How Many Hours Should a College Student Work?

Did you know that nearly seventy percent of college students choose to work during college? There are many reasons why student work can be beneficial. One of the biggest of these reasons, as you might have guessed, is how nice it can be to have extra cash.

However, just because you can work during college doesn't necessarily mean you should work during college. The amount of work a person can take on is different for everyone, and life as a college student is no easy task. 

Even if you do choose to work during college, there are questions to consider. How many hours a week should a college student work? What type of college job should you have?

That's where we come in.

We'll tell you exactly what you need to know about having a college job. In this informative guide, you'll get all sorts of information, from how many hours you should work and what type of job you should have all the way up to preventing burnout as a college student with a job.

All you need to do to become well-informed on this topic is keep reading.

Should College Students Work?

Working in college, as long as you know your limits, can actually be a pretty good idea. The biggest reason why it can be a good idea is simple: money.

If you're a college student, you might want to live off of something a little more expensive than ramen and peanut butter. Even if you're not the perfect example of a starving college student, it's always good to have extra cash in savings before you need it.

Going to college is expensive. Having a job means you'll be able to pay for your basic needs, such as food, medicine, or rent. It also means you'll be able to absorb some of the cost of college, such as textbooks. 

If you're able to cover some of these costs now, then you'll have less to worry about later. After all, paying for these things on your own means you won't be adding to your college debt.

Part-Time vs. Full-Time Students

Whether you attend college as a part-time or full-time student, you can still consider working. The amount of college you attend simply changes the amount of work that you should take on.

However, you may find it worthwhile to know that part-time college students are more likely to work their way through college than full-time college students are. This is because attending college part-time allows you more time in the rest of your life.

It's an easy rule of thumb that the more college you attend, the fewer hours you should aim for at work. This will protect you from getting too overwhelmed or worse, like burning out.

Remember to avoid taking on too much of either kind of work at once. The point of taking on a job during college is to make your life easier, not harder.

Benefits of Working During College

As stated before, working during college gives you a better cash flow. It also decreases your student loan debt, as you need to take out less debt than you would otherwise. Financial independence is a valuable thing for anyone, but as a college student, it can make your life much easier than anticipated.

Another benefit of working during college is that it can actually improve your grades as long as you don't work too much. This is because working teaches you important skills, such as how to manage your time or how to organize your life better.

Depending on what job you get, you could also gain valuable job experience that would benefit you in your future career. You could learn skills that would take you ages to learn otherwise. Even if you don't get a job in your field, you could learn skills that will translate to your field.

Risks of Working During College

The biggest risk of working your way through college is that it can cause you to lose track of what's actually important: your college education. 

As a college student, it's crucial that you focus on your studies. If you take on too many hours at work, it can take away from your ability to focus. Your grades could start to slip, which would bring on a host of other problems.

You might also feel more responsibility to work a shift rather than attend a class. For a college student, that could lead to disastrous results.

If you miss too many classes or your grades slip too much, you could risk losing your grants or scholarships. This will make it harder for you to get through college. In the worst-case scenario, it could actually make it so you can't afford to go to college.

In addition, you may not be able to handle the stress that comes with getting a college job.

How Many Hours Should a College Student Work?

The number of hours that you should work as a college student really depends on how many hours you think you can personally handle. However, most places agree that you shouldn't work a full forty hours in a week.

Ideally, you should aim for no more than twenty hours of work per week. The reason for this is simple: there just isn't enough time in the week to do everything you want to do.

As a college student, you're no stranger to managing your time. If you tried to work a full-time job on top of the amount of college you attend, that would be like taking on two full-time jobs at once. No one can sustainably manage that.

However, working twenty hours allows you to have all the benefits of working a college job and none of the drawbacks. You'll be able to avoid the stress that comes with overwork as long as you plan it all out.

What Type of Job Should a College Student Have?

If you've decided that you should get a college job, then there are a few other things to consider. Should you go for a full-time job, even knowing the risks? Or should you stay with a part-time job you can manage?

What about getting an internship in your field? Is it really as helpful as it sounds like it might be, or should you just try to get a paid job elsewhere?

Don't wait until you're applying for jobs to figure it out. Determine the answers now so that you can narrow your job search down later.

Internship or Not?

Taking an internship can boost your career under the right conditions. So if it's potential for job experience drawing you to work during college, it might be worth considering.

However, if you're trying to supplement your income, then you might need to consider looking outside your field. Many internships are unpaid, which won't help you if you're trying to ease your financial burdens.

Not having an internship won't damage your career. In fact, many employers prefer to see a paid job on a resume rather than an unpaid internship. 

If you have an option between an unpaid internship or a paid job, we suggest you take the paid job. Not only will it benefit your resume, but it will also benefit your life right now. You'll be glad for the extra cash in case an unforeseen expense comes up!

Full-Time or Part-Time Work?

As stated previously, if you attend college full time, you should never be looking for more than a part-time job. Aim to work no more than twenty hours a week- the further you get above twenty hours, the fewer benefits there are towards working.

However, if you're only a part-time student, then it might be worth it to consider working a full-time job. As a part-time student attending college, you have more time on your hands than a full-time student. 

In addition, part-time students have less opportunity to earn funding than full-time students do. The amount of money you are given through grants or scholarships decreases the less credits that you have. Working a full-time job may be the only way for you to afford to attend college.

Whichever you choose to do, make sure it doesn't overwork you. In addition, make sure the work you choose does help take care of your needs.

Should Students Work Overtime?

Working overtime as a college student isn't a good idea. There are only so many hours in the week. If you try to fit in a full-time job, being a full-time student, and overtime, you literally won't have the time in your life to manage it.

Depending on how many credits you have and the type of classes you attend, you spend at least twelve hours a week in a classroom. You spend roughly three times that on homework, class reading, and studying. This is a full-time job on its own.

When you add in another full-time job, as well as overtime, when do you sleep? When do you find time to eat, or take care of yourself? Simply put, you don't.

Working overtime as a college student leads to stress and burnout. It's unsustainable and will negatively affect your work as a student. 

It's best if you stick to part-time to avoid overworking yourself.

Should a Student Work From Home?

Working from home is always a valid option if you don't want to commute elsewhere to work. In fact, it might be better for a college student to work from home.

Working from home saves the time it would take to commute, as well as transportation expenses. This allows you to use your time more efficiently, which is essential for a college student.

Working from home also allows you more flexibility and a better work-life balance. It allows you to set your own hours, meaning you can better manage your personal and professional time.

Finally, working from home can cause increased productivity. This is because at home, you can create the perfect environment for you to work in. You can eliminate distractions as you please, such as the distraction of office chatter.

You can also add things that help you focus that you couldn't have in an office- for example, music!  

Should You Work in Your Field?

Working in your field is the ideal option, but it isn't essential to working as a student.

The most important part of working as a student is that you find a way to sustain your needs without overworking yourself. If you find a job that offers all that and more, then those are merely extra benefits.

Working in your field grants you experience that will give you a leg up when applying for careers in your field later on. However, any work at all will provide you with skills that you can apply to your job. 

This is true even if the work you do is in two entirely different fields. For example, one of the most common skills you can learn is observation. There isn't a single field where having a sharp eye for detail isn't needed.

Attempt to get a job in your field, but don't stress too much if you're unable to.

Working in College Also Benefits Your Future

Working through college can benefit your future more than just by reducing the amount of debt you're in.

If you choose to work in your field, it can give you an advantage over other college graduates. You'll already have a bit of experience in your field, whereas other people will be just beginning to seek that experience. The fact that you know more will make you more desirable to employers.

In addition, working through college gives you a chance to network. You can meet and befriend like-minded people who work in your field. If these people like you, they can give you recommendations or direct you to career opportunities you wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

Finally, working through college can also boost your future earning potential. Working for pay, even if it's not your own field, can be even better than an unpaid internship in your own field. This is because working in college shows future employers you have a good work ethic and have some soft skills that could be applied to your field.

Is Working During College Right for You?

Only you can decide if working through college is right for you. However, it's something that you should absolutely think about doing.

If you're worried you can't handle the workload, you can choose a job that doesn't have as many hours. You don't need to aim for the recommended twenty hours a week. Even ten hours will still be helpful to you.

If you're worried your grades will suffer, you can come up with a chart to keep you on track. Being well-organized and blocking out your time can help you avoid many of the problems that can crop up.

For some people, the fact that you need to plan might be the entire problem. If this is the case, remember that you'll need to plan no matter what! A huge part of getting through college is using your time and energy wisely.

As long as you're physically able, getting a job during college is the right thing to do.

Working vs. Taking Out Loans

You might be wondering if you should take student loans instead of working. The choice is up to you, but remember that taking out loans also has both benefits and drawbacks. You might decide it's better just to work rather than increase your student loan debt.

The biggest benefit of taking out student loans is that you don't have to work. This means that you save plenty of time and energy for other things. You could join more extracurricular activities or devote more time to your studies.

Taking out student loans allows you more time to relax and take it easier during college. If you want to live your college experience to the fullest, then you might want to go this route.

However, taking out loans has plenty of drawbacks. The biggest one is that you're putting yourself further into debt. You'll have to pay off all the money you borrowed plus interest.

If you don't land the perfect job, then you run the risk of not being able to pay your student loans. This means you could have your wages garnished, experience a drop in your credit score, and more.

Overall, it might be smartest to make the sacrifice of working during college.

Job Options for a College Student

Whether you choose a traditional job like retail or aim for one of the modern jobs created by pop culture, there are plenty of options for you to choose from.

Each job has its own benefits and drawbacks. It's up to you to decide which ones are right for you. However, we've listed a couple of options that might benefit the average college student below.

Try Working on Campus

If you haven't considered working on campus yet, you should! Every campus tends to have plenty of jobs that anyone could qualify for. There's also a wide range of shifts at all sorts of times.

Working on campus is a great idea for many reasons. The biggest one is that you spend plenty of time on campus anyways. If you time your shifts right, you won't need to commute- just walk from one building to the next.

In addition, working on campus means you get more versatility in your hours. You could fit in a short shift between your classes or head to one after class. This allows you to make it to your twenty hours weekly easily.

Finally, it also allows you to get more experience in your field! If you choose to be a TA for a class you've taken previously, you'll retain more knowledge of that class. It will also look great on any resume.

Commit to a Side Hustle

Working a side hustle is also a great idea if you're looking for income! If you have skills you think could translate to work, don't be afraid to put those skills to good use.

The key to making a good income off of side hustles is to treat them as you would any other job. Know how to market your skills to people around you. Put up flyers advertising your skills, or try to get odd jobs on apps such as Fiverr.

The best part of freelancing is that you get to set your work schedule. You can work as much as you're able to so you can get the money you need. During stressful times at school, such as finals week, you can ease back or even take time off of work.

A side hustle can be anything from tutoring other students to walking dogs. As long as you're good at it, you can potentially make an income off of it.

Consider Working Only Part of the Year

If working and going to school year-round sounds like too much for you, you can consider getting a summer job!

True, you won't have as much time to relax during the summer. And you won't be able to travel the way you would otherwise.

However, there are benefits. Working during the summer gives you more freedom than you realize.

Only working during the summer will allow you to work more hours. This means that you'll be able to save more money than you would otherwise.

In addition, it allows you to better manage your time during the rest of the school year. You'll be able to find time to decompress from school without having to worry about when you need to go to work.

There are also more opportunities during the summer than there are during the school year. Companies will create jobs specifically tailored to last the summer, allowing you to find the perfect job.

Finding a Job as a College Student

Finding a job while in college isn't as difficult as you might expect. It can actually be very simple!

You should start by making sure your resume is up-to-date and writing out a full copy of your schedule. A current resume will showcase all of your talents and make you more likely to get a job. A copy of your schedule will allow you to work with your future supervisor to make sure work never interrupts school.

Once you have all the paperwork you need, start by talking to your college professors or looking on your school's website! Your college professors might know of a teaching assistant job you could get or other career opportunities you would qualify for. 

Your school's website is a greater resource than you could imagine. Many schools have parts of the site that will list all of the jobs available on campus. Some colleges even have special websites dedicated to helping you find jobs that function similarly to Indeed or ZipRecruiter!

By making sure your documents are up-to-date and using your connections, you'll find a job before you know it.

The Perfect Resume for a College Student

Having a well-made resume is the best way to ensure that you'll get the job you want. A resume is your potential employer's first look at you. 

As such, your resume needs to grab your employer's attention. Make sure you include a summary of your accomplishments near the beginning. This will allow them to understand at a glance what you are capable of.

Next, your resume needs to be properly structured. Good structure on resume points towards organization skills, which are beneficial to any employee. Make sure you have sections for your education, employment history, and anything you could list as an accomplishment.

Focus on your accomplishments. Potential employers don't just want to see the tasks you do on a daily basis. They want to know what you can do and how you can benefit the company.

Look to highlight accomplishments such as being responsible for an increase in productivity. Were you a salesperson who broke the record amount of sales? Companies would love to know that!

Lastly, make sure that your resume is easy to read. You want to catch your employer's attention. Having an easy-to-read font and letter size, as well as choosing colors that are easy to see, helps make sure you won't lose their attention.

What if You Need to Choose Between Work and School?

Ideally, you should never be put in a position where you need to choose between work and school. However, if you do need to choose, prioritize your education.

You're getting a job in order to make sure that you can make it through college. You don't want your job to be the thing that holds you back in college.

If your employer schedules you for a shift during one of your classes, call in. Bring it up with your supervisor that you need to stick to the previously established schedule. If your supervisor continues to make this a problem, you may need to look for employment elsewhere.

You can always find another job. Restarting your education once you've put it on hold can be trickier than you might think.

Make sure that you're applying for scholarships and grants while you work or when you're between jobs. Earning a scholarship or a grant may make all the difference between being able to afford your education and not.

Making a Job and College Work: What Does It Take?

Making both college and a part-time job work takes a few different qualities.

The first quality that you need is organization. This quality will develop on its own as you learn to juggle the responsibilities of college and a job. This is anything from making a schedule for yourself and sticking to it to learning to create a budget plan.

The next quality that you need to develop is resiliency. Going through college is tough enough without working a part-time job. You need to know that you'll be able to recover from the strain of doing both things.

Finally, you need to know how to plan. Knowing how to plan will help you be a better organizer. You can develop this skill on your own over time, but we suggest looking up guides.

Knowing how to plan out your day-to-day life will keep you from being overwhelmed. You'll be able to avoid overworking yourself as long as you stick to your schedule. Not overworking yourself, in turn, will make everything else easier.

Creating a Balance Between School, Work, and Life

Creating work-life balance is a tricky process, but one that you'll be grateful for in the end. As a busy professional, you have many things on your plate. Learning to balance all of these will keep you from becoming too overwhelmed and will help make your life easier.

Financial Planning Can Help

Financial planning is one simple way that you can make life easier on yourself. To do this, you need to make sure you know all of the expenses that you have. Sit down and track down everything you pay for, even the smallest automatic payments.

Write everything down, from the small automatic payments to bills such as rent to what groceries typically cost for you. Then figure out what income you have. This should be comprised of your job income, your scholarships or grants, or any loans you take out.

Make a budget that you can stick to. Include money in case of emergencies and money for doing fun things. Then follow that budget, and save any leftover money you have at the end of your budget period.

Do this every month if you need to. Make sure it's constantly adjusted so that your income and expenses are accurate. 

Financial planning is an easy way to help ease the strain on yourself. By knowing what you need to pay for, you're preventing any nasty surprises.

Make Plans, but Remember...

Try to make a schedule that you can stick to- emphasis on try. 

Being organized is an important skill for any college student to develop. It's important to keep in mind, however, that no matter how well you plan, things will happen. These things may disrupt your schedule.

When this happens, you need to be flexible. Don't panic and try to decide how this will affect the rest of your schedule. Panicking will strain you and make it hard to keep up with the demands of your daily life.

By remaining flexible and understanding that events happen, you're allowing yourself the freedom to act. Don't be afraid if you need to reschedule. Just remind yourself that there will be time later on, and it's alright if something happens.

If you want to make things easier on yourself, you can even build a little extra time into each event. This helps you plan for disaster and rearrange if things don't go according to plan.

Time Management Is Crucial

Learning how you can manage your time is, by far, the most important step to take in establishing a proper work-life balance.

When learning to manage your time, the first thing you can do is simply pay attention to how long it takes you to do tasks. This way you'll get an idea of how much time you need to block out for yourself.

Consider writing down a schedule. This will make it more real to you and easier to keep track of as a result. Make sure that you have plenty of time for work, class, studying and, resting.

This will let you learn to make the most efficient use of your time. You can do things such as start a load of laundry before you start studying so that you're killing two birds with one stone. 

Understand that some tasks will take more time than you could guess. Make sure to plan more time than you might need, to allow for emergencies. This will help you lead a more peaceful life.

Preventing Burnout

Even people with the best work-life balance might get burned out from time to time. What's important is that you recognize the possibility of becoming burnt out and take steps to prevent it.

Preventing burnout will make sure that you can keep balancing both work and school. In addition, it will help your mental health- being burnt out is one of the worst things that a college student can experience.

By following these easy tips, you'll be able to make life easier for yourself so you can handle any daily challenges that may get thrown your way.

Keep Practicing Self Care

It's important that you make time to take care of your needs. This includes physical needs like eating and sleeping, as well as mental and emotional needs. 

Take time in your day to do something that you enjoy or something that helps you wind down. Do a peaceful activity such as meditating to white noise, or go for a walk outside. You could also do something nice for yourself such as having a bubble bath with your favorite scented candles.

Taking time to take care of yourself means that you won't lose time later on recovering from being burned out. By building in a little time for yourself every day, you're ensuring that you never get too drained. You need to do things you enjoy in order to recharge- everyone does!

If you're not sure where to start with taking care of yourself, pick a night when you don't have much to do. Order your favorite meal and watch your favorite movie. That in itself will go a long way toward making you feel better.

Tired? That's Alright.

As a college student, you're going to be tired. Understand that you will be tired plenty of times, and accept that it's okay to be tired.

If you need some caffeine to get through the day, that's alright. However, there are other methods you can use to help make yourself less tired.

Make sure you're well-fed and hydrated. Hunger and thirst sometimes mask themselves as exhaustion. Even if that's not the case, food and a drink will often give you a small energy boost.

You can also schedule some time in your day to take a nap. Even if you're the kind of person who can't nap, lying down with your eyes closed simulates rest for the body.

In the end, just don't stress if you're not well-rested and you'll be fine.

Take Time to Rest

Taking time to rest is perhaps one of the most important things you can do as a college student. It helps refresh your body and mind and will stave off burnout. In addition, taking time to rest is literally essential to the human body.

If you don't take the time to rest, your body will make you take time to rest. It's never pretty when that happens.

Avoiding taking time to rest could lead to something equivalent to burning out, or contribute to any burnout you're experiencing. It could prevent you from working or studying.

Being exhausted can be more sinister than that, though.

Exhaustion can get so severe that you may need to actually be hospitalized for it. The human body can only handle so much at a time. If you're not aware of your limits, you could push beyond them to the point of danger.

It's best to avoid the danger- take the time to relax.

Join Honor Society

Now that you've learned everything there is to know about student work, you're ready to decide if working as a college student is right for you. While you think about it, though, you should consider joining Honor Society!

Becoming an Honor Society member has all sorts of benefits. These benefits include discounts at many different restaurants, discounts on various health plans, and even access to an exclusive scholarship platform!

Joining Honor Society could be one of the most beneficial things you do during your time as a college student. Don't wait- fill out our membership application form today!