Financial Aid

Work-Study Opportunities

At Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU), Federal Work-Study and Campus Work-Study provide eligible students with the opportunity to earn income while gaining professional experience during their academic program.

Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for educational expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study. A student must complete the FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid to determine eligibility.

How Federal Work-Study Works

Federal Work-Study is different from other forms of financial aid.

You are paid for hours worked, similar to a part-time job
Funds are not automatically applied to your student account
You must secure and maintain a position to receive earnings
Your total earnings are limited to your Work-Study award amount for the academic year

Work-Study should be viewed as supplemental income, not a primary funding source.

Minimum Requirements

To be considered for Federal Work-Study at SCU, students must meet the following requirements:

Meet both GPA and pace components of SCU’s Satisfactory Academic Progress
Be enrolled at least half-time, which is a minimum of 6 credits
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
Complete the FAFSA to determine Work-Study eligibility
Not work more than 20 hours per week
Complete all necessary hiring paperwork and be cleared through the Office of Financial Aid before beginning work
Be reliable and committed to the position
Remain within the 20-hour-per-week limit and Work-Study award limit

Some positions may not have availability for 20 hours per week. Students will be notified once they are approaching their allocated limit. International and DACA students are not eligible for Federal Work-Study but may apply for SCU’s institutional campus work-study program. Positions are limited.

Earnings and Payment

How much can I earn?

You may earn the federal minimum wage or more depending on the type of work you do and the skills required for the position.

Your total Work-Study award may also depend on:

When you apply
Your level of financial need
Funding level

How will I be paid?

How you are paid depends partly on whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student.

Undergraduate students are paid by the hour
Graduate or professional students are paid by the hour or by salary, depending on the work
The University must pay at least once a month
The University will pay you directly by check unless you request direct deposit

Work Hours and Department Limits

Students cannot work as many hours as they want. The amount earned cannot exceed the total Federal Work-Study award. When assigning work hours, the hiring supervisor and Office of Financial Aid will consider:

Class schedule
Academic progress
Eligible Work-Study award amount

Students may work for two departments at once, but they must complete all hiring paperwork connected to the new hiring supervisor. The 20-hour weekly maximum still applies, and students may not exceed their eligible Federal Work-Study award.

Steps to Inquire and Apply

Students interested in Federal Work-Study should review available job listings and follow these steps:

Reach out to the hiring supervisor for a screening interview for the position of interest. Students can find this information under the job title; a separate tab will open with the job details.
If selected by the hiring supervisor, the Office of Financial Aid will determine whether the student is eligible to participate in the Federal Work-Study Program.
Once cleared by the supervisor and Office of Financial Aid, an email with instructions and hiring paperwork will be sent to the supervisor and student.
Human Resources will reach out to the student individually to complete final hiring documentation.
A final approval email will be sent to the hired student and supervisor confirming that the student can begin working.

Important: Students must interview and be selected for the position by the hiring supervisor before approval into the Work-Study program by the Office of Financial Aid.

Policies and Procedures

The Office of Financial Aid strongly encourages any student interested in the Federal Work-Study program to review the Work-Study Student Employment Training Overview, as it may answer general questions or concerns.

For additional questions, students and supervisors should review the appropriate policy and procedure manual:

How Campus Work-Study Works

Campus Work-Study is an institutional employment program offered by SCU for international students, DACA students, and other students who are not eligible for federal financial aid. Students participating in Campus Work-Study are generally expected to meet eligibility and participation standards similar to those required for Federal Work-Study (FWS). Positions are limited and subject to availability.

Must have a 2.0 GPA or higher
67%-unit completion rate
Must be enrolled at least half-time
Must have a valid SSN

Work-Study Opportunities at SCU

Below is a list of current Work-Study opportunities at SCU. Before applying, review the job description for duties, responsibilities, and specific applicant requirements. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for a position will not be considered.

After reviewing the job description, complete the Work-Study Application and email it to the supervisor listed on the job listing.

Open Work-Study Positions

Temporary hiring freeze as of 01/01/2026; only replacements are being accepted.

This list is subject to change, and all jobs are on a first-come, first-served basis until filled.

Current Work-Study Opportunities

Questions to Ask When Considering Work-Study

Job and Schedule

How many hours can I work per week?
Will the schedule align with my classes?
Is the position on-campus or off-campus?

Earnings and Pay

What is the hourly wage?
How often will I be paid?
How much can I earn over the academic year?

Experience and Fit

Does the role align with my career goals?
Will this position help build relevant skills?
What responsibilities are expected?

Relationship to Other Financial Aid

Federal Work-Study is part of a broader funding strategy.

You may also use:

Federal student loans
Private student loans
Scholarships
Employer tuition assistance
Veterans education benefits

Work-Study can help reduce reliance on loans by covering day-to-day expenses.

Conditions of Employment for Work-Study Employees

All Work-Study students must adhere to the following conditions while employed by SCU.

Student employees may not start work prior to the start date indicated by the Financial Aid Department.
Student employees may not work more than their approved hours during instruction time. The maximum number of hours a student can work per week is 20 hours. Students may work up to 40 hours per week during the break but this will require approval from both supervisor and the Financial Aid Department.
Student employees must not exceed their work-study (WS) allocation per term as noted on their award letter. While students are eligible to work up to 20 hours per week during instruction time, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure they do not earn over their WS allocation. Once a student has earned their WS allocation for the term, the student must stop working.
Scheduled work hours must not conflict with the student’s class hours.
Student employees should not be paid for completing homework assignments while working.
A student’s hours may be subject to reduction or termination in accordance with available funding and student eligibility.
Student employees must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to continue working under the Work-study program. Failure to meet SAP will result in termination.
Student employees and supervisors are responsible for proper reporting of time.
Student employees and supervisors are responsible for complying with payroll procedures and established deadlines.
Student employees working four (4) continuous hours are allowed a paid 15-minute break not shown on the timesheet. Students working over five (5) continuous hours must take a 30-minute unpaid break on the timesheet.
Timesheets should be approved in Trinet by the supervisor.
Supervisors cannot approve time for anticipated hours.
Work-study does not pay for sick time, overtime, or holidays.
Student employees are not eligible for unemployment compensation, vacation/holiday pay, medical/dental insurance, or retirement benefits or pay for days the college is closed.
Supervisors will define job duties and performance expectations.
Supervisors will stress confidentiality must be maintained as an employee of SCU.
Supervisors will provide frequent feedback.
Supervisors will provide an educationally enriching work environment.
The student’s employment may not impair existing service contracts, displace
employees; fill jobs that are vacant because regular employees are on strike; involve the construction, operation or maintenance of any part of a facility used for religious worship or sectarian instruction; involve any partisan/nonpartisan political activity associated with a faction in an election for public or party office; involve lobbying on the Federal level; or involve non-institutional profit making activities.

Southern California University of Health and Sciences provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

How SCU Supports You

SCU’s Office of Financial Aid supports students by:

Determining Work-Study eligibility
Providing access to job opportunities
Assisting with onboarding and employment questions
Helping you integrate Work-Study into your financial plan

We encourage you to explore Work-Study early if you are interested in earning income during your program.