Three Sources of Funding
FWS is employment financed with federal funds through the FAFSA application. Students must be enrolled at least half-time (6 units) to work in both fall and spring semesters. Students have to be enrolled in 3 or more units to work in the winter term. Students can also work under FWS funding in winter without being enrolled in classes, if they were enrolled half-time (6 units) in the previous fall semester and are enrolled half-time in the upcoming spring semester.
Students under Federal Work Study (FWS) maximum per week = 10 hours.
Students can work during the winter if they are enrolled in 3 units unless enrolled in 6 units for fall and 6 units for spring semesters. There is no FWS during the summer semester. FWS students would have to be hired under Student Help.
Student Help is employment financed through the hiring department's budget. Students must be enrolled full time (12 units) to work in the fall and spring semesters. Students have to be enrolled in 3 or more units to work in the winter term. Students can also work under SH funding in winter without being enrolled in classes, if they were enrolled full-time in the previous fall semester and are enrolled full-time in the upcoming spring semester.
Students under Student Help can work:
- 20 hours maximum per week for fall and spring.
- 30 hours maximum per week for winter and summer.
Students must be enrolled in 12 units or more at SMC for the fall and spring semesters to be able to work during summer or winter. A student can work in the winter or summer, if not enrolled in 12 units, as long as they are enrolled in 3 units during those semesters.
In the fall and spring semesters students must be enrolled in 6 or more units and you must be eligible for LAEP. Eligible students can work a maximum of 20 hours per week.
LAEP offers Santa Monica College students who meet eligibility requirements part-time jobs related to their field of study. Through a partnership with the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), employers can hire LAEP-eligible students and be reimbursed for a portion of the student's wages. Students will earn money while upgrading skills, building their resumes, and developing their professional networks.
LAEP is a form of financial aid and is included in the total financial aid package. LAEP wages may not exceed a student’s unmet need for the academic year.
Unlike other types of financial aid, students will earn a paycheck directly from the employer for hours worked.
Student Eligibility
- Be classified as a California resident.
- Be eligible to work in the United States.
- Be enrolled in a minimum of six units during the semester that they will be working.
- Have demonstrated an unmet financial need.