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The Global Insight

Is it possible to work full-time and go to college full-time?

Author

Michael Gray

Updated on March 29, 2026

A Georgetown University report shows more than 75% of graduate students and roughly 40% of undergraduates work at least 30 hours per week while attending school. One in four working learners is simultaneously attending full-time college while holding down a full-time job.

How do I go back to college while working full-time?

Here are 5 tips for going back to school while working full-time from a Thomson Reuters employee who has done it.

  1. Consider online courses.
  2. Does your company offer tuition assistance?
  3. Keep your manager informed.
  4. Create a schedule and stick to it.
  5. Use real life examples in your work.

Is it possible to work 40 hours a week and go to college?

With that said, if you don’t have to work while attending school, don’t! It isn’t easy and your grades aren’t likely to be the best they can be. There are only 24 hours in a day and working 40 hours per week will cut your school, study, sleeping and family time down to 128 hours. It’s hard, but doable.

Can I do a degree whilst working full-time?

This is a question we hear a lot, and the short answer is… absolutely! Online degrees are, in many ways, totally different to campus-based degrees.

How many hours a week should a full-time college student work?

A full-time work load is 12+ semester units of credit. A rule of thumb is that you should spend three hours outside of class for every hour inside a class room. 12 units = 48 hours of work in and out of class. Adding in a 20 hour/week job, and you’ve hit 68 hours of work per week.

Is work easier than college?

The answer is in landing the job. Getting a job that pays $100k is much much much harder than getting into a college even getting into a really prestigious university. Companies choose 1 person out of 500 applicants for the role.

How many hours a week should a college student work a job?

12 Hours
Why College Students Should Work, But Ideally Only 12 Hours a Week. Working while going to college has benefits other than the obvious financial ones. There’s good evidence that juggling a job while seeking your degree can actually boost your GPA. Here’s what you need to know.

How many hours should a full-time college student work at a job?

On average students work between 20–40 hours a week. If a student works 20 hours a week and gets paid biweekly they earn $720 before taxes.

How many hours should a full-time college student work a week?

Is it possible to get a full time job while going to college?

Economic restrictions can be a huge deterrent for college hopefuls—particularly when the student has a family to support and/or and full-time job to maintain. When the hurdle that stands between you and your career dreams is a degree, however, many find ways to make it happen regardless of the factors working against them.

What’s the best career to go back to school for?

To help you get started, we’ve rounded up 17 careers across 6 fields with help from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that are absolutely worth the investment of returning to school. [1] 1. Registered Nurse

Which is the best way to go back to school as an adult?

As an adult going back to school, one of the easiest ways to get started is to take a few college courses at a nearby communication college. You can also take courses online, which is a great option if you work full time because you’ll have the flexibility to get college credits without interfering with your work schedule.

Is it worth it to go back to school at 40?

Making a career switch is no easy decision, especially when considering the change at 40 or older. You might be wondering which careers are really worth going back to school for at this stage in your career and if the time (and money) spent seeking a degree or certification is worth the payoff.