State Work-Study Times FAQs

  1. What is the State Work Study Program (SWSP)?
  2. How Do I Know If I Am Eligible For SWSP?
  3. How Do I Know if I Meet the PA Residency Requirements?
  4. How Do I Locate an SWSP Employer?
  5. How Do I Apply For SWSP?
  6. Who Pays Me Under SWSP?
  7. How Much Can I Earn?
  8. How Many Hours Can I Work?
  9. How Do I Know If My Job Qualifies?
  1. What is the State Work Study Program (SWSP)?
    The State Work-Study Program is a PHEAA-sponsored program made possible from funds made available through the General Assembly and with the cooperation of Pennsylvania postsecondary institutions and employers. The purpose of the SWSP is to provide students with an opportunity to gain career-related work experience and, at the same time, earn funds to assist them in meeting today’s costs for postsecondary education.

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  2. How Do I Know If I Am Eligible for SWSP?
    You must:
    • Be a Pennsylvania resident;
    • Be enrolled at least half-time (6 or more credits) in a PHEAA-approved higher education institution, in a program of study at least two years in length.
    • Be a State Grant recipient, if an undergraduate student; or subsidized federal loan recipient, if a graduate student.
    • Be able to benefit from a career-related work experience in a high-tech or community service job; and
    • Not owe a State Grant refund or have defaulted on any student loan.

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  3. How Do I Know if I Meet the PA Residency Requirements for SWSP?
    • Domicile is a person’s permanent home.
    • Students under the age of eighteen (18) at the time of application must have a supporting parent or guardian living in Pennsylvania for at least twelve (12) consecutive months immediately preceding the date of application.
    • Students eighteen (18) and older must have been domiciled in Pennsylvania for a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months immediately preceding the date of application.
    • For a more detailed explanation, please see the Pennsylvania State Grant Frequently Asked Questions.

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  4. How Do I Locate an SWSP Employer?
    • You may search for an SWSP job online using PHEAA’s SWSP Job Search at PHEAA.org.
    • You can download and complete the SWSP Information Request Form and PHEAA will mail you a list of participating SWSP employers. Please note that for Summer only, PHEAA will provide your name, address and telephone number to employers if you have authorized release of this information on the SWSP Information Request Form (74 KB PDF).
    • You may locate your own employer. Tips for locating an employer are available at PHEAA.org as well as an employer overview memorandum to introduce a new employer to the program.

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  5. How Do I Apply for SWSP?
    Filing Dates for the SWSP Application/Placement Form:
    Term Filing Date
    Summer May 31
    Academic Year or Fall Term Only October 1
    Spring Term Only January 31

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  6. Who pays me under SWSP?
    Your employer will pay you for all hours worked. Your pay rate must be at least the prevailing minimum wage and will be determined by your employer based upon your classroom knowledge, prior work experience, employer’s budget, etc.

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  7. How much can I earn?
    Both you and your employer will be notified of your SWSP award amount. Your SWSP award amount can be up to $3,600 during the school year and up to an additional $3,600 during the Summer term. These award amounts are the maximum amount of earnings an employer may submit to PHEAA for reimbursement. However, your employer may choose to pay you more than the fixed award amount.

    Please note that you will only be paid for the hours you actually work and if you work during the entire academic year (Fall and Spring), the award amount appearing on the approval notification covers both semesters. If you decide to seek employment for the Summer term, you and your employer must submit another student application by the deadline date.

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  8. How many hours can I work?
    You may work up to 40 hours per week during term breaks and the Summer and no more than 20 hours per week while classes are in session.

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  9. How do I know if my job qualifies?
    Many jobs qualify for SWSP. The general rule is that any job that is high-tech or community service and is in some way related to your major or minor course of study is eligible.

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