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work-study program

noun

Definition of work-study program

: a program that offers high school or college students part-time jobs in order to provide financial assistance or work experience

Examples of work-study program in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 The work-study program helps offset the cost of tuition and gives students, many of whom come from low-income families, professional experience and exposure to potential careers, said Preston Kendall, president of Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep. — Lauren Zumbach, chicagotribune.com, "Takeda, Walgreens, Mondelez are moving thousands of office jobs out of Lake County. Who’s going to take their place?," 17 July 2019 Takeda had been the school’s biggest partner, providing nine of the 100 jobs in the school’s work-study program, Kendall said. — Lauren Zumbach, chicagotribune.com, "Takeda, Walgreens, Mondelez are moving thousands of office jobs out of Lake County. Who’s going to take their place?," 17 July 2019 Every year, the Education Department awards about $120 billion in student aid in grants, federal student loans, and work-study programs. — Maria Danilova, The Seattle Times, "Education Department rolls out new federal student app," 2 Oct. 2018 In Washington, the state government operates a work-study program that pays a portion of college students’ wages for part-time jobs, often in fields related to their majors. — Tim Keller And, WSJ, "Two New Lawsuits Seek to Stop Discrimination Against Religion," 20 Aug. 2018 DeVos’s budget proposal last year sought to cut 13.5 percent of the agency’s funding, and aimed to cut college work-study programs in half and end public-service loan forgiveness. — Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, "DeVos seeks cuts from Education Department to support school choice," 6 Mar. 2018 Others have gone overseas for work-study programs or taken corporate internships far from home. — Danny Heitman, WSJ, "The Case for the Do-Nothing Summer," 21 June 2018 The audit focused on UH’s distribution of federal financial aid, including through work-study programs, the Pell Grant for low-income students and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. — Lindsay Ellis, Houston Chronicle, "Audit: UH's financial aid systems didn't properly vet students," 25 May 2018 In addition, the calculator tells this prospective student that she would be expected to borrow $1,800 a year and earn $2,100 through a work-study program. — Nick Anderson, Washington Post, "These 31 colleges — including Yale — are now using a fast and easy financial aid calculator," 17 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'work-study program.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of work-study program

1946, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for work-study program

work-study program

noun

Financial Definition of work-study program

What It Is

The College Work Study Program (CWSP) is a type of financial aid that a school awards to a student who has completed a FAFSA and has demonstrated a financial need. The student is given a job (usually on-campus) and is paid by the school not to exceed a determined amount.

How It Works

The College Work Study Program (CWSP) is now called the Federal Work Study Program (FWSP).

Upon a student's completion of the FAFSA for the upcoming school year, the school will determine the student's level of financial need and decides how much (if any) financial aid will be awarded.

Along with grants and loans, the school's financial aid office may offer the student a chance to be part of the school's CWSP. If the student joins the program, the student will work for the college and be paid above minimum wage up to a determined total amount per semester.

The school's financial aid office (from which the student is compensated) will determine the wage the student may earn based on their level of financial need, previous work experience and the amount money that is available in the school's financial aid budget. Because there is a limit on funds that the financial aid office may award the CWSP student, the student may not exceed his or her work hours in a given semester.

Students under the CWSP may be assigned to work off campus, but will mostly work on campus. Off-campus, a student may work for a non-profit agency or public organization that works with the school. On-campus, a student may work at the school bookstore, cafeteria, residence hall or admissions office.

Why It Matters

Combined with scholarships, grants and loans, a college's CWSP can offer a student significant aid when it comes to paying tuition and other college expenses. Unlike a normal job, funds that are paid to the student under the CWS program does not count against the amount of financial aid that a student may receive for future semesters.

[Related articles: 5 Simple Ways to Save on the Rising Costs of Higher Education, 7 Simple Ways to Pay Off Any Size Student Loan]

Source: Investing Answers

work-study program

noun

English Language Learners Definition of work-study program

US : a program that gives high school or college students the opportunity to work in a particular field in order to gain experience

See the full definition for work-study program in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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