Work-Study

• You must submit the FAFSA and meet general eligibility requirements for federal aid.
• You must have financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
• To be employed in a work-study job, you must have work-study included in your financial aid offer.
   

Note: Because work-study funding is limited, it's not included in all students' aid offers. Priority is given to those who applied for financial aid by the priority deadline.

If work-study wasn't included in your financial aid offer, you may request to be added to the waitlist by sending an email to workstudy@du.edu.

• Pay rate is tied directly to the job you obtain and depends on the experience and skills required for the position. It is not contingent upon year in college or the amount of work-study you have in your financial aid offer.
• The amount of work-study listed on your financial aid offer is the maximum amount you can earn for the academic year. Typically, new students can earn up to $2,500 in their first-year at DU, and 2nd-, 3rd- and 4th-year students can earn up to $3,000 each year.
• Students employed in a work-study position are paid every two weeks for hours worked in the form of a paycheck. Work-study earnings are not applied directly to the tuition bill.

• There are a wide variety of work-study positions available, each with the potential to dovetail with your education and develop skills that will serve you through your life. All available positions are posted in PCO, the job and internship listing site for DU students.
• Students are not placed in work-study jobs. You must search and apply for the positions you're interested in.
• Students with work-study may partner with nonprofits and government agencies that strive to enhance the quality of life for residents—especially low-income individuals—in the DU and Denver community. These positions enable students to engage in meaningful service that helps meet community needs. If you have work-study and are interested in working with a nonprofit, please email workstudy@du.edu.
   

Note: Students can only have one work-study funded position at a time. However, students may have more than one position if the additional positions are not funded through work-study.

To utilize work-study, you must first accept your work-study award through My4D. 

To do so:

• Log in to My4D.
• Click on the "Accept or Decline My Financial Aid Offer" link on your dashboard (this link will be in the "Financial Aid Information" box).
• Choose the 2024-2025 Aid Year from the drop-down menu.
• Go to the Terms and Conditions tab, read through, and click Accept.
• Then go to the Accept Award Offer tab, choose Accept from the drop-down menu next to your work-study award, and submit.

The deadline to accept your work-study award is September 1st.

All available work-study positions—both on- and off-campus—are posted in PCO, the job and internship listing site for DU students. 

To find and apply for a position:

1. Log in to du.edu/pco.
2. On your homepage, select OCI and Job Listings.
3. At the top of the page, select the “Type of Job” filter and choose Student Employment: “On Campus” OR “Off-Campus”.
4. Go to "add filter" and type in "compensation".
5. Add this filter and select "work study funded".
    

Note: Students can only have one work-study-funded position at a time. However, students may have more than one position if the additional positions are not funded through work-study.

Once you find a position, your supervisor will initiate the hiring process. All student employees at DU must complete a background check—you'll receive an email with further instructions once a background check request has been submitted. (Most returning students will not have to complete the background check if it's been less than 120 days since they last worked at DU.)

After the background check is complete, you will need to complete an I-9 and W-4 form.  To complete the I-9, you'll need to present citizenship documentation to your supervisor (photocopies will not be accepted). The most common acceptable citizenship identification documents include a U.S. Passport or a Driver's License and Social Security Card. See the full list of acceptable documents on page 3 of the I-9 form.

Forms & Resources:

• Work-Study Policy Guide
  Learn about all the policies and procedures of the work-study program.
• Office of Student Employment
  Find resources, timelines, and guidelines for all student employees at DU.
• Career & Professional Development
  Get tips for writing your resume and cover letter, and help to prepare for an interview.