12 Work-Study Program Qualifications

8. Job placement: on-campus and qualifying off-campus roles

Work-study jobs are commonly on campus—libraries, residence life, administrative offices, and labs—but some work-study positions are off-campus with nonprofit organizations or public agencies when the role qualifies as community service. Schools must approve qualifying off-campus employers and document the public service nature of the work. Job matching processes vary: some campuses list positions through a central student employment portal, while others route students through academic departments. Community service roles might align with academic programs or civic engagement initiatives and can sometimes offer meaningful career-related experience. What to do next: search your school’s student employment site for open positions, and ask if off-campus community service roles are available and what approval steps are required.