The work-study program at Whatcom Community College provides students with part-time employment opportunities to help cover educational expenses through financial aid. These positions also offer valuable workforce training and experience. Efforts are made to match students with jobs that align with their career interests and goals.

Whatcom participates in both the Federal Work-Study and State Work-Study programs.

A work-study award is an estimate of how much you may earn during the academic year - it is not a guaranteed amount. You must be hired into a position, work scheduled hours, and submit bi-monthly timesheets to receive payment (on the 10^th and 25^th of each month). Work-study funds are disbursed as wages and cannot be used to directly pay tuition or fees.

To Qualify, Students Must:

• Be enrolled in at least 6 credits (half-time) in an eligible program
• Be reviewed for all other types of aid eligibility, receiving financial aid, and still have Unmet Need
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress

Key Aspects:

• On average, students typically earn between $3,000 and $6,000 per year, but are paid Whatcom County minimum wage (Average based on 2024-2025 aid year work-study gross pay)
• Work hours are limited to an average of 19 hours per week during the academic term, but depending on eligibility, this may be reduced to prevent over-awarding

Please note that at this time, there is no capacity to coordinate off-campus work-study positions. Availability of work-study positions and funding is limited, so students are encouraged to inquire about the process early. Please reach out to us via workstudy@whatcom.edu with any further questions you might have.

If you are interested in a work-study position,
please follow the instructions below

Work-Study Process

1. Form Submission: The student submits a Student Inquiry Form, or the supervisor submits a Supervisor Request Form.
2. Eligibility Review: The Work-Study Manager reviews the form to determine the student’s eligibility.
   • If the student is ineligible, the submitter will be notified.
3. If a Student Inquiry Form is Approved:
   • The Work-Study Manager forwards the form to supervisors in the departments the student indicated interest in.
   • Supervisors may contact the student and conduct their standard interview or hiring practices.
   • If the supervisor decides to hire the student, they should contact the Work-Study Manager at workstudy@whatcom.edu to initiate next steps with HR before the student begins employment.
4. If a Supervisor Request Form is Approved:
   • The Work-Study Manager notifies the supervisor of the approval, provides any required additional details, and initiates next steps with HR before employment begins.

Links to Forms:

Work-Study: Student Inquiry Form

Work-Study: Supervisor Request Form