Best Jobs for College Students

For many of you, a job to help pay the tuition bills is a must. However, you don’t have to resign yourself to flipping burgers at minimum wage. Depending on your school, there can be hundreds of college jobs available that pay well and can provide you with valuable experience to put on your resume. Here are a few campus jobs that are highly sought after. Whether they’re on campus or off, you can work your way through college, and the benefits are two-fold. For one, you will gain work experience, which is invaluable to your resume and chances of landing a job after college. Secondly, your weekly or monthly paychecks can either go toward paying your tuition or funding other components of the college student life, like textbooks, laptops, or even late night pizza delivery. Wherever you work and however you spend your money, here are a few of the best jobs for college students:

Work-Study Programs

As part of your financial aid package, you may be eligible for work study positions across campus. These jobs run the gamut from working in the library to manning the reception desk at the gym to working in an academic department. A portion of what you earn will be used to pay for tuition. To become eligible for a work-study job on campus, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as any supplemental financial aid forms from your college. Filling out this form will enable the college to determine your financial need and then include a work study position as a result.

Research Assistant

Faculty members are often looking for students to assist them in research. If you plan on majoring in the sciences or engineering, research experience is vital to your future career goals. Ask professors in your department if they or anyone else is looking to hire student research assistants. You can also serve as a research assistant during the summer. Typically, college labs are open year-round. So, if you don’t want to give up time during the semester, you can always opt to assist in the lab or on your professor’s research during the summer months.

Resident Assistant

A Resident Assistant (RA) is a student that lives and works in the dorms. Usually, there is an RA on every floor of every campus dorm. Their job is to ensure that things on the floor are running smoothly, both from a functional and behavioral perspective. Being an RA in dorm takes a lot of responsibility and leadership and looks great on a resume. While you’re usually not paid by the hour, there is one giant perk in the form of free room and board for the school year. A couple of years as an RA and you can shed tens of thousands off your tuition bill.

Tutoring

Peer tutoring is a great way to make some dough while in school. Your school will often pay you to tutor in areas like Math, Science, and Writing. Not only will you get to meet new people and strike up new friendships, it’s also a great resume booster. If tutoring college-age students isn’t your forte, you can also try to tutor in the local community. There is oftentimes a huge need for college tutors at the elementary, middle, and high school level. In fact, your college may have a program specifically tailored to meet that need in the community as well as provide students employment opportunities.

Off-Campus Jobs for College Students

Though the above jobs tend to fit seamlessly into most college students’ schedules, there are also jobs to be had off campus. Most of the time, these employers can accommodate your busy, college schedule. Part-time jobs for students also have the added perk of helping you pay your college tuition, depending on where you work. The amount of part-time employers that have begun offering employees tuition assistance has been increasing for quite a few years now. Through this partnership, students are receiving work experience as well as money toward their college tuition bill.