Many students choose to earn money towards their personal expenses or term bill through an on-campus job. Each academic year, students may be eligible for either Federal Work-Study or student employment (casual work) based on their financial aid packages.
Both types of positions are on-campus work; however they are funded by different sources. Eligibility for Federal Work-Study is determined by the FAFSA. The financial aid award will indicate whether a student is eligible for Federal Work-Study. Federal Work-Study jobs are posted online.
Students not eligible for Federal Work-Study can obtain campus jobs, but would search for them in the casual employment section. Casual employment campus jobs are posted on the LionSHARE portal.
Students are paid directly; their earnings are not applied toward the bill. Information on the requirements for student job paperwork as well as payroll is available online.
Federal Work-Study
- Apply for term time-jobs at the beginning of the semester after finalizing your course schedule. Most jobs are posted starting in late August.
- Jobs are not assigned; search for jobs through the Federal Work-Study Database.*
- Students are paid directly through bi-weekly paychecks based on hours worked; average hourly wages range from $15.00-$21.75
- Wages are primarily expected to cover non-billed educational expenses, such as books and personal supplies
- Students typically work 10-12 hours per week
- Limited eligibility based on federal need as determined by the FAFSA
- Students can find required paperwork online or at the Federal Work Study Office in 205 Kent Hall
- My Columbia portal shows W2 & direct deposit information
Student Employment
- Apply for term time-jobs at the beginning of the semester after finalizing your course schedule. Most jobs are posted starting in late August.
- Jobs are not assigned; search for jobs through the Center for Career Education’s LionSHARE Database.*
- Students are paid directly through bi-weekly paychecks based on hours worked; average hourly wages range from $15.00-$21.75
- Wages are primarily expected to cover non-billed educational expenses, such as books and personal supplies.
- Students typically work 10-12 hours per week
- Employment paperwork is provided by the office once the student is hired
- My Columbia portal shows W2 & direct deposit information
All students are notified of Federal Work-Study eligibility with finalized award letters.
Access to the Federal Work-Study Database and the LionSHARE Student Employment Database requires a log in and is limited to currently registered Columbia students.