Top 10 Government Jobs That Pay For College

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Last Updated on February 2, 2024

With the rising college tuition, many people cannot afford college and are forced to either drop out or not be able to go at all. But with government jobs that pay for college, you can attend college while working for the government which pays for all your tuition.

Pursuing a college degree is expensive and the cost keeps rising every year, this is a huge challenge for those who are yet to enter college and a drawback for current college students. They are either dropping out of college, not attending at all, or deep in debt because of student loans to be able to pay for tuition which they spend many years paying back unless they get a high-paying job then they can clear the debt faster.  

Yes, there are scholarships and grants which are great options to offset college fees but not many people can meet the requirements to receive a scholarship or grant plus it is very competitive and most scholarships are one-time, therefore, you still have thousands of dollars in tuition to pay when the scholarship fund has been used. However, I still recommend that you apply for scholarships but apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of getting at least one.

Aside from scholarships, I bet you didn’t know that there are government jobs that pay for college, it is another opportunity that you can use to pay college tuition, still earn some money on the side, and gain relevant working experience alongside your degree. When you graduate you will have an attractive CV that allows you to either work elsewhere or get promoted to a high-paying position if you want to continue as a government worker.

Those specific government jobs that pay for college are compiled in this blog post so that you can know them and start making decisions if this is the right path for you to follow. It is not a bad thing for the government to pay for all your college tuition while you study any degree of your choice and still earn some money, and benefits, and gain work experience.

The jobs are in different sectors and may or may not relate to your discipline, that aspect is not important. If you are interested in the job, you apply and come into an agreement with the government to pay for your college tuition while you pursue your degree and work at the same time. Some of the jobs may come with some specific requirements, such as dedicating several years before you leave the job, that is, if you want to.

But don’t worry, you will be able to read through the requirements or contract details of each of the jobs when you get selected. And if you like what you see or it suits you, then go ahead to accept the job offer. Taking this path can help you realize your dream and set you up for a successful career plus you won’t be borrowing or owing any student loans.

If you owed before taking the job, it will be cleared as you are working for the government. You can go for the government jobs that pay for college as a freshman or a current college student. There are even some that you can take after you have graduated and if you have student loans piled up, the job will help you clear them faster.

And with that, let’s get to listing out and discussing these special jobs.

Government Jobs That Pay For College

Note that if you apply for a government job to get your college tuition paid, the fund will go straight to your school as tuition fees but you can agree to get some out of it for your living expenses.

The top government jobs that pay for college are:

1.     Military Service

You can serve in the army for the government to pay your college tuition. Military service is one of the government jobs that pay for college, while serving in the army, you can also be a part-time college student and the government will cover your tuition for the duration of your studies and your time in the service. Of course, after college, you can continue serving in the army or quit to focus fully on your career.

To be eligible, you must have served on active duty after September 10, 2001 according to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, it is under this bill that the US Government pays for tuition of active-duty military personnel. It isn’t your tuition alone that will be covered but your housing allowance, transportation, and school books and supplies.

If you want the entire cost of your college tuition to be paid by the government then you must attend a public school but if you attend a private school then all your tuition will not be covered, in that case, there will be a cap rate of the funds that will be allocated to your education annually. To learn more, click here.

2.     NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an arm of the US Government focused on space exploration. You can work for NASA and have your college tuition paid in full or your debts cleared but you have to be pursuing or graduated from a field STEM which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

NASA also offers paid internship programs to high school, college students, and graduate students undertaking research at a NASA facility. Click here to learn more.

3.     FBI

The Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) may recruit you into their organization if you show exceptional ability whether you are a college student or graduate. If you are still a student, then the organization will pay for your tuition whilst you work for them and it is advisable to continue even after you graduate as the job comes with high pay and other benefits. However, if you are a graduate with student loans they could clear it off for you while you work for them.

To be eligible, you must be a citizen of the United States, attend a full-time degree program, maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA, and pass all FBI background investigation requirements. To learn more, click here.

4.     Coast Guard

Do you want to be a member of the US Coast Guard but still earn a college degree? You can pursue both passions together but you will be a Coast Guard first and served in active duty for some years before pursuing a college program. As an active member of the Coast Guard pursuing a college degree in an accredited university, you are eligible for $4,500 of tuition assistance annually till you graduate college.

In addition, you will receive your salary in full, free health, dental, and vision care, tax-free money on housing and food, and a 30-day fully paid vacation annually.

5.     Teaching

You probably don’t know that teaching is one of the government jobs that pay for college and here is how it works:

In some countries, the government clears off the student loan debts of teachers who may have used student loans to get an education to become teachers. But if you don’t have student loan debt, the government will sponsor you if you decide to get a postgraduate education.

In the US, there is a program known as the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program that awards $17,500 to teachers who have been working as full-time teachers for 5 years in an eligible low-income elementary or secondary school.

6.     Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

The ROTC is a program designed to train college students to become competent armed forces. If you are pursuing a college degree and have an interest in joining the armed forces you should join the ROTC, they are found in many colleges. Under this program, you will be trained to become an officer.

As a college student in the ROTC, you can be offered scholarships that will cover the entire duration of your studies or it could cover for some years, at least two years. When you graduate college, you will have a reputable degree and become an officer immediately. ROTC is one of the best government jobs that pay for college and you should deeply consider it.

7.     Public Service

As a full-time member of the public service, you may be eligible for the public service loan forgiveness program.

Here, let me explain how this works:

If you have already graduated college but still have an outstanding student loan that you are yet to clear, then you should consider a career in public service as you can be eligible for the public service loan forgiveness program that will clear your outstanding student loan debt while you pursue a satisfying career in public service.

To be eligible for this program, you must have made at least 120 monthly student loan repayments then the government covers the outstanding.

8.     AmeriCorps

Looking for a government job that pays for college? AmeriCorps is one of them, and here is how it works:

AmeriCorps is an organization in the US whose aim is to encourage youths to participate in volunteering services. Youths who join AmeriCorps will have their healthcare, housing, and education covered and receive other mouthwatering benefits.

The educational funding aspect is called the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award and you have to be an active volunteer for AmeriCorps for at least one year to be eligible for the award. If you love voluntary service, then this is the place for you. Join AmeriCorps and have your college tuition paid for.

9.     Peace Corp

Peace Corp is similar to AmeriCorps, it is also a volunteering service but unlike the latter, it is only restricted within the US, the former is across different countries. This means that as a member of the Peace Corps, you will be doing volunteer work across different countries.

To get college funds, you must be in the Corps for two years and then apply for student loan relief. The Peace Corps also has other programs such as the private loan forgiveness program and the federal loan forgiveness program that can fund your college education or clear outstanding student loan debt.

10.  National Health Service Corps

The National Health Service Corps is a governmental organization for medical practitioners and healthcare providers to render services in rural communities. Working in the NHSC is also one of the government jobs that pay for college. The corps is for those who have graduated from a healthcare or medical-related field and here is how it pays for college:

If you are a graduate of medicine, nursing, or any health-related field, you can work with the NHSC to get your student loan debt cleared. The corps will offer you up to $60,000 to clear your student loan debt. But if you are yet to attend medical school, you can join the NHSC to gain relevant experience that will increase your chances of getting accepted into medical school and when you get accepted, the corps will pay for all your med school expenses but you must have been working with them for at least 2 years.

Conclusion

College tuition is expensive and keeps rising every day which has killed or crippled the dreams of many who want to get a college degree. But this shouldn’t be you nor should it happen to the people around you as you can make use of this goldmine of information that you have just discovered.

Apply for government jobs that pay for college and get your tuition paid or your outstanding student loan debt cleared. The amazing thing is you can combine this option with applying for scholarships, grants, bursaries, or any other financial aid opportunities. The more free money you get the better.

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