Working While in College: How to Balance School and Work

June 04, 2025

Posted by STLCC in Paying for College 

Working while going to college is common, especially if you’re paying bills, supporting family or trying to avoid taking on more debt. It can also be stressful. Between class, homework, work shifts, transportation and life outside school, your schedule can fill up quickly.

Balancing work and college is possible, but it usually requires more than finding open hours on a calendar. You’ll need to consider your course load, commute, study time, sleep and how predictable your work schedule is.

You don’t have to figure it all out at once. Start by looking at the time and money you have available, then choose a plan you can maintain throughout the semester.

Before choosing classes or accepting more work hours:

• Write down your class and work hours.
• Add commuting, meals, sleep and personal responsibilities.
• Set aside time for homework and studying.
• Leave some unscheduled time for delays, appointments and rest.

Start With the Real Cost of College

Before deciding how many hours to work, estimate what college will actually cost. Tuition is only one part of the total. You may also need to plan for books, supplies, transportation, food, housing, technology, program fees and personal expenses.

Starting at STLCC may help lower your total cost compared with beginning at a four-year college. Students may also save by living at home, commuting, using public transportation or completing transferable courses before attending another institution.

Review current rates, fees and payment information on the STLCC tuition page. You can also use the College’s budgeting guide for students to plan your monthly and semester expenses.

Complete the FAFSA

Even if you plan to work, financial aid can reduce how much you need to earn or pay out of pocket. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid helps determine eligibility for grants, student loans and Federal Work-Study. FAFSA information may also be required for state aid and some scholarships.

Complete the FAFSA each year and check Archer Connect and your STLCC email for document requests or financial aid updates.

You can also review STLCC scholarship opportunities and contact enrollment services for help understanding your financial aid options.

Consider Federal Work-Study

Federal Work-Study provides part-time employment for eligible students who want to earn money while attending college. Positions may be available on campus or with approved public and nonprofit organizations.

Work-study students earn an hourly wage and are paid every two weeks. Work hours generally range from 20 to 25 hours per week during the academic year, depending on the position and the student’s award.

To remain eligible, students must meet financial aid requirements and maintain enrollment in at least six approved credit hours. Funding and positions are limited, so complete the FAFSA and any requested financial aid documents early.

Check your financial aid information in Archer Connect to see if federal work-study is included in your offer.

Choose a Course Load That Fits Your Life

One of the hardest parts of working while in college is deciding how many courses to take. A schedule that looks manageable during registration may feel very different once assignments, exams and work deadlines begin.

Taking fewer courses doesn’t mean you’re failing or falling behind. A manageable schedule may help you complete more of the courses you start and protect your academic progress.

Before registering, consider:

• How many hours you work during a typical week.
• Whether your work schedule is fixed or changes often.
• How much reading, homework or lab time your courses may require.
• How long it takes to travel between home, work and campus.
• Your responsibilities for children or other family members.
• Whether you have enough time for sleep, meals and basic care.

A student success advisor can help you review degree requirements and build a course schedule around your work and personal responsibilities.

Compare Class Formats Carefully

STLCC offers in-person, online, hybrid and other class formats. A flexible format can help working students, but it’s important to understand how each course works before registering.

Online courses can reduce travel time, but they aren’t automatically easier or faster. They require consistent time management, reliable technology and the ability to keep up with deadlines independently.

Review STLCC’s class formats and attendance expectations before registering.

Create a Weekly Schedule

Start with the times you can’t change, such as class meetings, work shifts, appointments and family responsibilities. Then add study time, meals, commuting and sleep.

A schedule that uses every available hour can fall apart after one delayed bus, sick day or extra work shift. Leave some space when possible so one problem doesn’t affect the rest of your week.

Protect Your Study Time

When you work while taking classes, studying can’t depend only on finding leftover time. Give schoolwork a place in your schedule before your week fills up.

Smaller, regular study periods may be easier to maintain than saving everything for one day off. You might review notes during a break, complete reading before work or set aside a longer block for major assignments.

Look for Jobs That Work With School

The best student job isn’t always the position with the highest hourly wage. Predictable hours, a supportive supervisor, a shorter commute or experience connected to your program may be more valuable.

When comparing jobs, consider:

• Whether shifts change from week to week.
• How early you receive your schedule.
• How far the job is from home or campus.
• Whether extra hours are required during exams or holidays.
• Whether the employer offers tuition support or other education benefits.
• Whether the role builds skills related to your career goals.

STLCC students can use Handshake to search for part-time jobs, internships and other employment opportunities. Student positions may also be posted through Archers Connect.

Use Work to Build Career Experience

Your current job may help you develop skills that apply to many careers, even when the work isn’t directly connected to your program.

Customer service, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, organization and time management can all be valuable to future employers. Keep track of projects, responsibilities and accomplishments that you may want to include on a resume.

Career advisors can help you describe your experience, create a resume, prepare for interviews and look for internships related to your goals.

Talk With Your Employer Early

If possible, talk with your supervisor before the semester becomes busy. Explain your availability clearly and provide important dates as early as you can.

You don’t need to share every detail about school or your personal life. Focus on the schedule you can reliably work and how you’ll communicate about conflicts.

Don’t promise more availability than you can maintain. A clear schedule is usually more helpful than agreeing to every request and later needing to cancel.

Check for Employer Education Benefits

Some employers offer tuition assistance, reimbursement, scholarships or flexible scheduling for employees attending college. Ask human resources or your supervisor what benefits are available and how to qualify.

Before enrolling, find out:

• Which programs or courses are covered.
• Whether you must work a minimum number of hours.
• Whether payment is provided before or after the course.
• What grade you must earn.
• How long you must remain employed after receiving assistance.
• Which receipts, grades or forms you’ll need to submit.

Employer assistance may affect other financial aid, so share outside tuition benefits or scholarships with enrollment services.

Reduce Transportation Time and Costs

Travel between home, work and campus can take time and money. When possible, choose class sections that reduce extra trips or leave enough time to travel without rushing.

The STLCC Metro U-Pass gives eligible students access to MetroBus and MetroLink throughout the St. Louis region. It can be used for travel to campus, work, appointments and other locations served by Metro during the semester.

If you drive, include fuel, parking, maintenance and travel time when comparing jobs or class locations. A closer option with slightly lower pay may still save money overall.

Use Academic Support Early

Working students may delay asking for help because they’re busy or feel they should be able to manage everything alone. Reaching out early can prevent a small problem from becoming much harder to fix.

STLCC support includes:

• Academic success and tutoring
• Online student services and academic support
• Counseling services
• Student Advocacy & Resource Center
• Academic advising
• Enrollment services
• Disability support services

Online, hybrid and campus-based students can receive help with time management, organization, study strategies and keeping up with assignments.

Communicate With Your Instructors

Read each syllabus at the beginning of the semester and add major deadlines to your calendar. Pay attention to attendance, late-work and exam policies.

If work or another responsibility begins affecting your course, contact your instructor before you miss several classes or assignments. Your instructor may not be able to change a course requirement, but an early conversation can help you understand your options.

Be specific about what you need to know. For example, ask which assignment should be your first priority, where to find tutoring or how an absence may affect your grade.

Watch for Signs of Burnout

A busy week doesn’t always mean your schedule is unmanageable. But ongoing exhaustion, missed classes and falling behind may mean your current plan needs to change.

Possible changes might include reducing work hours, taking fewer courses next term, adjusting your class format, using tutoring or asking an advisor to help you revise your plan.

Check Before Dropping a Class

If your schedule becomes too difficult, don’t stop attending without learning about your options. Missing class doesn’t automatically remove you from a course.

Dropping or withdrawing may affect your financial aid, scholarship, work-study eligibility, academic progress or student account balance. Speak with your instructor, advisor and enrollment services before making a change.

Ask about deadlines and how the change may affect:

• Your grade and academic record.
• Your financial aid and anticipated refund.
• Your Federal Work-Study eligibility.
• Your progress toward completing your program.
• Your remaining tuition balance.

Review Your Plan During the Semester

Your schedule may need to change as work hours, assignments and personal responsibilities shift. Check in with yourself before midterms, major projects and the busiest periods at work.

Adjusting your plan isn’t a failure. It’s part of learning how to manage responsibilities that may change from one semester to the next.

Build a Path You Can Maintain

Working while attending college isn’t easy, but you don’t need to handle every challenge alone. A manageable course load, reliable schedule, financial aid and early support can make work and school easier to balance.

The goal isn’t to fit the greatest possible number of tasks into every week. It’s to create a plan that helps you keep earning, learning and moving toward your goals.