Federal Work Study
Earn money and gain valuable job experience through campus-based employment — eligibility is based on financial need from your FAFSA.
About the program
What is the Federal Work Study Program?
The Federal Work-Study Program offers an opportunity for students to earn money while gaining valuable job experience. Eligibility is determined by financial need as indicated on your FAFSA. It is important to be aware that Federal Work Study is what’s called campus-based aid. Campus-based aid is financial resources that have been allocated to various colleges depending on their ability to participate in the Federal Work Study Program and/or the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).
Federal Work Study Availability
These funds are very limited and only allow for JSU to offer FWS funds to a small fraction of our population. These funds are first come, first serve, so it is important for students who are interested in Federal Work Study to complete their FAFSA as soon as possible, which is traditionally October 1st of each year. Also, please be aware that not all students qualify for Federal Work Study, as it depends on a student’s remaining unmet need. This calculation is a combination of what your cost of attendance is, minus your Student Aid Index (SAI), minus your award package. If you have a financial unmet need of $5,000 or greater, you qualify for Federal Work Study, but based on funding levels this does not guarantee you will be awarded Federal Work Study.
What to Do If You Are Awarded Federal Work Study
If offered Federal Work Study and you intend to utilize these FWS funds, a notification will be sent to all students offered FWS requesting that you must accept your FWS award on your Banner THEE account. There will be a timeframe—typically up to one week—to have this process completed.
Getting Placed in a Federal Work Study Position
The Financial Aid Office (located on the ground floor of B.F. Roberts) and the Student Employment and Payroll department (both located in the T. Herbert Payroll Enrollment Center) will have a listing of jobs seeking federal work study students. Students can obtain information on job openings from either of these offices and be directed to the main point of contact within each department. Once you have met with a supervisor and gone through your interview, if you are selected for the FWS position your anticipated supervisor will provide you with a student employment application to complete and submit, along with an I-9 form and documents that will need to accompany the I-9. Incomplete employment applications cannot be processed, which could void your employment with a department supervisor.
Units & resources
- Financial Aid Checklist PDF
- Financial Aid FAQs PDF
- Financial Aid Forms PAGE
- Rights and Responsibilities PAGE
- Parents and Families PAGE
- Creating a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) PAGE
- Tuition and Fees PAGE
- Financial Aid Status PDF
- When the Financial Aid Package Is Not Enough PDF
- Financial Aid Repeat Course Policy PDF
FAFSA & getting started
Students seeking federal financial aid are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Jackson State University’s priority deadline is April 15th each year.
CARES Act Emergency Assistance for Students — learn about emergency assistance available to eligible students.
Service Timeline for Submitted Documents
To prevent a delay in processing your documents, please be sure to:
- Verify documents are filled completely, legible, and signed.
- Check that documents that require a signature have HANDWRITTEN signatures; no typed or electronic signatures are acceptable.
- Verify that all documents contain the student’s name and J-Number.
*Business days do not include weekends, holidays, and all other unspecified days the University is closed.
Division of Financial Aid
Financial Aid Office
P.O. Box 17065
Jackson, MS 39217
Fax: (601) 979-2237