Co-op Work-Study & On-Campus Co-op Employment

Find a Job

Getting a Job

We are your resource for Co-op Work-Study & On-Campus Co-op placements. If you’re looking for resources for Co-op that is not Work-Study or Off-Campus Co-op, please get in touch with Northeastern Employer Engagement & Career Design.

All co-op opportunities can be found on NUworks.

Resume & Job Searching Guidance

For assistance with creating a resume or other guidance with applying for jobs, contact Northeastern Employer Engagement & Career Design.

What is Co-op Work-Study?

Eligibility

Co-op Work-study funding is available to eligible domestic undergraduate, graduate, and law students who meet specific financial aid criteria.

Employers

Co-op Work-Study funding can be earned with any on-campus co-op or an off-campus co-op that has an active off-campus work-study contract on file with the Student Employment Office.

Requirements

Job Searching

All co-op positions, both on-campus and off-campus, are listed on NUWorks.

Description

Co-op work-study is a type of co-op funding that students can earn by either working in an on-campus co-op or at an off-campus co-op with a non-profit or government agency. The off-campus agency must have a valid off-campus work-study contract on file with our office for the student to be able to earn the available co-op work-study funding.
Not every co-op student who is awarded Federal work-study will automatically be eligible for co-op work-study. Co-op students can inquire about whether they are eligible to receive co-op work-study funding by contacting the Student Employment Office.
Students need at least $13,125 in unmet need available in their financial aid package to be eligible to consider the award. We will only clear students who have enough unmet needs in their financial aid package to award enough funding to cover a full-time, 25-week co-op experience. Co-op work-study is not used as supplemental funding earned on top of regular co-op wages but serves as an alternative funding source for co-op students.

Pre-Hire Paperwork

1. Receive a job offer (Typically, students do not complete their pre-hire paperwork until they have received a job offer)

2. Complete I-9 Section 1 online through Workday

3. First time U.S. employees must apply for a Social Security Number

4. Present Supporting Documents at the Student Employment Office

5. Wait for processing to complete the I-9 Section 2 (Up to 3 business days)

Do you have questions regarding the Form I-9?

Attention!

Please note that the student must present their own documentation; parents, guardians, or any other representatives are not permitted to submit documents on a student’s behalf.

Forms for On-Campus Co-op / Co-op Work-Study

Complete the following forms two weeks before the employment start date. These forms may need to be filled by student employees and their supervisors.

Payments for Co-op Work-Study

Unlike other forms of financial aid, Co-op Work-Study is not applied as a credit to student accounts.
Pay Type
Hourly
Hourly Wage
Depending on experience and position, at least the state minimum wage or above and follow the co-op rates.
Maximum Payment
Hourly Wage × Hours Per Week × Working Weeks (refer to the start/end dates on the sheet)
Students are awarded the amount of funding needed to cover their wages for the full co-op cycle depending on the hire details submitted on their co-op placement sheet.
Hours Per Week
Typically 35 - 40 Hour/Week

Payments for On-Campus Co-op

Pay Type
Hourly
Hourly Wage
Determined by C-Rates of co-op position and year of graduation.
Hours Per Week
Typically 35 – 40 Hour/Week

Wages

Student employees must be compensated for their work in accordance with the following pay range descriptions.
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
California, U.S.
Canada

MA Payment of Wages Law

The Massachusetts Payment of Wages Law indicates:
  • All hourly employees must be paid at least weekly or biweekly.
  • All employees must be paid within six days of the end of the pay period.
  • If an employee resigns, they must be paid for all hours worked on the next regular payday following the end of employment. If an employee is discharged, they must be paid all wages owed on the day of termination.

Tax Information

The US tax system follows a “pay as you go” model, meaning that taxes are deducted from each paycheck.

For students working in the U.S., you will receive the W-2 Tax Form which summarizes your earnings and the taxes you have paid before Jan 31 each year. You may access the W-2 tax documents from Workday.

The W-4 Form indicates how much in taxes will be withheld from your paycheck. You will only be required to complete the form once after you’ve been hired, but you can not update it anytime you wish on Workday. Completing W-4 on Workday takes the place of the paper form and allows you to make any necessary changes electronically.

Learn more about tax forms

Steps to find W-2 Tax Form

Go to Workday → Menu → Pay → My Tax Documents → External Tax Documents

Steps for Updating W-4 Tax Information

Go to Workday → Menu → Pay → Withholding Elections → Update

On The Job

Responsibilities

  • Show up on time. If you are going to be late, contact your supervisor to let them know.

  • If you need to request time off or a change to your schedule, speak to your supervisor as soon as possible.

  • If you need to quit your job, let your supervisor know as soon as possible. You should give your supervisor at least two weeks’ notice before your last day.

  • Ask your supervisor to know what work needs to be done. If you have ideas about how to improve a process, share them!

Your Rights

Student Work Hours

  • Students may not work more than 20 hours per week while classes are in session. During university break periods, students may work up to 40 hours per week. Read more...
  • Student workers may not work during their scheduled class times.
  • Massachusetts state law requires that an unpaid break of at least 30 minutes be taken after six consecutive hours of work.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The university is committed to providing a living, learning, and working environment free of discrimination and harassment. This policy applies to all members of the university community when acting on behalf of the university, whether on or off campus, as well as to contractors, parents, and visitors when they are on university property.
Read more...

Reasonable Accommodation

Northeastern University (the university) recognizes that individuals may be entitled to reasonable accommodation in respect of a legally protected characteristic to participate in employment.
Read more...

 

Pregnancy & Pregnancy-Related Conditions

The university recognizes that employees who are pregnant or have a condition related to pregnancy may need a reasonable accommodation to have equally effective opportunities to participate in employment.
Read more...

Report a Concern

If you have a concern related to your workplace, you can request to speak with a staff member to discuss your reporting options.

 

Or you can access the following resources directly

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I apply for jobs?

Go to Workday → Menu → Jobs and Career Hub → Student Employment → Click on the on-campus jobs or off-campus jobs.

For co-op opportunities,  please check NUworks.

Why is my application automatically rejected?
Students may be rejected from a job if they are not qualified, or if another candidate was more suitable for the position. Hiring managers make the final hiring decision.

If you believe your applications are being rejected in error, please contact us.

When can new students apply for jobs?

Incoming students will be given access to Workday 20 days prior to the start of their program.

Am I allowed to start working while my I-9 documents are processing?
Students should not start working until their hire has been confirmed in Workday, to avoid any possible delay in pay if there are issues with the hire request or I-9 processing. 
I do not have my original documents for Section 2 of the Form I-9. Can I present a scan, picture or photocopy?

No, we can only accept the true, physical document. We cannot accept scans, pictures or photocopies of I-9 supporting documents.

I will not be on campus prior to my start date to submit my I-9 documents in person. Can I complete a remote I-9 or email the documents to you?
No, we cannot verify your I-9 supporting documents remotely. For the safety of your identity, please do not email scanned copies of your Section 2 documents. Please bring original documents to the Student Employment Office once you arrive. Our office will be open during move-in week.
How can I view my paystubs?

To view your this year's paystub history, go to Workday and search “My Payslip” in the search bar.

To access paystub history prior to this year, please navigate to Student Hub → Resources → Financial Services → Student Employee Self Service, and search “Pay Slips”.

Why am I unable to submit a timesheet?
Students are paid on a bi-weekly pay schedule. Every pay week, the timesheet will be temporarily locked for processing payroll. If you have trouble entering time, please try again on Friday. Make sure you enter your hours by 10 AM Sunday morning every week so you can get paid on time.
Can I keep my part-time job while going on Co-op?

If your Co-op position is on-campus, please make sure you receive approval from your Co--op advisor regarding any possible program restrictions and communicate closely with both your Co-op supervisor and part-time supervisor, and make sure they are aware of your other on-campus positions and hours entered. There will be overtime charges if your total hours (Co-op + part time) exceed 40.