Many people don’t know this but there are government jobs that pay for college. This could be way out for people who can’t afford college tuition fees and can’t also get their hands on scholarships.
Attending a post-secondary institution like a university, college, community college, vocational school, etc. is detrimental to your success in the workforce. Well, it is not guaranteed success but in a developed country with lots of job opportunities, a degree or certificate will take you places.
In many countries, education can be really expensive whether you are a domestic or international student. It is even more expensive for international students and due to these many students (domestic and international) scramble for scholarships and financial aid opportunities which are fewer than the number of students applying for college annually.
Traditionally, if you want to attend college your parents would have started saving up the money probably before you were even born. This makes it easy to pay college tuition and equally reduces the financial burden on them. It also avoids collecting student loans which you could keep paying for the rest of your life.
There are also scholarship options and other financial aid opportunities that students can apply for towards offsetting their college fees. However, these scholarships are few for the thousands of students applying to college annually and it is also highly competitive. In some cases, the requirements are usually very tough and it becomes even strenuous getting it.
Well, here is something that isn’t very popular and that is working for the government while they cover your college tuition expenses. In this article, we have listed out these government jobs that you can do to pay for your college tuition. But before we dive into that, the headings below should offer more clarity on the subject matter.
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Are There Government Jobs That Pay For College?
If you aren’t sure if there are government jobs that pay for college, well, the answer is Yes, there are such jobs. These government jobs allow you to work and then they take care of your college tuition, or if you have graduated, then your student’s debt loan. With the increase in student loan debt, working with the government could help many students not to go for these loans thereby reducing the national student loan debt.
From federal student loan forgiveness programs to nonprofit and corporate tuition reimbursement, these plans seek to alleviate student loan debt. Federal government agencies and independent agencies such as the Justice Department, Labor Department, Federal Trade Commission, Trade and Development Agency, Office of Government Ethics, Treasury Department, Homeland Security Department, etc. will repay your student loans.
How To Find Government Jobs That Pay For College
There’s no special guideline on how to find government jobs that pay for college but then you have the most powerful tool in your hand. Yes, your smartphone and the internet. You could easily go on to Google and search for government jobs that pay for college specifically in your country or state.
Another way is to visit the official website of your country’s federal government or visit the office.
This article has also discussed several of these jobs as well and should help you settle for or find the one you can apply for.
How To Apply For Government Jobs That Pay For College
Applying for government jobs that pay for college is just like applying for a regular government job. However, in your case you have to carefully go through the job announcement to look for who the job is open to and this is usually available on the government website in the “this job is open to section”. If it is open to students and you are still one, then go ahead and apply.
And if it says it is open to graduates and you are one, go on and complete the job application. There may be other groups listed as well, only apply to the group or category you fall into.
Students will be required to submit their academic transcripts to be considered for the job position while graduates will be required to submit their CV or resume.
Note that further requirements or documents may be needed, whatever it may be, it is something you can provide.
Honestly, there aren’t any employers willing to pay off your student debt loans and that is one of the importance of working with the government in this tuition-fee case. While working you will receive benefits and can be retained to work full-time after you graduate.
Without further ado, let’s get started on the 10 government jobs that you can do to help pay for school or settle your student loan debts.
Government Jobs That Pay For College
These are the top 7 government jobs that pay for college.
- The U.S Coast Guard
- Teaching
- Public Service
- Military
- The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
- AmeriCorps
- Peace Corps
1. The U.S Coast Guard
This is one of the government jobs that pay for college in the United States, and as a member of the U.S coast guard, you are eligible for $4,500 of tuition assistance annually. However, you have to be an active duty member and have been accepted into an accredited university.
Additionally, members will receive other benefits such as a competitive salary, a 30-day fully paid vacation annually, coverage for free health, dental, and vision care, and tax-free money on housing and food.
2. Teaching
Graduates or students in a postgraduate program can hop on this one to pay for student loan debts or their postgraduate education. After teaching for five years as a full-time teacher in an eligible low-income elementary or secondary school, you will be awarded up to $17,500 through the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.
3. Public Service
Graduates who are employed by a U.S federal, state, local, or tribal government or a not-for-profit organization might be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. To qualify for the program, you must be working full-time in one of the government agencies or organizations and have made 120 monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan.
Working for labor unions, for-profit organizations, and government contractors, and partisan political organizations won’t get you into the program. Also, you must have direct loans.
4. Military
People who weren’t able to pursue higher education before joining the military can still do so even after they have joined and this time, the government covers the tuition for them. However, to be eligible you must have served on active duty after September 10, 2001, according to the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Under this Bill, the government helps you pay for school or job training.
Aside from covering the full cost of your higher education, it also covers housing allowance, transportation, and school books and supplies. The amount of the benefit depends on the school you want to attend if you were on active-duty service since September and the amount of credit or training hours you are taking.
To cover your full education, you have to attend a public, in-state institution but if you want to enroll in a private or foreign school, there is a cap rate that is updated annually. Members who want to enroll in a higher private school or out-of-state tuition can apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
See more details here.
5. The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
You can enlist in the ROTC, gain invaluable leadership skills, and still be a college student without paying a dime for it. The ROTC is one of the government jobs that pay for college and provides other benefits. The Corps provides scholarships and stipends that allow students to pay full attention to their studies without worrying about finance and never going into student loan debt.
As an ROTC, you get to earn a degree and graduate with a respected and secure career path as an army officer debt-free. To be eligible for the ROTC scholarship, you must be currently enrolled in college, or be a high school student enrolling in college, or an active enlisted soldier. The scholarship is based on merit and not financial need, and there are specific schools you must apply to, there are over a thousand of them.
Other bonuses include receiving a stipend of up to $420 per month to cover your expenses such as housing, earning up to $3,000 when you study a language that matches one of the army’s important language needs, and getting the opportunity to travel abroad.
By accepting the scholarship, also means you are accepting a commitment of 8 years in the army, army reserve, or the army national guard.
There are further details you can see here such as the more than 1,000 participating schools you must apply to partake in the program.
6. AmeriCorps
The AmeriCorps is one of the government jobs that pay for college in the United States. The AmeriCorps has an award known as the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award which is offered after a full year of service in the program. You must have completed your AmeriCorps term of service and enrolled in the National Service Trust to be eligible to receive the award.
The award can be applied towards repaying qualified student loans or paying for current educational expenses at eligible universities, colleges, or training institutions.
See more details here.
7. Peace Corps
Working with the Peace Corps is one of the government jobs that pay for college and it is for volunteers who have worked and lived abroad for 2 years that are eligible for the student loan relief. Federal and private student loan forgiveness programs are also offered.
These are the top government jobs that pay for college, more job openings may be available on the government website. You may also check in with government agencies and departments in your country.
FAQs
What is called when the government pays for your college?
It is can be called financial aid, grants, and loans.
Do all government jobs pay for schooling?
Not all government jobs pay for schooling.
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