Does Federal Work-Study Work for Students? Evidence From a Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to evaluate the impact of receiving a federal work-study (FWS) offer on outcomes for low-income undergraduate aid applicants at a large, urban public college system. The FWS program is one of the oldest federal policy tools intended to promote college access and persistence for low-income students. The program serves approximately 1 in 10 college students at a cost of nearly $1 billion annually, yet it has never been rigorously evaluated.