How Public Service Jobs Can Help Pay for College
Using Public Service to Earn Money for College
The latest 2021 report from the College Board shows that the ranges from $10,740 at a four-year, in-state public college to $38,070 at a four-year, private nonprofit school 鈥� and that doesn't include fees, books, room and board, or transportation. You may look at these figures and wonder how you and your family are going to pay for college.
The good news is that there are several options for reducing the cost of earning a degree. For example, depending on your eligibility, you may qualify for financial aid that doesn't need to be repaid, such as grants, private scholarships, and work-study programs. You could also consider attending a less expensive community college for the first two years before finishing your bachelor's degree at a four-year university. Some schools charge lower tuition fees for their online degree programs than their on-campus programs, so that may be a possibility, too.
Yet another option is to work for your education, either through employee tuition reimbursement programs for bachelor's degrees or master's degrees or through public service jobs. In general, these jobs fall into two broad categories: 1) public service programs that place you in a job that allows you to earn money to put towards college or student loans and 2) student loan forgiveness programs that reward you for public service by waiving a portion of your student loans. One of these options may be right for you.
Student loans are another means of paying for college, but they have to be repaid with interest, which increases the total cost of the degree. Learn more about federal and private student loans before you agree to them.
Public Service Programs
The federal government, state governments, and other nonprofit organizations offer several different employment programs that help pay for college. In addition to earning money to pay for a degree, you'll gain valuable work experience and develop transferable skills. Some alumni add that serving the public through these opportunities can provide a sense of pride and personal satisfaction. The following are just some of the more prominent programs available.
What Is AmeriCorps?
Founded in 1994, is a network of programs that employ people in public-sector, service-oriented jobs. The nature of AmeriCorps jobs varies widely, from administrative positions in education and public health to hands-on maintenance jobs in environmental organizations and shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness.
The wages for AmeriCorps jobs are intentionally low so that workers can empathize with the communities they serve. However, after one year of AmeriCorps service, participants are eligible for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. Recipients may receive just over $6,000 for each year of service to use for college tuition or to help pay off student loans.
What Is the Peace Corps?
The is a service organization that sends American volunteers around the globe to serve the needs of others. Peace Corps jobs are available in Central and South America, Africa, and beyond. Peace Corps members may be asked to take on a wide variety of roles in education, health, environmental, and economic development programs.
Although Peace Corps participants are called volunteers, they do receive housing and a living stipend, as well as a $10,000 bonus after completing two years of service. Some volunteers may be eligible for student loan deferral or forgiveness, and some may qualify for graduate school scholarships or stipends, depending on the school and degree.
"I served in the Peace Corps for two years before beginning college. My experience was very beneficial in many ways. First, I was able to earn money to help pay for college. Second, I gained valuable work experience that helped me get a job after college. Finally, I had the opportunity to travel and see the world, which was an amazing experience. I would definitely recommend this to prospective college students. It's a great way to earn money for college and gain valuable work experience while learning discipline, cultural awareness, and other important life skills. Overall, I believe joining the Peace Corps is a great experience that is well worth the effort."
鈥� Chad Barnsdale, lifestyle writer and founder of
What Is the National Health Service Corps?
As a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the sends healthcare students and certified professionals to work in underserved communities throughout the country. All types of medical, dental, and mental healthcare workers are needed, including doctors, nurses, dentists, nurse practitioners, social workers, psychologists, and therapists.
In exchange for a two-year or three-year service commitment to NHSC, both students and professionals earn generous financial benefits. These include tax-free loan payments that may cover some or all of a graduate's student loans, as well as scholarships that students can use to cover tuition and other related expenses.
What Is Teach for America?
(TFA) is a nonprofit organization that recruits and trains teachers to work in elementary and secondary schools that typically serve students in low-income neighborhoods. Although you need a bachelor's degree to become a TFA teacher, you do not need teaching credentials or experience as long as you agree to earn your teacher certification during your initial two-year commitment.
Teachers in this program typically earn entry-level salaries, but the longer they stay in the program, the more financial benefits they receive through the Teach for America program. After one year of service, teacher-participants are eligible to enroll in AmeriCorps and receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. An award of about $6,100 is provided for each year of service, and the money can be used to pay for college tuition or student loans.
Educational Benefits for U.S. Military Members
Perhaps the most common public service jobs are found in the U.S. armed forces. Both active service members and veterans of all branches of the military are entitled to a range of federally funded financial assistance programs, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill庐 or the National Call to Service benefit. The specific details of each program vary, so it's best to contact (VA) for additional information about your military service.
In many cases, you may be able to take advantage of education benefits before, during, and after you've completed your military service. If you haven't yet started college, you may also want to consider a (ROTC) program. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force each have their own ROTC programs 鈥� each with unique terms and advantages 鈥� but, in general, the government pays for most or all of your college tuition while you earn your degree and simultaneously train to become an officer in the armed forces.
"The ROTC program, then and now, provides both the financial assistance many of us need, as well as a sense of culture, context, mission, and purpose. ROTC taught me that being an officer of the United States government was a special responsibility, not one to take up lightly. ROTC and the 28 years of duty that it led to gave me the opportunity to choose to be a part of making the future happen. I learned to be thoughtful, to seek and develop insights, and to be decisive. Perhaps the biggest surprise was realizing that my personal style of leadership was one profoundly based on teaching: I teach the vision, goal, purpose, or objective my unit or team would be given, as they teach me what the best first plan of action ought to be to accomplish it. Would I recommend this route? I have, any number of times."
鈥� , assistant professor and Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (retired)
In addition to these government-funded benefits, many military-friendly schools offer tuition discounts and other awards for active military service members and veterans, which sometimes extend to military spouses and dependents. Schools that partner with the VA to offer additional benefits are called .
Looking for private scholarship opportunities? You may be eligible for some of the programs listed in our guides for Black, Latinx, underrepresented, LGBTQ+, and undocumented students.
Public Student Loan Forgiveness Programs
In addition to all of these job-specific public service programs, many government jobs that involve public service may qualify you for the federal government's (PSLF) program. Essentially, the PSLF is designed to reward college graduates who pursue public service careers by releasing them from some of their student loan debt.
Under the terms of PSLF, graduates who work full-time in qualifying positions may be eligible for forgiveness of their remaining balance after they have made 120 qualifying student loan payments on their Direct Loans. Although you have to make ten years' worth of student loan payments, you may still come out ahead, depending on the amount of your student loans and your salary.
Qualifying positions are typically found in federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies or tax-exempt nonprofit organizations related to emergency management, public health, public safety, law enforcement, education, social work, and even library science. Job titles of qualifying positions include public information officer, community health worker, chief security officer, public defender, firefighter, case manager, and community organizer.
The Federal Student Aid website offers a so you can see which public service employers would make you eligible for PSLF. Unlike other programs that assign you to a job, these public service jobs are acquired through the normal hiring process. You would search job listings, submit an application with a cover letter and resume, and complete one or more interviews with a human resources specialist or hiring manager before being offered a job.
In addition to the federal PSLF program, there are other loan forgiveness programs for professionals in specific fields, such as doctors, nurses, and lawyers, as well as state-sponsored forgiveness programs. However, even if you're qualified for multiple programs, you can only choose one program.
"I enlisted in the Air Force in 2002 and used the Air Force's tuition assistance program to (mostly) pay for my undergraduate degree at the University of Phoenix while I was enlisted in the Air Force. Then I separated from the Air Force in 2008, and because I was a veteran, the State of Connecticut waived my tuition to attend law school at the University of Connecticut School of Law. Aside from being able to obtain my undergraduate and law degree with minimal student loans, my experience in the Air Force benefited me because it made me much more mature and allowed me to excel, especially in law school."
鈥� , VA benefits attorney
Special Programs for Teachers
Due to the ongoing shortage of public school teachers, particularly in low-income communities, several have been set up to incentivize more college graduates to go into teaching.
A related program is the . This federally funded grant provides up to $4,000 a year for education majors enrolled in qualifying programs in exchange for a commitment to teach for four academic years after graduating and earning their teaching certification. To receive the award, you must agree to teach elementary or secondary school students in low-income neighborhoods in high-need fields. The program does not provide job placement assistance, so you'll need to secure your own jobs to meet your obligation.
Should I Serve Before or After College?
From a financial standpoint, it may be better to complete your public service before attending college, if possible. This would allow you to save more money in advance and help minimize your need for student loans. However, many of these opportunities are only available to individuals who've already earned their degrees and have outstanding loans.
Regardless of the sequence you choose, a public service job may allow you to shave thousands of dollars off the cost of your college degree while you gain work experience, enhance your skills, and help meet the needs of communities here or abroad.
GI Bill庐 is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at .