In work-study programs, how much do students earn per hour. Additionally, are there any other more lucrative positions on campus at Harvard and other Ivy League schools?
Students receiving financial aid who are part of the Federal Work Study Program are guaranteed a part-time job at their college for at least minimum wage, as the US Government is paying the university to help employ that student. So, Federal Work Study kids get first dibs for on-campus jobs at any university. (See: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fws/index.html)
All other students need to search for their on-campus or off-campus jobs through on-line databases, and sometimes jobs are difficult to come by, as there are more student’s seeking work than there are part-time jobs – and upperclassmen usually get preference for on-campus employment.
Both my kids were on financial aid, but were not part of the Federal Work Study Program, therefore they were not guaranteed employment, although a term-time job was part of their financial aid package. My daughter couldn’t find an on-campus job during her first two years of school, but did get a job when she was a junior and senior in one of Harvard’s Libraries making $12.50 an hour. My son pretty much had the same issue at Yale. He couldn’t find a job his freshman or sophomore year, but did work during his last two years at Yale’s Computer Help Desk making $15.25 an hour. I imagine other colleges pay about the same rate.
My sons’ on-campus jobs have ranged from about $12,50 to about $14.50 per hr. They’re not using the federal program. You have to dig a little to get a job, but it doesn’t seem to be too difficult.
One of the better paying jobs is to be a course assistant or teaching assistant ($18 an hour for one I heard about).