Key Takeaways
- There are many benefits to working a campus job, including not having to travel far for work, flexibility with your class schedule, getting some great discounts, and of course—earning money!
- Whether it’s tutoring, leading campus tours, assisting in offices, labs, or libraries, or working in dining halls and coffee shops, campus jobs offer a range of options to match your interests and fit your schedule.
- If you prefer more control over your schedule, consider freelance opportunities like food delivery with DoorDash, pet sitting, or online tutoring.
Making money in college is a must for many students as it’s necessary to afford tuition, fees, food, books, and every other cost of higher education. Even if your tuition is already covered, a job during school could help you save up for fun or be set up for the future.
Whether you were accepted for a federal work-study program as part of your financial aid or you’re just looking to make money between courses, you may be curious about what types of jobs are available to you on campus. Each college is different when it comes to what they offer, but there are quite a few jobs on campus that pay well and work with your schedule! Here are 20 of them:
20 On-Campus Jobs for College Students
1. Tutoring
Tutoring is a fantastic way to make extra cash in school, especially if you’re confident in your abilities in a particular subject. You can make quick cash by tutoring students at your school, or you may even find work helping students at the local K-12 schools.
Many colleges offer programs to help match students with tutors, so that’s a good place to check first. Tutors also post their contact information online or around town if they want to freelance. You can even try tutoring online through platforms like Preply or Chegg.
2. College Tour Guide or Brand Ambassador
When you were still college-searching in high school, you likely attended an on-campus tour. But did you know that the tour guide was likely a student themselves? If you have a lot of school spirit, this could be a great opportunity to earn some extra cash and tell other students why your school is one of a kind. Plus, colleges are generally understanding of your schedule.
If the tour guide opportunity clashes with your schedule, you might want to ask about being a brand ambassador instead. These are individuals who visit high schools and college fairs to meet with prospective students and explain why they should attend a particular college. It’s a fantastic networking opportunity and can also help you get some sales and marketing experience under your belt.
3. Professor’s Assistant
Professors generally have projects going on outside of the classroom and can use a bit of extra assistance, especially for research, surveying, and fieldwork. You can ask your professors directly about opportunities, connect with departments, or ask the college itself about job openings for assistants. What better way to get some experience related to your major and network for your future?
4. IT Support or Help Desk
If you have a knack for getting that stubborn printer to work, you might consider a job in IT support or at the college help desk. These positions typically handle low-level support tickets for other students and faculty. This might mean assisting with their computer or technology-related issues, supervising computer use, or answering phones at a help desk. And as a bonus, when you’re not helping someone, you’re free to work on your schoolwork!
5. Dog Walker or Pet Sitter
If you love animals, consider a position as a dog walker or pet sitter! These are very much “make your own schedule” types of jobs, which means you don’t have to worry about your work clashing with your class schedule or schoolwork. If someone wants you to watch their cat for the weekend but you have a major project, you can simply tell them you’re unavailable!
If you’re interested in this type of work, you can look for online opportunities through websites like Rover or promote your services on social media and around town.
6. Translating
Are you proficient in a foreign language? There are translating opportunities online such as Gengo, where you can earn a bit of extra cash and only take on work when you want to. You should only take on these jobs if you are entirely confident in your language skills—a basic understanding of a language or using Google Translate won’t cut it. Websites that offer these jobs will require you to take a test to demonstrate your expertise.
7. Food Delivery
Driving for food and grocery delivery services like DoorDash and Instacart are great flexible jobs for college students. The hours are 100% set by you, so you get to choose when you want to work and when you need to complete projects. For this job, you will need your own car and you’ll also have to account for gas mileage expenses.
8. Rideshare Driving
Similar to food delivery, driving for Uber or Lyft allows you to set your own hours. Many cities also have smaller companies if you don’t want to work for these big two. Again, you will need to have your own car and you’ll also need to abide by the conditions of the company you are working for. This often requires you to have a newer vehicle in good condition that has passed an annual inspection. Remember to always keep safety your priority if you choose this job.
9. Freelancing Opportunities
Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? You might consider freelancing to make some extra cash. Although many of the jobs listed above can fall under the freelancing umbrella, there are plenty of other opportunities available to students depending on your skills. From graphic design to editing and writing to transcription, businesses are regularly looking for assistance.
If you have a knack for writing, for example, you might be able to find some blog writing opportunities online or for businesses in your local area. Websites like Fiverr and Etsy offer opportunities for you to sell your work and/or services to other individuals and businesses.
10. Library Assistant
If you have a passion for books and value organization, then a library assistant position might be a great fit for you. Your tasks may include putting away books, helping students find texts, assisting with computer work, or checking out books to students, faculty, and staff. These tasks can look excellent when you’re resume-building, because between curation and customer service—-working in a library is no joke! Many library assistants later pursue becoming librarians or specializing in areas like archival work, research, or digital media management.
11. Office Assistant
There are plenty of places for you to work as an office assistant on campus, from the school’s gym to the math department. You will usually be doing tasks like answering phones or emails, filing documents, assisting professors, or completing other office tasks. You may even help manage schedules and coordinate appointments. As an office assistant, you’ll need to pay attention to detail, think quickly on your feet, manage multiple tasks, and keep a tidy workspace.
12. Marketer
If you have a passion for your school and want to help promote it, you might check out what jobs are available through the marketing department. From your school’s social media pages to pamphlets for open houses, there could be lots of opportunities for you. You might be hired to write for the school’s paper, conduct interviews with students and staff, photograph school events, or even run the school’s social media page. This job is typically reserved for students who are majoring in fields like marketing, communications, journalism, or graphic design.
13. Fitness Center Staff
Fitness center staff can have a wide range of required tasks. Your responsibilities might include managing front desk duties, checking in guests, answering questions about gym schedules, or assisting with equipment maintenance and cleaning. Depending on what’s available and your qualifications, you might be able to apply to be a trainer, lifeguard, dance teacher, or group fitness instructor.
Some schools ask their fitness center work-study students to fill in as managers for the sports teams, judges, referees, or fitness programmers. The job you’re given will most likely be assigned by availability, but your experience in sports and fitness may also be beneficial.
14. Research Assistant
Many labs in colleges and universities are short-staffed and therefore, these specific assistants can provide much-needed support for research, equipment, and labs. You may be asked to clean and maintain equipment, but some students get to take part in exciting work. Research assistant positions tend to pay more than other on-campus jobs, but there are also more stringent requirements. For instance, a school may only be looking to hire students who are studying a related major or have prior laboratory experience.
15. Mail Room Assistant
In the age of Amazon Prime, mailrooms can be extremely busy places—especially at a large university. A school will require a mailroom assistant to sort and deliver mail, operate equipment, work in reception, deliver equipment and supplies around campus, and more. If you can effectively organize and thrive in fast-paced work environments, then this job may be perfect for you.
16. Local Organization Positions
These might not necessarily be on campus, but they are still worth mentioning. Sometimes, local nonprofits are looking for employees, so colleges will partner with these organizations for their work-study program. The jobs available can vary from assisting in an animal shelter, to working in a food bank, to helping at the Boys and Girls Clubs. You could also be responsible for raising funds for these organizations right on campus or recruiting others to join the cause! This job is a great fit for students who are passionate about helping others and seek to build connections with their community.
17. Barista
Do you love coffee? Then you may just want to spend a little more time in the campus coffee shop! The position tends to offer flexible hours, and you may even walk away with a free or discounted coffee after your shift. You could even add some creativity to specialty drinks, giving you a creative outlet at work. While you may not intend to be a barista after you graduate, you can still develop strong customer service and multitasking skills that will look great to any future employer.
18. Bookstore Associate
College bookstores regularly hire students to man the counters, stock the shelves, and help other students find what they’re looking for. If you have an interest in business or happen to be studying it, this could be right up your alley while giving you valuable retail experience and learning basic store operations.
19. Dining Hall Worker
Dining halls often employ both students and locals. You can opt to work breakfast, lunch, or dinner schedules which makes it easy to find hours that fit around your classes and study time. If your schedule changes next semester, it’s typically easy to adjust or swap shifts.
Since dining halls are on campus and located in convenient spots for students, you won’t need to travel far to work. Not to mention, many dining halls provide free or discounted meals, which is a pretty nice perk!
20. Resident Advisor
Dorm rooms tend to have a resident advisor on staff, also known as an RA. These students are usually upperclassmen and are responsible for a specific floor of the dorm. They help settle disputes between roommates, ensure rules are followed, and conduct inspections of rooms. RAs also often organize building-wide activities or lead their dorm in competitions against other buildings. One of the perks of being an RA is that you sometimes get a free private dorm room (which can get expensive!).
Benefits of Working on Campus
For some students, working on campus means they were approved for a work-study program. However, that isn’t always the case. You can find jobs at your college even if you weren’t granted that financial aid package. Doing so comes with several benefits:
- You gain experience for your resume.
- It could potentially lead to a career at the college after graduation.
- You won’t have to travel far for work.
- The college understands you have classes and have to study and complete homework, so they will be flexible with your needs and schedule.
- You could get discounts on things like books, coffee, and other goods depending on your job. Some may even give you free stuff!
- And, of course, you’ll make money, all while being in school!
There are plenty of part-time jobs with flexible hours for students, and this list is just to get you started. Each campus is different though and job opportunities can change from year to year. When applying for a job on campus, try to find one that matches your interests or can give a boost to your resume after you graduate.
Are you looking for a bit of extra cash? Scholarships can be a great way to bridge the financial gap! Use College Raptor’s Scholarship Search tool to locate awards you qualify for quickly!
| Lender | Rates (APR) | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
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5.50%-16.12%* Variable
3.99%-15.61%* Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CITIZENS |
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5.54% - 15.70% Variable
3.99% - 15.49% Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT SALLIE MAE |
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4.63% - 17.99% Variable
3.49% - 17.99% Fixed
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Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CREDIBLE |
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6.00% - 13.75% Variable
3.99% - 13.75% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT LENDKEY |
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5.66% - 14.72% Variable
3.69% - 14.56% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ASCENT |
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3.70% - 8.75% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ISL |
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5.62% - 16.85% Variable
3.69% - 16.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT EARNEST |
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5.00% - 14.22% Variable
3.69% - 14.22% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ELFI |
