Federal and Texas Work Study Programs

The primary purpose of the Federal and Texas Work Study Programs, is to provide part-time employment for students who demonstrate financial need in order to defray/contribute to the cost of higher education. Work Study employment allows students the opportunity to earn their aid and is not intended to interfere with a student’s education; a student’s studies will be given first priority.

Both work study programs provide on-campus and off-campus part-time employment for undergraduates who are enrolled during the Fall, Spring and/or sometimes a part of the Summer semester.

The number of Work Study positions available per year for the college is determined by the Federal and Texas Work Study allocations from the U.S. Department of Education and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board respectively, for that aid year.

Requirements

Students must:

• Be registered and attending classes; under the Texas Work Study Program, students must be registered and attending at least 6 credit hours per semester.
• Apply and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); work study funding is limited so it is better to start early; if students are applying during the end of Spring semester for May-June employment, the students must have the upcoming year’s FAFSA complete too.
• Meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.
• Have unmet need.
• Express their interest to be considered for work study below.
• Consent for South Texas College to conduct a criminal background check as necessary while meeting applicable requirements.
• Complete all Human Resources tasks, if awarded work study funds.

Expressing interest to be considered for Work Study

To be considered for Work Study, students must express interest below. Students can add their name, only once per aid year, (September of the current aid year through June of next year). As mentioned before, funds are limited and are based on eligibility and date of FAFSA and financial aid file completion.

Note: Submitting the name to the Work Study Interest link does not guarantee a work study award offer, nor an interview.

If not hired, students must express their interest for the new aid year, to be considered.

Submit Your Interest in Work Study Here

Finding a Work Study Job

• Steps to hire new work studies will be made available after the transition to the new ERP system, Workday.
• Steps to rehire work studies for Spring 2025 will change and procedures will be provided to supervisors directly before the end of the Fall 2024 semester.

Additional Information

• Work Study students are allowed to work a maximum of 19 hours per week, earning $15.50 per hour; there is no minimum. Nineteen hours a week will allow the student to continuously work while enrolled in school.
• Work Study students are not allowed to earn more than what was awarded to them, see Jagnet Financial Aid. It is the student’s and supervisor’s responsibility not to exceed the total award amount.
• Maximum award is based on a student's need.
• Students may or may not earn all of the work study funds awarded and if they exhaust their eligibility, work study employment will end. An example is when students get additional aid that may use up their unmet need.
• Students can have only one work study job at a time.
• Students must have a pre-arranged work schedule at the start of every semester.
• Students cannot work during scheduled class time.
• Students must have a reasonable gap between class, work hours and/or mealtimes, to allow them to arrive on time.
• Students must have a 30 minutes break after working 5 hours straight.
• Work Study students may not volunteer their services; they must be paid all hours worked.
• Students cannot work when the college is closed, see academic calendar.
• The number of Work Study positions available for each department, per year, is determined by the Federal and Texas Work Study allocations from the U.S. Department of Education and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board respectively, for that aid year.
• Off campus employment is considered employment at school districts, community service organizations, city public libraries, etc.