Earnings Ceilings

Earnings ceilings are the maximum you may earn in Work-Study wages, but they can change in the course of a year depending on your financial aid. It is always a good idea to check with the SEO or your Financial Aid Office to confirm your ceiling.

Summer FWSP earnings ceilings are set by class and are not adjustable.

Regulations governing the Federal Work-Study Program require that institutions award Work-Study eligibility to students in specific amounts reflecting their financial need. Your Earnings Ceiling equals your remaining need at the time award letters were mailed. If you receive outside awards or take a loan in an amount different from what was listed in your financial aid award, your earnings ceiling will change. When you come to the Student Employment Office to pick up your paperwork, you will receive your updated ceiling.

If you have been offered a Federal Work-Study job and need to earn more than your earnings ceiling, please e-mail your Financial Aid Officer.

Foreign students and students receiving a Term-time Job offer are not subject to these government regulations. They have no earnings ceilings and are free to work without these restrictions.

Outside Awards

Outside awards (National Merit Scholarships, for example) reduce the term-time job and/or loan component of your financial aid package. As the Financial Aid Office becomes aware of your outside awards, they will be incorporated into your aid package, reducing loan and/or term-time job, as you choose. Students receiving large or numerous outside awards may see their loan and/or term-time job offer reduced to zero; outside awards in excess of a student's loan and term-time job offer will replace Harvard scholarship, dollar for dollar. It's important to note that even with a term-time job offer of zero, many students will elect to work. Jobs in the Harvard community are plentiful, diverse and rewarding. You needn't be on financial aid or have singular economic need to reap the benefits of term-time employment at Harvard.