Work-Study Program (Student Employment)

Students discussing online project at workplace.

Earn While You Learn

The Student Work-Study program offers flexible part-time employment opportunities both on and off campus. These positions are an excellent way to develop a professional resume, build your network, and gain valuable work experience while earning a steady paycheck that fits around your course schedule.

College of the Mainland hosts two distinct varieties of student employment pathways. Both versions allow you to earn money for post-secondary education expenses, but they draw from different funding accounts:

Program Type Max Hours Per Week Minimum On-Campus Wage Minimum Off-Campus Wage Operational Policy
Federal Work-Study (FWS) Up to 19 hours $12.00 / hour $14.00 / hour Federally funded. In general, you are not permitted to work shifts during your scheduled class times.
Institutional Work-Study (IWS) Up to 19 hours $12.00 / hour $14.00 / hour Campus-funded. Designed for students or technical roles that may fall outside traditional federal need allocations.

To secure and maintain an active student worker role at COM, applicants must fulfill the following mandatory institutional criteria:

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and satisfy all baseline eligibility benchmarks for federal student aid.
  • Submit to and successfully pass a mandatory criminal background check.
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress in your declared courses of study to remain eligible for ongoing employment.
  • Be actively enrolled in a minimum of three credit hours each semester you are employed.
  • Off-Campus Requirement: Students wishing to apply for off-campus community work-study positions must have already completed English 1301 with a final grade of "C" or better.