CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Classes haven't even begun, but it's already far from the final semester Nicole Toms imagined.

What You Need To Know

  • Some federal work-study jobs have been lost or gone remote during the pandemic

  • College student relied on the money for expenses related to school

  • In March the Department of Education said it was up to each school to decide if they could continue paying students for work-study jobs that were interrupted


"My head is all over the place," the UNC rising senior says. "I lost my original work-study position due to labs closing to meet with CDC guidelines. So I've had to scramble."

Since freshman year Toms has worked part-time at a school research lab, making $1,300 per semester. The money went to food, textbooks, and other expenses.

To make ends meet the environmental science major landed a job at a Target near campus, but some of that money dried up too. She worked between 20 to 40 hours a week, but that dropped to 5 to 15 hours when students left campus and business slowed.

College counselor Jenny Peacock cautions if a student makes too much from a side job, it could hurt their financial aid for the next year.

Unlike work study, a job at Target or another business counts as income. She recommends students appeal directly to their financial aid office if they can't find a suitable work study job.

Toms applied for and was awarded emergency assistance from the Horatio Alger Association. It helped pay for an off-campus apartment. She could've saved money by moving back home but didn't feel it was a good health decision to live in Florida with her grandparents.

While UNC has covered some of her lost aid, Toms says the experience can't be replaced. The skills she developed in the lab, directly relate to her career goals.

"Lab means you have a lot of multi-tasking, critical thinking, and just be on your feet and really quick reactions. Those skills are beneficial for any career path, especially environmental field," Toms says.