Student jobs
- Career Services, 113 Student Services Building, 517/355-9510. Help finding jobs & internships, career advising
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Job listings
- MSU Human Resources
General information about on campus job descriptions, pay rates and policies for student employees
Student Employment and Work Study
What does Student Employment or Work-Study mean as a part of my aid offer?
Neither Student Employment nor Work-Study is a direct award, but both mean you can work and use your employment earnings to pay a part of your costs.
This can allow you to borrow less so you can graduate with reduced loan debt. However, if you have Student Employment or Work-Study as a part of your aid offer, you should realize that you will not get these funds up front, but will need to work and earn them throughout the semester.
What is the difference between Student Employment and Work-Study?
Student employment is a recommendation that you obtain a job to pay for educational expenses that are not covered by other forms of financial aid. The job can be on or off campus or both. If you have work in your package that is NOT work-study, it will be listed as:
- Student Employment
Work-study is a federal program that reimburses employers for one-half of student earnings. You qualify by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and demonstrating a high level of financial need. If you qualify for work-study, your financial aid award notice will list:
- FED College Work Study
Work-study is awarded to new students based on demonstrated financial need, and to continuing students based on their use of work-study during the prior year as well as continued demonstrated financial need.
Work-Study does not mean you are paid for studying!
You must apply for a job, and satisfy the employer's requirements to be hired and retained.
You receive a paycheck every other week and are responsible for using the money for educational expenses.
Advantages of work-study
One advantage of having a work-study job is that you can deduct work-study earnings from your income on the following year's FAFSA. Another advantage is employers give hiring preference to work-study students because it keeps their costs down.
Special opportunity for work-study students
If your aid package includes work-study you may wish to apply for a paid position as a reading or math tutor in one of the elementary schools in the MSU community. The America Reads or America Counts Challenges are federally funded programs which allow college students to earn their work-study by assisting children who need help mastering the fundamentals of reading or math. Interested work-study students from all majors are encouraged to apply via email to amreads@msu.edu.
ATTENTION: work-study recipients with off-campus jobs
In order for your employer to be reimbursed with Work-Study funds you must both complete the Off-Campus Employment Notification Form. Note: Only certain non-profit employers are eligible for Work-Study.
If work-study or student employment is not in your aid offer
If you have no financial aid, or your package does not include student employment or work-study, you can still work if you want to do so.
Why work while being a student?
You could easily earn up to $3000 a year by working while at MSU, reducing your reliance on loans.
Most students find it possible to work 10-15 hours a week and still maintain their academic and social life.
Working helps you organize your time, teaches you discipline, and provides you with references to help you in your future career goals.
How you receive the funds
Whether you have student employment or work-study, once you have a job and begin working you will receive a paycheck every second week. Your earnings are NOT applied to your bill as a credit. If you are using your earnings to pay MSU expenses, you must make payments to the Cashier's Office.
