Work Study/Student Employment
One source of Financial Aid is student employment. Work-study and student hourly funds allow students to work and earn money. Student employment includes federal and state need-based work-study funds, Colorado no-need work-study funds and student-hourly employment. To be awarded a work study job, students must indicate they are interested in work-study on the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) or stop by the Financial Aid Office to put their name on the work-study wait list.
Student employment provides the opportunity to gain valuable work experience while earning money for college. Work study is a great way to enhance a student's current course work as well as future profession by integrating classroom learning with real-world work experience. While students are not required to accept their work study award, financial aid does not increase grant dollars if it is declined.
Need-Based Federal and State Work-Study
- Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Because work study funds are limited, submitting the FAFSA by the priority deadline date each year will increase a student's chances of receiving work-study funding.
- If awarded work-study, it will be included as an offer on a student's award letter. Students must stop by the Financial Aid Office for a Work-Study Authorization form. This form must be taken to the Student Employment Office so they can assist in locating a job.
- Work-study allocations are the total dollar amounts a student may earn during the academic year.
- Work authorizations and funds will usually be cancelled after the add/drop date of each semester, which is approximately two weeks after the semester starts. This will happen if the student does not secure a job. Funds may also be cancelled if a student does not show up for work or submit a timesheet for approximately one month.
- Students may work up to 20 hours per week while classes are in session and up to 40 hours during breaks. However, the more hours a student works, the faster a work-study award will be exhausted. Funds are limited to the total amount a student has been awarded. Planning a work schedule so work-study funds will last throughout the semester is important.
- Student must maintain good academic standing and be enrolled at least 6 credit hours.
Colorado No-Need Work-Study
- May be available to Colorado residents whose FAFSA's were filed by the RRCC priority deadline date and who didn't have sufficient financial need (estimated family contribution exceeds cost of attendance) to be eligible for other forms of financial aid.
- Students must be enrolled half-time (6 credits) and in good academic standing.
- The Financial Aid Office will send an award letter offering no-need to eligible students.
- Work Authorizations and work-study funds will usually be cancelled after the add/drop date of each semester which is approximately two weeks after the semester starts. This will happen if a student does not have a job or does not pick up the Work Authorization Form from Financial Aid. Funds can also be cancelled if a student does not show up for work or turn in a time-sheet for approximately one month.
- Students may work up to 20 hours per week while classes are in session and up to 40 hours during breaks. However, the more hours a student works, the faster a work-study award will be exhausted. Funds are limited to the total amount a student has been awarded. Planning a work schedule so work-study funds will last throughout the semester is important.
Student Hourly
Any enrolled RRCC student can seek student-hourly employment on campus, regardless of their financial aid eligibility. Students are not required to submit a Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for student hourly funds. For more information on student hourly positions, visit the Student Employment Office.
