literacy Center for Work-Study opportunities.
Am I Eligible for Federal Work-Study?
To be considered for Federal Work-Study at CCC, you must:
- Be enrolled at CCC;
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and any other required financial aid steps;
- Have remaining financial need, meaning your need is not already fully covered by other need-based financial aid;
- Be enrolled in an eligible program of study; and
- Meet CCC’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements for receiving financial aid.
Learn more about Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Being eligible for Work-Study does not mean you are automatically given a job. Jobs and funding are limited, and you must apply and be selected for an available position.
How Do I Get a Work-study Job?
- Complete the FAFSA: Your FAFSA helps CCC determine whether you have the financial need required for Federal Work-Study
- Apply for a Job: Fill out the general student worker job application.
- Complete the Hiring Process: If a supervisor is interested in your application, you may be contacted for an interview and other hiring steps.
If you are not hired, you can continue checking for openings and apply again in the future. [THIS NEEDS TO BE FACT CHECKED]
How Does FWS Money Work?
Federal Work-Study may appear as part of your financial aid offer, but you do not receive the full amount automatically.
Instead, your work-study award is the maximum amount you are generally allowed to earn through your FWS job during that award period. You earn the money as you work and receive it through regular paychecks.
For example, if you are offered a certain amount of Federal Work-Study, that does not mean that amount will be credited to your tuition bill or sent to you at the beginning of the semester. You must work the hours needed to earn it.
Your work schedule and total hours are based in part on your financial need, your award amount, your job, and your class schedule. Federal Work-Study is intended to be part-time employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Federal Work-Study award is the maximum amount you can earn through the program for that award period. If you reach that amount, additional work-study hours are not guaranteed. Talk with your supervisor and Financial Aid about whether other funding or student employment options may be available.
You may still be able to work for CCC as a regular student employee. These positions are paid with college funds instead of Federal Work-Study funds, but you still apply for an open position and go through the hiring process. You can also use CCC Career Services to look for other on-campus and off-campus job opportunities.
No. Being eligible for Federal Work-Study means you may apply for work-study positions, but you are not automatically assigned a job. You must apply, meet the job requirements, and be selected by the employer.
Federal Work-Study earnings are treated differently from regular job earnings when federal financial aid eligibility is calculated. Your work-study earnings are excluded from the income used to determine your future federal student aid eligibility, so earning Federal Work-Study wages should not reduce your aid simply because you had a work-study job.
Federal Work-Study earnings are wages and are subject to income tax rules. Your employer will provide you with a W-2 showing how much you earned and any taxes that were withheld. Use that form when filing your tax return.
