Working To Pay for College Costs: Is It for You?

Working students
The financial benefits of working while attending college are obvious: get the cash needed for tuition, housing, phone bills—maybe even food (imagine). Many students find other advantages to working while enrolled in school, too.

Working students may want to repay student loans while attending school

A job schedule helps some students manage time better

It's a great opportunity to build a resume

A job can build a healthy work ethic and greater appreciation of a college education

Find the right work-study balance
Going to college can be a full-time job in itself—so it's important to find a balance between work and studies.

Consider course load weight when taking a job or developing a work schedule

Each hour of coursework usually requires 2-3 hours of work outside the classroom²

Federal work-study programs can help some students earn money to pay for college. (The FAFSA is required to qualify for federal work-study.)

Summer break is a good time to increase hours at work, and increase savings for school

Remember to maintain some time for family, community, and extracurricular activities

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1 U.S. Department of Education, 2006.

2 CliffsNotes.com, 2008.