Summer 2026:Community Service Work Study (CSWS) Program
What is CSWS?
The Community Service Work-Study (CSWS) Program provides academic year and summer employment opportunities for currently enrolled students who receive financial aid at Stanford. It allows them to combine the financial need to work with the personal goal of helping the community.
Eligible students have the freedom to design a service experience in collaboration with a partnering organization. Summer placements can be at qualified organizations anywhere in the United States. The Summer Program has 100 slots available - apply early to secure your internship.
CSWS is a federally-supported program, co-administered for Stanford by the Haas Center and the Financial Aid Office.
CSWS Website
You can learn more about the CSWS Program on our website here.
Program Dates
The CSWS Summer Program runs through the summer unless a different schedule is approved by the CSWS Program (please email cswsprogram@stanford.edu for more details).
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Program Runs:
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July 1--Sept 12, 2026.
- *This may be subject to change depending on your Financial Aid package/enrolled units.
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July 1--Sept 12, 2026.
Application Deadline
Summer Early Deadline: February 20, 2026
Summer Regular Deadline: April 25, 2026
How to Apply
Find a nonprofit organization that you would like to work with, reach out to them, and identify a Community Partner supervisor. Once you and your supervisor come to an agreement about your job offer, complete the Student Application on your SOLO account. This is the beginning of the easy application process. Follow instructions at the website to have your Community Partner complete their Application materials. Only completed applications are considered and approved.
For additional help, contact one of our CSWS Peer Advisors:
Here is a link to reach our Peer Advisors that can help you with the application process, finding a nonprofit organization, and everything CSWS-related.
- Student responsibilities will vary depending upon the organization needs and the student skills, experiences and what they hope to learn and contribute.
Am I eligible?
Currently enrolled undergraduate students who have a financial aid package may qualify for CSWS, with the following exceptions:
- International students are not eligible.
- Seniors who are graduating from Stanford are not eligible the summer after their senior year. Contact the Financial Aid office directly if you are a Senior and have extenuating circumstances to check your eligibility.
REQUIRED: An Authorization email from the Financial Aid Office that indicates your eligibility for the CSWS program is required to participate in the CSWS Summer Program. *The Financial Aid Office Authorization Request portal for Summer CSWS verifications will be available at the end of January 2026. Should you have specific questions, email May Thin at federalworkstudy@lists.stanford.edu.
REMINDER:You must complete your 2026-27 FAFSA to be eligible. Then you must complete the CSWS Authorization Request for Summer 2026 at this request form. This is to check your CSWS eligibility for the progam.
-Note: Students may participate in only one Stanford sponsored summer internship simultaneously.
How does it work?
All work-study students are employed and paid bi-weekly through Stanford University. This is a PAID Community Service Opportunity!
There is NO COST to the Community Partner Organization. The federal government and Stanford University cover 90% of the student's wages and benefits upfront, and the Haas Center contributes the remaining 10% of the wages. ---The Financial Aid Office determines eligibility and the maximum earnings each student is allocated per quarter. For Summer 2026: The Summer program wage is set at $23.00/hr and $8,500 per summer quarter.
