Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a need-based financial aid program, partially subsidized through the U.S. Department of Education, that assists students with their educational expenses through part-time employment. Students will gain valuable experience and skills that are transferable to their future careers.
FWS is offered to students who demonstrate financial need based on their FAFSA and who meet the Office of Financial Aid’s FWS awarding guidelines. To be eligible for FWS, a student must be admitted to a DigiPen degree program, enrolled at least half time for each term of employment, and be in good academic standing. Students may not work during hours they are scheduled to be in class, even if that class is cancelled for the day.
The program does not pay a student’s bill directly and is not disbursed in a lump sum. Students earn the funds by working an on-campus position and can use those earnings to pay for personal expenses. FWS earnings are considered taxable income by the IRS, however, these earnings are not counted as income when they are reported on the FAFSA.
Students will need to apply and be hired for an eligible on-campus position to earn their FWS funds. Only positions that are designated with FWS in the job title or description are eligible for Federal Work-Study. To view DigiPen student employment listings, please visit the student job page.