Jobs for College Students

by Josh Fredman

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 40 percent of full-time higher education students also work. Whether to pay for tuition or just to earn extra money, you can find plenty of job opportunities as a student. The work won't always be glamorous, and it might be irrelevant to your school studies. These kinds of job opportunities, though, can broaden your horizons and help you make new connections with people, all while getting paid.

Campus Organizations

The staff population at a college or university can be as large as the student population. Most of the positions are paid jobs, and one of them could be yours. Be it reporting for the student newspaper, working at a lab, manning the reception desk at a building or even performing custodial labor, colleges offer many on-campus, entry-level opportunities -- and they usually pay better than minimum wage, too.

Retail and Food Service

The most accessible jobs will usually be off-campus, in private sector retail services and food industries. Many colleges generate their own economic activity like little towns, supporting local businesses including drug stores, restaurants, banks, cafes, bookstores, clothing stores and supermarkets. These shops serve the local community, and their owners are used to hiring college students. If you're looking for a job and can't find anything on campus, try local retailers and the food service scene.


Nonprofit organizations usually serve purposes like social change, charity, education and environmental conservation. They exist not to earn profits, but to perform a public service. Nonprofits recognize that college students have some of the highest levels of energy and enthusiasm, and are still highly impressionable and open to learning. These organizations frequently recruit students on campus, offering a variety of paid and volunteer jobs for those who share the same passions. In some cases, you might be able to secure a paid position after putting in volunteer time. So if you don't immediately need a paycheck, look into working for nonprofits.

Work-Study Programs

Colleges and universities usually offer work-study programs, a form of financial aid that offers an alternative to grants and loans. In a work-study program, your campus career center provides you with a job at a qualifying company or organization either on- or off-campus. Work-study jobs typically pay better than minimum wage. There are, however, two main factors to consider: only eligible students may apply, and all colleges impose strict limits on how many hours you can work per week. If you qualify for a work-study job, you could pair it with an additional part-time gig elsewhere.

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