<p>What i was wondering was, how would one pay off a work study program. I know that a Work Study program give you a paycheck instead of automatically going to financial aid, but what if you spend that money on personal expenses instead of saving it up and paying back the financial aid? Do I pay them the money first (lets say I got 3k in WS), then you work for that 3k back in my pocket?</p>
<p>Work study doesn’t work that way. What it does is make you eligible for a work study job. The key word is eligible. That means that when you get to school in the fall you look through available work study jobs, interview and hopefully take a position. You are paid an hourly wage (it is federal money matched by money from your college). You get a paycheck like any other job. You can spend the money on books, extras, etc. The funds are not guaranteed, they are a maximum amount per semester that you can earn.</p>
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<p>Both of you are right. I think ebeeeee just misunderstood you. If the cost is 50,000, they will give you 47,000, then you will need to pay 3,000 out of pocket first. If you were able to get a job on campus, then you’ll get to keep the money. It could be more or less than 3000. But if you should choose not to work or not able to get a job, your family will need to make up the difference.</p>
<p>Remember that the COA generally includes allowances for expenses that are not paid direct to the school such as personal expenses and travel expenses. Often WS money can be used for these type of expenses.</p>
<p>As olfort said - any money owed to the school for direct expenses will be due before you earn the WS money and will have to be payed out of pocket.</p>