Iowa State University

Iowa State University

Office of Student Financial Aid

Student Employment Center

The Student Employment Center is located in Room 0640 Beardshear Hall. Our normal hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. Our summer hours are 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday - Friday. We can be reached via telephone, (515) 294-JOBS (5627), or email, studentjobs@iastate.edu. We'll help you find the right job.

The Office of Student Financial Aid maintains the Student Employment Center's (SEC) "Student Job Board" can be accessed online at http://accessplus.iastate.edu. The "Student Job Board" lists several types of student employment:

  • Off-campus positions are readily available in Ames and surrounding communities. Employers often advertise for assistance with light yard work, housework, food service, cashier and sales clerk positions, bookkeeping, child care, and farm help.
  • On-campus positions are plentiful on our Student Job Board. These positions are open to all Iowa State University students who meet the requirements shown on the job vacancy listings, and most positions are paid by the hour. Since departments are not required to list their openings on the Student Job Board, you might want to contact your academic area placement office and your professors about part-time work opportunities. If you are skilled and experienced in research, computer services, or other specialized work, you may find excellent part-time employment just by asking the people you see in your department.
  • Federal and State Work-Study are subsidized employment programs based on financial need. You apply by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Pay rates and job descriptions for Work-Study positions are identical to those for similar positions not funded through Work-Study. Since students authorized for Work-Study receive some preference in hiring, it's best to complete the FAFSA and indicate your interest in employment on that form. If you are eligible for Work-Study, we'll notify you on your financial aid award letter. (Most part-time jobs on campus and in the Ames area are not funded through Work-Study, so don't be discouraged if you are not eligible for this program.)
  • Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program offers Iowa State juniors and seniors the opportunity to work closely with professors and research teams. Research done during these assistantships may lead to publication and/or attendance at national conferences to present results. To qualify for the Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program, students must be juniors with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 and demonstrate financial need of at least $2800. Undergraduate Research Assistants earn $2800 per academic year, working 10 to 12 hours per week.