Federal Work-Study is a federal program designed to help students who have financial need with the costs of education.

Request work-study on your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). In order to be considered for federal aid, the FAFSA must be completed each year and is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov beginning each January 2nd before the upcoming school year. The priority deadline date for completion of the FAFSA is March 1. Requesting work-study on the FAFSA does not guarantee you will receive the award, as it is available on a first-come first served basis. However, if you are not awarded, you may submit a written request to the Financial Aid Office. Funding is limited and varies from year to year.

Students must have financial need as determined by information submitted on the FAFSA, be attending UMKC at least half-time (6 credit hours for undergraduate students, 5 credit hours for graduate students), be making Satisfactory Academic Progress, and have requested work-study for either the academic year or the summer period. If offered work-study, the award must be accepted by the student using the Pathway system. If the award is not accepted, it may be removed and given to another student.

Jobs offered exclusively to work-study students are posted on CareerExec. Students review the jobs and directly contact the supervisor listed on the job of interest. Applications and interviews are completed as with normal employment. Once a job is obtained and new payroll paperwork is completed, students work and receive a paycheck (direct deposit) every two weeks. Awards are generally $4400 for the academic year and $3600 for the summer. Students are not guaranteed to earn the full amount of their award and unused portions do not roll over into the next enrollment period. Responsibilities and expectations are the same as with any job in that students are expected to dress appropriately for the job, exhibit professionalism, etc. An award must be in place for each period a student works. Having a work-study award does not guarantee a job and a student can work only one work-study job at a time.

Generally, you may work 15-20 hours per week. However, there are periods between breaks and semesters during which more hours may be worked, but may never exceed 39 hours per week for all UMKC jobs combined, work-study or otherwise. Discuss the breakdown of hours with your supervisor since the award amount will have to be budgeted throughout the period of employment so the award is not exceeded.

Students with an academic year (fall/winter) award who start classes in the fall may begin working the first day of classes and stop working the last day of classes. Students who have a summer award may start working the first day of summer classes and stop the last day of summer classes. Students who have an academic year award and a summer award may continue working through the break provided the academic year award is not exceeded. Students who have a summer award and an academic year award may continue working through the break provided the summer award is not exceeded.

Some students seek and are able to obtain a work-study job in an area related to their major. However, many of the jobs are administrative in nature and while they provide valuable job skills, may not necessarily be in the major of choice.

Earning the full amount of the award is not guaranteed. In some cases, unused portions of the award may create loan eligibility in the form of unused Stafford Loan money or through alternative loan money.

Contact the Career Services Office. They can assist you with your job search. If you are unable to find a work-study job, you may want to look at the variety of non work-study jobs also posted on CareerExec.

There are a variety of on and off-campus jobs generally available such as work in labs, offices, and in the community. Some community service jobs involve tutoring in which UMKC students tutor pre-school children in math, reading and social skills.

Work-Study jobs are not benefits eligible.

No. This is considered a job like any other. However, there may be slow periods during which time you may study if given the permission of your supervisor. Work-Study students must abide by all departmental regulations regarding work assignments.

Please see the Time and Labor Guide here.

The pay schedule is located here.

Please refer to the Federal Work-Study Handbook for more information.