Federal Work Study - Financial Aid - Pasadena City College

Our Federal Work-Study (FWS) program offers on and off-campus employment opportunities to current PCC students with a financial need. If you are granted Work-Study, you may work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session to earn money to go towards your cost of tuition, books, and fees.

Eligibility

Work-Study funds are extremely limited, so award offers are given to students who meet the priority funding deadlines.

Additional criteria for Work-Study offers include:

Having financial need (as demonstrated by your FAFSA);
Being a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen (permanent resident);
Being enrolled at PCC at least half-time (minimum 6 units) for Fall and Spring terms;
Having a -1500 SAI (Student Aid Index);
Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements; and
Not being in default on a student loan or owing a grant repayment.

To find out if you qualify, simply complete your FAFSA by the priority deadline and look out for your financial aid offer.

Work-Study Jobs and Wages

The Work-Study program encourages community service and work related to your course of study. Your job may be on campus or in the community (off campus). On-campus jobs involve working for a variety of PCC offices, departments, or organizations. Examples include working for the Shatford Library, the Engineering and Technology Department, or even the Office of Admissions and Records.

Your Federal Work-Study wages will be at least the current federal minimum wage, but it may be higher, depending on the type of work you do and the skills required. At PCC, the minimum Federal Work-Study hourly wage is $18.04 per hour. Your total Federal Work-Study award offer depends on when you apply, your level of need, and the funds available at PCC.

Ready to Start Your FWS Job? Here's How!

If you've been offered Federal Work-Study, follow these simple steps to get started:

1. Accept Your FWS Award Offer

2. Complete FWS Orientation

Be sure to complete the required FWS Orientation to learn about program expectations and requirements.

3. Find a Job

Search and apply for positions on Handshake. If selected, you'll be contacted for an interview. Need help or tips? The Freeman Career Center is here to support you—don’t hesitate to reach out!

4. Got Hired?

Keep an eye on your email for your Hiring Packet. It will include:

Your FWS Agreement Form
A link to the PCC Hourly Application
Information on HR onboarding and background check (LiveScan) requirements

Complete these steps as soon as possible. You'll also receive a separate email from HR to begin onboarding.

5. Get Cleared to Start

You and your supervisor will receive an email once you are officially cleared to begin working. After that, you're all set to start your job and earn your Work-Study paycheck!