Will 11366 SAI qualify for Work-Study at most colleges? Confused about eligibility cutoffs
Just got my FAFSA processed and my SAI came back as 11366. I'm freaking out because Work-Study is basically my only hope for affording college next year. Do schools typically offer Work-Study with an SAI this high? I know Pell Grants have a specific cutoff, but I've heard Work-Study eligibility varies by school. Can anyone tell me if I still have a chance? I've already applied to 6 universities and I'm trying to plan my budget for fall semester.
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Chloe Mitchell
Work-Study eligibility really does vary by school. An SAI of 11366 is definitely on the higher end, but not impossible for Work-Study. Each institution gets a specific allocation and sets their own cutoffs based on their student population and funding. The only way to know for sure is to wait for your financial aid offers from each school. Some schools prioritize first-year students, others prioritize by major or financial need. I've seen students with SAIs around 12000 get Work-Study at some private colleges, while state schools sometimes have much lower cutoffs.
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Aaron Lee
•Thanks for the info! Do you know if it makes a difference that I'm going for engineering? I've heard some programs get special consideration, but maybe that's just for scholarships not Work-Study?
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Michael Adams
my roomate had like 10k something SAI last year and got work study at our state university. but my cousins friende with lower SAI didnt get it at the same school so idk its weird how they decide
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Aaron Lee
•That's frustrating that it seems so random! Makes it hard to plan. Did your roommate do anything special on their application?
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Michael Adams
•nope just regular fafsa! she said she checked the box saying she wanted to be considered for work study. did u check that box???
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Aaron Lee
•Yes! I definitely checked that box. At least I'm pretty sure I did... Now I'm paranoid I missed it. Can I go back and check my application somehow?
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Natalie Wang
The ENTIRE financial aid system is DESIGNED to be confusing!!! I had a similar SAI last year and called EVERY SCHOOL I applied to because their websites were USELESS about Work-Study cutoffs. Half the financial aid offices couldn't even give me a straight answer!! They just say "wait for your package" but how are we supposed to PLAN? This is why students end up with crushing debt - we can't make informed decisions!!!!!
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Noah Torres
•Yeah it's pretty messed up. When I was applying colleges nobody would tell me exactly what I'd get until after I was accepted. Made it impossible to know where I could actually afford to go.
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Samantha Hall
Financial aid advisor here. Work-Study eligibility is determined by a combination of your SAI, when you applied, and the school's available funding. An SAI of 11366 means you likely won't qualify at many large state universities where demand exceeds funding, but private colleges and smaller institutions often have higher cutoffs. One important detail: many schools prioritize Work-Study awards by FAFSA filing date. Students who file early (October-December) have a much better chance than late filers, even with the same SAI. When did you submit your FAFSA?
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Aaron Lee
•I submitted in late January, so not super early but not last-minute either. Do you think that hurts my chances? Also, is there any way to appeal for Work-Study specifically if it's not included in my initial aid package?
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Samantha Hall
•January isn't terrible timing, though earlier is always better. And yes, you can absolutely appeal for Work-Study! If your initial financial aid packages don't include it, contact each school's financial aid office directly to request a Work-Study award. Be prepared to explain why you need it and how it would help you succeed academically. Many schools hold back some Work-Study funds specifically for appeals and special circumstances. I've seen many students successfully appeal for Work-Study, even with SAIs in your range.
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Ryan Young
Has anyone tried reaching the Federal Student Aid office directly to get clarification on this? I spent weeks trying to get through their phone system last year to ask about my own Work-Study eligibility (my SAI was around 9000). I finally discovered Claimyr.com which got me connected to an actual FSA agent in about 10 minutes instead of waiting for hours. The agent explained that while they don't set Work-Study cutoffs, they could tell me which of my schools had larger Work-Study budgets. Check out their video demo: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ - saved me so much stress when dealing with financial aid questions.
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Sophia Clark
•is this some kind of ad? does the service actually work? seems sketchy that they can just magically get you through when the regular number has 2+ hour waits...
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Ryan Young
•Not an ad! I was skeptical too but was desperate after being on hold for 3 hours and getting disconnected twice. It worked for me - they basically handle the waiting for you and call when an agent is available. Saved me from having to sit by my phone all day. The FSA agent I spoke with couldn't give specific answers about individual schools but did confirm which of my choices had requested additional Work-Study funding for the upcoming year.
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Chloe Mitchell
One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you don't qualify for federal Work-Study based on your SAI, most colleges also have institutional student employment that isn't tied to FAFSA eligibility. These campus jobs are open to all students regardless of financial aid status. The pay rate is often identical to Work-Study positions, but the main difference is that Work-Study wages don't count as income on next year's FAFSA (which is a nice benefit). If Work-Study doesn't come through, definitely ask about other on-campus employment opportunities.
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Aaron Lee
•That's really helpful to know! I didn't realize there were non-Work-Study campus jobs with similar pay. I was mainly worried about being able to find convenient work that fits with my class schedule. Do these regular campus jobs typically offer the same flexible hours as Work-Study positions?
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Chloe Mitchell
•Yes, they typically have the same flexibility since department supervisors understand you're a student first. The main differences: 1) Regular campus jobs might have slightly fewer hours available (Work-Study positions sometimes get priority for more hours), 2) Competition can be higher for regular campus jobs since they're open to everyone, and 3) As mentioned, Work-Study wages don't count against your FAFSA for the following year. But functionally, the actual job experience is very similar.
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Katherine Harris
when i started at community college my SAI was higher than yours and i still got work study but then when i transferred to university with almost the same SAI they said no work study for me!!! so i think its totally depends on the school. my adviser said community colleges usually have better chances for work study cuz less people apply there compared to big universities so maybe try a community college first?
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Noah Torres
My SAI was around 12000 last year and I got work-study, but only after I called and practically begged the financial aid office. They had some extra funds at the last minute because other students didn't accept their offers. So don't give up even if your initial package doesn't include it!
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Aaron Lee
•That's encouraging! I'm definitely willing to call and plead my case if needed. Did you have to provide any additional documentation when you called, or was it just about making a good case for why you needed it?
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Noah Torres
•Nope, no extra docs! I just explained that I couldn't attend without having a campus job with flexible hours for my schedule, and that I was really excited about their school specifically. They put me on a waitlist and called back 3 weeks later with good news. Guess someone else turned down their work-study award.
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Michael Adams
wait does anyone know if work study is even worth it??? my friend said the jobs are boring and u cant get many hours anyway. are regular off campus jobs better??
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Samantha Hall
•Work-Study positions have significant advantages over off-campus jobs: 1. They're typically on campus, saving commute time 2. Supervisors are flexible with exam schedules and academic demands 3. Many positions allow study time during slow periods 4. The earnings don't count against you on next year's FAFSA 5. Some positions (like research assistants or academic department roles) build valuable resume experience While the 10-15 hours weekly maximum might seem limiting, it's actually appropriate for full-time students. Many off-campus employers want more commitment and less flexibility, which can impact academic performance.
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Natalie Wang
I applied to 9 schools with an SAI of 10500 and only TWO offered me Work-Study!!! The most FRUSTRATING part was both schools that offered it had the LOWEST tuition of all my options - so the schools where I needed it MOST didn't offer it! The financial aid system makes NO SENSE!!!!
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Aaron Lee
Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I feel a bit better knowing that there's still a chance with my SAI, even if it varies by school. I'm going to: 1. Wait for my initial aid packages 2. Contact financial aid offices directly if Work-Study isn't included 3. Ask about regular campus employment as a backup plan 4. Look into which schools might have larger Work-Study budgets I'll update this thread once I start hearing back from schools in case it helps anyone else with a similar SAI.
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Chloe Mitchell
•Sounds like a great plan! One more tip: when you contact financial aid offices, try to meet with someone in person or via video call if possible. It's much harder for them to say no to a face than it is to an email. Good luck!
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Ravi Sharma
Just wanted to add some perspective from someone who's been through this process! My SAI was actually 11,800 last year (so even higher than yours) and I ended up getting Work-Study at 3 out of 7 schools I applied to. The key thing I learned is that timing really matters - not just when you submit your FAFSA, but also how quickly you respond to your financial aid offers. Some schools have a "summer melt" where students decline their Work-Study awards, creating openings for waitlisted students. I got my Work-Study offer in July after being initially denied! Also, smaller private schools definitely seem more flexible with their cutoffs than big state schools. Don't lose hope - your SAI of 11,366 is definitely still in the running at many colleges.
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Amina Sy
•This is really encouraging to hear from someone who had an even higher SAI! The July timing thing is super helpful to know - I hadn't thought about students declining their awards creating new openings. Did you have to actively follow up with schools over the summer, or did they reach out to you once spots opened up? I'm definitely going to focus more on the smaller private schools on my list based on what you and others have said.
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