The State and Federal Work-Study programs are fantastic resources for employers. More than 2,500 employers in Washington State currently utilize these programs. These programs generally pay 40-70% percent of your Work-Study employees’ wages.
Overall, the Work-Study programs allow employers to:
- Save money while meeting part-time staffing needs.
- Hire bright college students who can bring cutting-edge skills and new ideas to your organization.
- Preview new talent. When their best Work-Study students graduate, many employers convert them to full-time employees, thus saving on recruiting, hiring, and training costs.
Program Requirements
The State and Federal Work-Study programs recognize that participants are students first and employees second. Specifically, both programs require that Work-Study students:
- Work no more than their award amounts allow (approximately 15 hours a week)
- Not work at the same time as they have a class. Students must provide their class schedule to employers, and employers have an obligation to avoid scheduling conflicts.
To become an off-campus work study employer, please refer to the WSAC Employer Handbook and follow the guidelines. Indicate that you would like to hire Bellevue College students in your application.
The job must meet the following guidelines:
- The Work-Study position cannot be a replacement for a regular employee.
- The student must be paid a comparable wage to your other employees.
- The student can never work more than 19 hours per week while classes are in session.
Preferred placements are in jobs related to the student’s field of study, but this is a recommendation rather than a requirement.
Last Updated January 21, 2025
