Work-Study 

Work-study is a federal or state-funded financial aid program that provides funds for part-time employment to students. Students earn their semester work-study award through hourly pay within on-campus or approved off-campus agency jobs. These awards are based on early FAFSA submission, financial need as determined by FAFSA, and funding availability. Students are encouraged to apply before the March 1st priority deadline. Work-study jobs are a great opportunity for students to earn income and work within a professional career-oriented position that supports student growth and success.

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) generated by the FAFSA will determine your eligibility for these funds. Students must also be admitted as degree-seeking students and be meeting all aspects of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). To apply for federal or state work-study, you must submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please review our FAFSA page for guides and helpful videos.

Please keep in mind, a work-study award does not guarantee employment. Students are responsible for applying for positions using the Handshake app. If students fail to obtain work-study employment within 45 days of the beginning of the semester, their work-study award will be canceled. Be advised, students cannot exceed their semester funding limits, and can only work 20 hours per week. Work-study students and employers can review the handbook for more information on policies and procedures.

Work-Study Eligibility

  • Complete a FAFSA and demonstrate financial need
  • Have a high school diploma or GED certificate
  • Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student or working toward a certificate in an eligible program
  • Be enrolled in 6 credit hours as an undergraduate student and 5 credit hours as a graduate student
  • Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
  • Have a valid Social Security Number
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  • Students cannot be in default on a federal student loan or owe money on a federal student grant.

Not Eligiable if:

  • Student is participating in Study-Abroad

Work-Study Waiting List

If you are interested in work-study but did not receive funds in the initial awarding period, you can fill out a form on the Work-Study Waiting List that will be available right before the beginning of each semester.
Access Work-Study Waiting List

Applying for a Work-Study Position

If you are awarded work-study funds, please review how to retrieve your award letter below and be sure to apply for available job openings using the Handshake app. Students are encouraged to use Handshake app to locate on-campus student employment, internships, Cooperative Education, part-time and other types of employment on a regular basis. At the start of the fall semester, Office of Experiential Learning hosts the Student Employment Fair which is another opportunity to meet face-to-face with employers who are seeking to hire NMSU students.

Retrieving your Award Overview

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You will need to provide a copy of your Award Overview to your employer every semester that shows your accepted award, award type, and award amount
  1. Log in to your myNMSU account
  2. Select the Financial Aid tab 
  3. Ensure your award year is set to the year you wish to view
  4. Select the Award Offer tab
  5. Scroll down to view your work-study award
  6. Accept your work-study award
  7. Take a screenshot of your page that shows your accepted work-study award, award type, and award amount

Assistance with Resume and Cover Letter

If you need assistance with creating a resume and cover letter you are encouraged to create a draft resume and schedule an appointment using the Handshake app located in MyNMSU. To schedule, an appointment with Handshake app go to the heading Career Center and in the drop-down menu click on Appointments to schedule a time to meet with an advisor.

Additional Employment Information

  • For information about completing a timesheet for your work-study job, see Timesheet Instructions.
  • New Mexico State University contracts with non-profit (501(c)(3) agencies), non-religious and non-partisan organizations to provide additional job opportunities off-campus.
  • Crimson Scholars may inquire about Crimson work-study opportunities with the NMSU Honors College.
  • To review employment dates and deadlines, please visit our Employers page.

 

Work-Study Info Guide (Students)

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