12 Work-Study Program Qualifications

2. FAFSA completion

Completing the FAFSA is the most common gateway to work-study awards and other federal aid. Schools use FAFSA data to determine eligibility for Federal Work-Study and other need-based support, so missing the FAFSA usually means no FWS award. You must create an FSA ID to sign electronically, and you’ll report prior-prior year tax information unless your school uses alternative data. Deadlines vary: there’s a federal FAFSA timeline plus many schools and states set earlier institutional deadlines. Missing an institutional or state deadline can limit your access to campus-funded work-study even if you file the FAFSA. Remember to renew your FAFSA each academic year because awards are not automatically continued without a new application. What to do next: file the FAFSA at studentaid.gov as soon as the window opens for your award year, and check your school’s priority deadline on the financial aid website. If you run into questions, your school’s FAFSA help desk can walk you through the form.