Federal Work-Study

Eligibility for Federal Work-Study (FWS) is typically determined based on financial need, as assessed by the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To qualify, students must be enrolled in a participating institution and meet certain eligibility criteria set by the program. If you want to check your work study eligibility amount:

• Go to home.apu.edu
• Click on Financials —> View Financial Aid.

If you don’t see “Federal Work-Study” then you  were not eligible for that particular year. If you have questions, reach out to APU’s Student Services Center at ssc@apu.edu.

Graduate Students: Students who have completed a FAFSA and are eligible for Title IV loans may be eligible for FWS upon request and should contact APU’s Student Services Center (it’s not automatically awarded in the graduate financial aid package).

Typically, student positions are part-time. However, the exact amount of hours varies by role. Be sure to check the range of hours when you are applying in Handshake. Some positions are limited to only the amount of money you have been approved for with FWS. Other positions are not limited to your FWS amount. Azusa Pacific University allows students in some positions to work up to 29 hours per week during the academic year, but hours may vary depending on departmental needs.

Typically, students are allowed to work part-time hours. Azusa Pacific University allows students to work up to 29 hours per week during the academic year, but hours may vary depending on departmental needs.

Pay rates for Federal Work-Study jobs are determined by the employer and must be at least the federal minimum wage. However, some positions may offer higher pay rates depending on the nature of the work and the skills required.

Federal Work-Study earnings do not count towards a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) value in future years’ FAFSAs. Though earnings are reported to the IRS for tax purposes and listed as income in subsequent FAFSAs, income earned through an FWS position is not considered when determining a student’s eligibility for federal or state need-based aid.

It depends on the financial aid package of the individual student. For questions about eligibility or to explore an increase in the award amount, contact APU’s Student Services Center (ssc@apu.edu).

Work schedules for Federal Work-Study jobs often offer flexibility to accommodate your class schedule. You may be able to work around your academic commitments, but the specific arrangements will depend on the requirements of your position and your employer.

Many Federal Work-Study positions provide valuable opportunities for gaining experience, making professional connections, and developing skills relevant to your field of study or future career goals. You may receive training, mentorship, and opportunities for advancement within your role.

If you’re unable to secure a Federal Work-Study position on-campus or with an approved community advancement program (CAP), you can explore other forms of employment both on and off-campus. Center APU’s Center for Career and Community Engaged Learning may offer resources and assistance in finding job opportunities that align with your interests and skills.

Eligibility for Federal Work-Study is typically assessed on an annual basis based on financial need and availability of funds. If you continue to demonstrate financial need and meet the program’s eligibility criteria, you may be able to participate in Federal Work-Study each academic year.

There are several ways you can find out if a student is eligible:

• The easiest and most accurate way is to ask the student, students can refer to their View Financial Aid tab under the home.apu.edu page to verify their eligibility. 
• The following option is for those supervisors who have access in PeopleSoft to view student financial aid: 
  • Login to PeopleSoft
  • Click on the Student Services Center tab on the left side of the page
  • Enter the student’s info and click on the “Search” button (you can either use their name or their student ID)
  • Make sure that you are on the Student Center tab and then click on “View Financial Aid” under the Finances section
  • A small window will pop up asking you to select the aid year you wish to view. Select the current academic year.
  • Once you have selected the year, you will be able to see if the student has a FWS award as shown in the picture above. (Full academic year amount and per semester amounts are noted; semester awards do not roll over and cannot be combined.)

Note: A student may have multiple on-campus jobs utilizing FWS funds.

• The last option is to email studentemployment@apu.edu with applicant APU ID number and full name to request if the student is FWS eligible.

As a supervisor, you do not need to do anything, the office of student employment checks eligibility for Federal Work-Study and the Student Services Center processes use of the funds in connection with payroll through Kronos entries attached to the student’s APU ID number. 

As a supervisor in the Federal Work-Study program, your responsibilities include providing meaningful work experiences related to the student’s field of study, setting clear expectations and goals, monitoring the student's work performance, and approving accurate time entries in Kronos  for payroll purposes.

If you encounter performance or attendance issues with a Federal Work-Study student, address the concerns promptly and professionally. Provide clear feedback, offer support or additional training if needed,  and document any discussions or actions taken. If needed, the student employment office can provide supervisors with a corrective action form.