Work Study
The work-study program provides eligible students with part-time employment opportunties to assist with paying for educational expenses and jumpstart their career. Work-study is a financial aid program that is offered to eligible students as part of their financial aid package. Unlike grant aid, students may earn work-study funds by working part-time once they are authorized to start working.
Eligible students must meet the following requirements to participate:
- Be offered work-study as part of your financial aid package
- Must maintain and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Be enrolled in at least 6-credits each quarter
Work-study is a need-based financial aid program. Eligibility to participate is determined based on your current financial aid application. You can check the Financial Aid section in your ctcLink account to see if you have been offered work-study as part of your financial aid package. If you have not yet applied for financial aid, please complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or WASFA (Washington State Financial Aid Application).
To be eligible to participate, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits each quarter and meet Shoreline’s Satisfactory Academic Policy standards. If your enrollment level falls below 6 credits, or you are put on financial aid cancellation due to our Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, then your work-study will be cancelled and you must stop working immediately.
Work-study employees may work up to 19 hours per week during the quarter. During quarter breaks, you may work up to 40 hours per week if you have unearned funds depending on the needs of the department. Work-study employees may not begin working prior to the start of the quarter for which they have been awarded.
Work-study employees are responsible for monitoring their earnings to ensure they do not exceed their quarterly award amount. Supervisors must approve timesheets before payroll can be processed. Work-study employees are typically paid twice a month, on the 10th and 25th, if they work on-campus.
All work-study employees must stop working by June 15th of each academic year.
Where can I view my work-study offer?
You may view your work-study offer amount by checking the Financial Aid section in your ctcLink dashboard.
How do I apply for work-study jobs?
Apply for work-study jobs via HandShake by visiting https://shoreline.joinhandshake.com/login. Sign in using your Shoreline account!
I don’t have any work experience. Can I still apply?
Yes. The work-study program provides students with a variety of jobs, many of which require no work experience.
Will work-study affect my other financial aid?
Sometimes. Accepting your work-study offer will not reduce the grant aid you were offered. However, your loan funds may be reduced or otherwise affected.
How many hours can I work?
Work-study employees may work up to 19 hours per week while classes are in session. During break periods, students may work up to 40 hours per week if they have unearned work-study funds available and are enrolled in classes the following quarter. Please note that all part-time employees are limited to working 69.5 hours per month.
Can I apply to multiple work-study jobs?
Yes! In fact, we recommend applying and interviewing for multiple positions to see which may be the best fit for you. However, you can only have one work-study job at a time.
Can I have more than one work-study job?
No, students are limited to having one work-study position at a time.
I have a Bachelor's degree. Can I still do work-study?
Yes, you may be eligible to participate in the Federal Work-Study program (students with a Bachelor's degree may not participate in State Work-Study). Check your financial aid award to see if you have been offered work-study.
I didn’t earn my full award amount. What happens to the leftover funds?
Any unearned funds may carry forward to the next quarter if your eligibility has not changed. However, this only applies to quarters that fall within the same academic year. Your spring work-study award cannot carry forward because each academic year ends on June 30th.
What happens if I am close to earning over my quarterly work-study award?
You may contact the Financial Aid Office to request an increase in work-study funds by emailing financialaid@shoreline.edu. Additional funding is not guaranteed.
I am not enrolled summer quarter but would like to work over the summer. Is work-study an option for me?
Summer quarter is considered a “break period” so you may be eligible to work even if you are not enrolled in summer classes. You must, however, demonstrate your intent to continue your studies at Shoreline CC and be enrolled in at least 6 credits fall quarter to be eligible.
Can I do anything with the money I earn?
Yes, you may spend the money you earn however you would like.
Can I keep working after I graduate or cease enrollment?
No, students must be enrolled in courses to participate in the work-study program. Your employer may choose to continue employing you, but this would no longer be considered work-study.
How do work-study funds disburse?
Unlike other forms of financial aid, work-study funds are paid out to you by your employer. You should receive a paycheck at least once a month. College employees are typically paid on the 10th and 25th of each month.
Are there any 100% remote work-study jobs?
No, we do not currently offer online work-study positions.
Summer Quarter 2025: 07/01/2025 - 08/21/2025
Students can begin working to earn their summer quarter allocation. Students must be enrolled for the upcoming fall term to be eligible to work in the summer. Students who still have unearned summer funds may continue to work during the break period if they have a fall quarter work-study award.
Break Period: 08/22/2025 - 09/23/2025
Students may work up to 40 hours/week during the break period if their eligibility has not changed.
Fall Quarter 2025: 09/24/2025 - 12/11/2025
Students can begin working to earn their fall quarter allocation. Students who are not eligible for work-study winter quarter must stop working on or before 12/11/2025.
Break Period: 12/12/2025 - 01/04/2026
Students who have unearned work-study funds from fall quarter may continue to work during the break if they have a winter quarter work-study award.
Winter Quarter: 01/05/2026 - 03/20/2026
Students can begin working to earn their winter quarter allocation. Students who are not eligible for work-study spring quarter must stop working on or before 03/20/2026.
Break Period: 03/21/2026 - 03/31/2026
Students who have unearned work-study funds from winter quarter may continue to work during the break if they have a winter quarter work-study award.
Spring Quarter 2026: 04/01/2026 - 06/15/2026
Students can begin working to earn their spring quarter allocation. All students must stop working on or before 06/15/2026 even if they have unearned work-study funds.
How to Apply
Already have a work-study offer? Follow the steps below to apply for a work-study position.
- Complete the FAFSA/WASFA form
- Once your financial aid application has been reviewed, you should receive an aid offer that lists all of the financial aid you are eligible for. If you have been offered work-study as part of your financial aid package, you may choose to participate in the program. You may email financialaid@shoreline.edu to learn more.
- View open work-study positions on HandShake. If you need assistance with your HandShake account, please contact the Career Center at careercenter@shoreline.edu or stop by during drop-in business hours from 10:00AM-1:00PM at the PUB (9000) Building, Room 9203.
- Apply for a work-study position through HandShake. Once your eligibility is verified by the work-study specialist, an email communication should be sent to your preferred email in ctcLink confirming that your application has been processed and your information has been forwarded to the employer. Work-study job placement is not guaranteed.
- Schedule an interview with your potential employer. For assistance with preparing for your interview, you may set up an appointment with the Career Center.
- Once you are offered a work-study position, your supervisor must notify the Financial Aid Office by emailing financialaid@shoreline.edu.
- Human Resources initiates the onboarding process through NeoBoard. You and your supervisor should receive an email that includes all of the necessary hiring documents you must complete before you begin working.
- Once Human Resources sends an "authorized to work" email, you may begin working!
Hiring a Work-Study Employee
Learn more about how you can become an on-campus or off-campus employer!
Off-campus employers need to have an approved contract with the State of Washington Work Study Program. Contract information is available online through the Washington Student Achievement Council. Employers who are interested in hiring work-study employees from Shoreline Community College must complete and submit a job description form to financialaid@shoreline.edu.