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Federal Work Study

  • Federal Work-Study (FWS) for Cornell undergraduates is a financial aid need-based program administered through the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment in 203 Day Hall.
  • To receive FWS you must apply for and receive financial aid through Cornell University. Not all financial aid recipients receive FWS eligibility. FWS eligibility will be listed on your Financial Aid Award Letter. It is also listed on Bear Access under Just the Facts / Financial Aid.
  • Along with loans, FWS is considered part of the self-help component of your financial aid package. An FWS award indicates the amount of money you are expected to earn in order to help meet the cost of your Cornell education. The award indicates the total gross wages you are eligible to earn through the FWS program for the award period (academic year or summer).
  • FWS can be awarded for the academic year and/or the summer employment term. Academic Year FWS cannot be used for summer employment and is awarded as part of your academic year financial aid package.
  • Summer FWS may be available to reimburse an employer for a portion of your summer wages. Summer FWS is awarded either as part of a summer financial aid package (for students taking summer classes), or through the Develop Your Own Summer Internship (DYO) program for continuing students who are not taking summer classes.
  • FWS can be used for most Cornell University hourly student jobs, Off-campus for community service jobs in the local area, Off-campus with not-for-profit agencies nationwide (job must be pre-approved), and occasionally for explicitly career-related jobs in small profit agencies. These employers are usually reimbursed for 50% of your gross earnings.
  • The only way you receive FWS "money" is by working in a paid hourly job. When you work at Cornell, you submit time worked electronically and receive a paycheck (or a Direct Deposit into your bank account) on a biweekly basis. The money is yours to spend. Whether you apply those earnings towards miscellaneous expenses, books and supplies, or paying your Bursar Bill - it's up to you to determine how best to use that money to meet your educational expenses.
  • Wages earned through FWS are TAXABLE INCOME (but will not be used to calculate your financial aid for next year).
  • FWS eligibility is valid only for the award period in which it is given. If you don't use any (or all) of it, the balance cannot be carried forward to a subsequent award period, nor can the balance be paid to you in cash or applied as a reduction to your Bursar bill.
  • When you are hired into a work-study position you and your supervisor should immediately estimate your total gross earnings for the position (hourly wage x hours/week x weeks scheduled to work). If this total exceeds your initial FWS eligibility you may request an increase.
  • Requests for FWS increases should be made within 30 days of the start of the academic year or summer term. Requests submitted after this point will be approved only if funds are available. (Please note that an increase in FWS generally results in a reduction in your loan eligibility.)
  • Due to changes in your financial aid package, FWS eligibility can be reduced or cancelled during the academic year. Additionally, changes in your family's financial situation may affect your FWS eligibility from year to year.
  • FWS is federal funding and cannot be awarded to Foreign National students.