About 4 in 5 students work for an average 19 hours per week while attending college, according to a Citigroup survey of 1,000 students last year. While the hours may take away from socializing or studying time, research by U.S. Department of Education found that students who work up to 15 hours a week have significantly higher GPAs than non-working students.
But when it comes to where to work during college, most students have two options: on-campus and off-campus jobs. But which is better? We’ll lay out the pros and cons:
On-Campus Jobs
Many entry-level on-campus jobs are available through the Federal Work-Study Program, which is a needs-based program that allows students to earn money if they need help paying for college. To qualify, you have to meet certain criteria, such as demonstrating financial need, being enrolled in a degree program and maintaining satisfactory academic progress. With these jobs, you’ll earn at least minimum wage, and sometimes more.
At some schools, work-study money may be paid directly toward your tuition fees. But at others, you’ll get a paycheck just like any other job, which you can use for educational costs or your living expenses.
Other options for on-campus work include being hired as a regular employee, while taking classes at the school, or qualifying for a merit-based work-study job, like a research assistant.
Pros:
On-campus jobs, especially work-study jobs specifically for students, can be great because supervisors expect to work around your hectic school schedule. And most of the time, you can easily get time off when the campus shuts down over a school break.
Plus, getting to an on campus job is usually simple. On smaller campuses, you can just walk to your job in between classes. This can make it easier to build up to 15 to 20 hours per week; instead of working normal four to eight hour shifts, you can work a couple hours in between classes.
Cons:
At some schools, a potential drawback of a work-study position is that the money goes directly to your tuition fees. You may not get a say in how you spend the money you earn. (Although for some students, that can actually be an advantage!)
Another potential drawback is the lower rates of pay. Flipping burgers off campus won’t earn you much more than working in the school library, sure. But off-campus jobs may pay more — especially if your school is located in or nearby a large city. A job like waiting tables at a pricey restaurant downtown could net you a decent income when you add in tips, compared to waiting on broke college students on campus.
Off-Campus Jobs
The options are endless for off-campus jobs if your school is in an urban area. From working in restaurants and clothing stores, to being an office assistant for a doctor or lawyer, you’ll likely find plenty of job opportunities. You could also choose to make your own job by offering lawn mowing, baby-sitting or errand-running services.
Pros:
With more options, you have a better potential to make good money at an off-campus job. And there’s no doubt that the money you earn off campus will go right to your pocket — to be used as you please.
And while on-campus jobs can be good work experience, off-campus jobs may give you more exposure to the “real world” that could look good on a future résumé. When applying for off-campus jobs, you can look for positions that might be more related to the career you’d like to build.
Cons:
But for all these advantages, off-campus jobs are too much of a hassle for many college students.
For one thing, there’s the transportation issue. You’ll need a reliable ride or a decent public transportation system to get to an off-campus job. And even if you already have a good car, there’s the added expense of maintaining it and filling it with ever-more-expensive gas to worry about. Transportation costs could quickly erode any hourly paycheck boost you get from moving your job search off campus.
You’ll also likely be expected to work full shifts — even during the craziness of finals week. This can make it hard to juggle work and school successfully. If the real goal is to get through school — not necessarily to make a few more dollars per hour right now — then you’ll want to vet jobs carefully to ensure yours will be compatible with your school schedule.
So which is better?
It really just depends. You may find that the convenience of an on-campus job far outweighs any added income from an off-campus option. Or you might find the perfect career-boosting off-campus job that makes the sacrifice of time and sanity worthwhile. Many college students will try both options during their college years, and some even do a little of both at the same time.
But before you accept either an on-campus or off-campus job offer, take the time to look at all your options. And make sure your choice will further your ultimate goal of earning a degree and starting a career.
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Should You Work On or Off Campus? originally appeared on usnews.com
