Student Employment

One sure way to help out with college expenses is part-time work while enrolled in school. Studies at Elon and elsewhere have shown that students, including freshmen, who work on campus persist in their studies at a higher rate than students who do not work. Working on or off campus provides students both the personal satisfaction of investing in their education and an income to help cover personal expenses.

During a regular academic year, over 800 students work at jobs on the Elon campus alone. Typically, students will work 10 to 20 hours per week (earning between $1,000 and $2,500 per year) in an on-campus office job, with campus recreation, in the library, etc. Others will work as Community Development Coordinators, where they are in charge of one floor in a residence hall and in return receive free room. Many others hold jobs with nearby local employers. In some cases, with the approval of the Director of Experiential Education, students can receive internship credit for work done on or off campus. To learn more about the jobs available on campus, click here.

College supervisors and many off-campus employers recognize that students must be students first and that academic achievement is the first priority. They are very flexible in scheduling working hours and in working around testing and final exam times. Elon students working on campus may not work more than 20 hours per week while classes are in session, and many hold jobs requiring fewer hours per week.

Federal Work-Study Program
Awarded to students with need who work on campus and who are paid according to hours worked. Awards vary based on amount of need. Students awarded Federal Work-Study are not guaranteed a job, and work-study earnings are not paid in advance so they cannot be used to pay the direct costs (tuition, room, board, books, etc.) of the semester in which they are awarded.

Elon Work-Study Program
Similar to the Federal Work-Study Program except that need is not a factor in determining eligibility.

Important Information About Working on Campus
You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to work on campus, and you cannot work until the steps below have been completed. If you work without a Work Agreement, you will not get paid.

After you have been hired for a particular job, follow these steps to get on the university's payroll:

1. Go to the Financial Planning Office and request a Work Agreement. To obtain a Work Agreement, you must bring with you forms described on this list.

2. Once you show the appropriate identification, the Financial Planning Office will provide you with tax forms and instructions to complete your Work Agreement.