Scholarship News

Believe it or not: There are a few colleges in the United States that do not charge tuition or room and board to any students. Rather, students work on campus in place of paying tuition. The students attending these colleges do not even need college scholarships.

However, most colleges are not tuition free, and most students need scholarships. Even students receiving college scholarships need to find other ways to help pay for their college education. Many students earn money for college by collaborating with their college for work-study programs.

College work-study programs are designed to meet some of a student’s college expenses by giving them campus jobs where they work part-time while attending school. These on-campus jobs reduce students’ reliance on loans to meet college costs. On average, a student can earn $3,000 per year in a work study program. This income can be used by students however they see fit. It can go towards books and food or maybe a night at the movies. Students in work study programs are still eligible for scholarships and grants. Sometimes the money earned at these part-time jobs is enough to keep students from amassing large student loan debt.

Students involved in the work-study program have the opportunity to request jobs in specific areas such as the library, residence halls, admissions office and academic offices. The positions typically pay above minimum wage. Work schedules are flexible, require no more than 20 hours per week and often still allow students time off for holidays, finals and spring break. Students can also change jobs during their four years on campus, and are not required to accept the work study offer.

To be eligible for the work-study program students need be in good academic standing, prove that they need financial assistance, have a social security number and be enrolled full time in college. Work-study programs are very helpful to students since the jobs are readily available, and do not disqualify students from college scholarships and merit-based scholarships assistance. Work-study jobs can even pave the way to a future career. What begins as a few hours in the admissions office may lead to a full-time job after graduation. Colleges should be forward about their work-study offerings. During the college search, ask about work-study opportunities during campus visits or talks with college representatives.

I want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to go to college. This means getting in, finding the right college fit and paying for school. I love to share what I’ve learned and I hope you can find some useful information useful in your college search