Earn money and gain experience working on campus
Federal Work Study
- Must complete a FAFSA by November 15 priority date.
- Awards based on eligibility and availability of funds.
- Earn up to $4,000 per academic year through bi-weekly paychecks.
- Earned money can be used for educational, living, or other expenses.
- For award to last the entire academic year, it is recommended students work 10 to 15 hours per week.
- Graduate, Law, and International students do not qualify.
Departmental Positions
- All students qualify for these positions.
- Positions are paid bi-weekly.
- Money earned can be used for educational, living, or other expenses.
2026 Student Employees of the Year
2026 Employee Recognition Ceremony
Winners, in order of the photograph:
Bulat Ochirov, Innovation Technology, Nominated by Leah Jamison, Strategic Communications & Marketing
Marlissa Jordan, Leadership, Nominated by Dale Rusche, ITS. In addition, Marlissa also won Leadership - Runner up from Washburn's submission to the Midwest Association for Student Employment Administrators. Marlissa is the first student from Washburn to be recognized by MASEA!
Kira Roth, Critical Thinking, Nominated by Neal Liu, English and the Writing Center, and Amanda Hughes, Washburn Alumni Association & Foundation
Community Engaged Learning
One of the most popular federal work study positions at Washburn is housed within the Aleshire Center for Leadership and Community Engagement. Each year, students are placed with community-based sites where individuals can engage in work that matches their academic, professional and/or personal interests and approximately 80% are Bonner Leaders.
The Aleshire Center fosters relationships with a variety of non-profit organizations and local schools to ensure that they have student positions that fit most, if not all, of the available majors at Washburn University. If you are working with any non-profit organization, you have an opportunity to get an added academic accomplishment on your transcript for your work through the Community & Civic Engagement Transformational Experience program.
For more information about the unique opportunities available within your major and/or area of interest, contact the Aleshire Center.
Student Spotlight: Patty Hernandez-Lopez
Originally from Palo Alto, California, Patty Hernandez-Lopez epitomizes what it means to be a student employee and a Bonner Leader at Washburn. Having already earned her CNA at Washburn Tech, Patty, who is a first-generation Ichabod Success student, has taken advantage of Washburn's student employment opportunities with the Aleshire program to get hands-on, paid experience before applying to Washburn's School of Nursing.
"I think I"ve always had it in my mind that I was going to be a nurse because when I was younger my mom had a lot of medical issues," she said. "She had a brain aneurism and had two leg surgeries and a history of blood clots so ever since I was like 8 years old, I knew I wanted to be a nurse."
For a year Patty worked at the Pine Ridge Family Health Center, helping the center expand its outreach in the community. She organized an HPV clinic through Pine Ridge and worked to translate the center’s materials from English to Spanish to improve the accessibility of the services.
Her community-engaged experience has helped mold her plans after graduation. Patty stated that after graduation her plan is to either work at a hospital or a smaller clinic, similar to Pine Ridge, where she can help low-income communities.
Federal Work Study
- Must complete a FAFSA by July 1 priority date each year.
- Awards are based on individual eligibility and availability of funds.
- Earn up to $4,000 per academic year through bi-weekly paychecks.
- Earned money can be used for education, living, and/or other expenses.
- Students can work part-time, for up to 25 hours per week.
- Undergraduate, Graduate, Law, and Washburn Tech students may qualify.
- Most international students are not eligible for FWS.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Federal Work Study is a student financial aid program for eligible undergraduate, graduate, Law, and Washburn Tech students with unmet financial need. With Federal Work Study, students can get a job on campus and earn money through working. Paychecks can be used for educational, living, and/or other expenses.
Jobs are continually added to the Washburn website throughout the year. Students can search and apply for open positions by going to https://mywucareer.washburn.edu/.
GET IN TOUCH WITH Financial Aid
Financial Aid Office
Morgan Hall
1700 SW College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621
Phone & Email
785.670.1151
Fax: 785-670-1079
financialaid@washburn.edu
