work-study

American  

[wurk-stuhd-ee] / ˈwɜrkˈstʌd i /

noun

1. a type of financial aid in which students are hired for part-time jobs, usually by their college, and often for work on campus.

   I was lucky enough to be a research assistant for work-study, unlike my roommate who had to work in the cafeteria.

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adjective

1. of or relating to such a job associated with a college or university.

work-study British  

noun

1. an examination of ways of finding the most efficient method of doing a job, esp in terms of time and effort

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Etymology

Origin of work-study

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

work-study

The Dutch system creates the opportunity for lots of hands-on experiences through work-study pathways, employer partnerships, and state-supported apprenticeships.

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026

At Dartmouth, we have replaced loans with a combination of scholarships, grants and work-study options in our financial-aid packages and now offer free tuition for families earning $175,000 or less.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 25, 2026

In fact, work-study money has to be earned and is sent as a paycheck.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2025

The department’s K-12 programs serve more than 50 million students attending 130,000 public and private schools; federal grant, loan, and work-study assistance benefits more than 13 million post-secondary students.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2025

The original plan was to go to school from eight forty-five to noon, then work at the bank from one to five thirty, as a part of the work-study program.

From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds