Work Study
Big changes for fall 2024
- The Missouri State University Federal Work-Study Waitlist will officially open for
the 2024-2025 academic year at 8 am on Saturday, June 1!
- Work Study is now available to undergraduate and graduate students (without a graduate
assistantship).
- Work Study eligibility is determined by the value remaining in your Cost of Attendance
budget after your Student Aid Index (SAI) and other need-based financial aid awards.
- MSU received a substantial increase in Federal Work Study funding for the 2024-2025
aid year. This will increase the number of students who can be awarded.
What is Work Study?
- Eligibility determination is based on completion of student's FAFSA. Work Study eligibility
is determined by the value remaining in your Cost of Attendance budget after your
Student Aid Index (SAI) and other need-based financial aid awards.
- Work study students are paid through federal funding that is allocated to the university.
- Federal work study is not like a grant or loan where you receive the money in a lump
sum. It is a regular job where you work, then get paid for the hours you worked in
that pay period.
- Work study students are paid the same as any student employee. A student can use their
earnings in any manner they see fit; they are not required to use the money on their
tuition account.
- The number of students who qualify for work-study is much greater than the allotment
that the university receives, so not every student who qualifies will receive work
study.
- Some departments do not have a budget allotment for student employees. These departments
rely on work-study employees to provide labor that is at no cost to their departmental
budget. This is why some positions you see may be "work study required". You must
have received work study on your award letter to apply to these positions.
If you qualify for work study funding and you did not receive it on your financial
aid awards, you can sign up for the work study waiting list. The link to sign up
is located on your MyMissouriState menu under the financial aid section. The work
study waitlist opens on June 1st. Work study wait list funding is awarded on a first
come, first serve basis as it becomes available.