13 Tips for Working Full-Time and Going to School

Time is a finite resource, meaning there are a set number of hours to get things done every day. When you have competing responsibilities, like working full-time while earning your bachelor’s or master’s, finding enough time to do both can be challenging. But it is possible. 

In fact, it’s quite normal. A report from Georgetown University found that over the past 25 years, 70 percent of students worked while earning their degree [1]. And according to the National Center for Education Statistics, forty percent of part-time students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree work full-time [2]. 

So, if you're balancing school and a job, you're not alone! In this article, we’ll review ways to learn and earn successfully.  

13 tips for earning a degree while working full-time

Whether it’s how you plan your schedule or how you take care of yourself, there are many ways to be successful when you’re both working full-time and earning an academic degree. We’ve broken them down into helpful categories. 

Because building good habits takes repetition over time, it may be helpful to start with a few of the suggestions on this list rather than tackling all of them at once. 

Time management and scheduling

Time management is crucial to earning your degree while working. Use the tips below to figure out how you currently spend your time so you can better organize it. 

1. Conduct a “time audit.”

A time audit means figuring out where your time currently goes. It can be a helpful visual to see where you can cut back on certain areas or organize your time more effectively. 

Get clear about how much time you spend doing things and when specifically you tend to do them. Write out the days of the week and list how you spend your time each day, using the categories below as guidance and making note of what time you tend to do them. 

• Work

• Coursework 

• Family and friends

• Activities and hobbies

• Personal time and health

Identify any free blocks. If not many exist, see if it’s possible to arrange your time into “chunks" more effectively—a key time management strategy called the Pomodoro method—that will help you focus and ideally accomplish more.   

2. Set a consistent schedule for coursework.

Consistency is another important factor in learning, especially if you’re learning online. Rather than wait for free time to emerge, build a consistent schedule for your education by choosing set days—and times—when you will sit down and tackle any readings, assignments, or studying. 

If you find you’re more productive in the morning, dedicate an hour or more before your day officially starts. Or if you focus better in the evening once everything is wrapped up, then dedicate two or three days each week to your coursework. 

3. Take advantage of time management tools.

There are many time management tools designed to help you more effectively manage a busy schedule. You can find: 

• Online daily planners like Structured to organize your schedule

• List apps like Trello to visualize what you need to do 

• Productivity timers like Marinara Method to “chunk” your time

Conduct a search for time management tools or study tools to see what’s available and what might help keep you organized. 

Read more: 11 Good Study Habits to Develop

Adjust your academic responsibilities 

Sometimes your calendar is so full that there’s no way to better manage it. In that case, you may want to use the options below to adjust your academic responsibilities. 

4. Explore online degrees or courses.

Online degrees and online courses tend to be more flexible than their in-person counterparts, especially when they’re offered asynchronously, which means you can likely watch lectures and complete other requirements—like readings, assignments, or exams—on your own time. 

If you’re working full-time, being able to shape your learning schedule around your work can be immensely helpful. Plus, some online degree programs, like those you can find on Coursera, offer courses that take around 8 weeks rather than a full 16-week semester, so you can complete two courses in the time it would’ve taken you to finish one. 

Online degrees and courses can also feature tools, like platform apps, that can make watching lectures or listening to readings easier when you’re on the go, so you don’t have to be tied to a desk to learn. 

Learn more: 10 Surprising Benefits of Online Learning

5. Take fewer courses each semester. 

Since working full-time requires at least 40 hours each week, it may be worthwhile to take classes part-time so you don’t over-commit yourself and run the risk of burning out. 

It’s rare to see students work full-time and go to school full-time. Usually, there needs to be a tradeoff. If you want to earn your degree at a faster rate, like a full-time student, then you may need to find a way to cut back on work. But if that’s not an option, then you’ll likely need to cut back on school and take fewer courses each session. 

6. Take advantage of summer sessions.

Even if you choose to take fewer courses each session, you can still earn your degree at a steady pace by taking advantage of summer (or winter) sessions. Most students take courses in the fall and spring semesters, but many universities offer additional semesters—or sessions—in the summer. Taking even one course in the summer can be a great way to keep working through your degree at a steady pace without feeling overwhelmed. 

Work with and around your job 

Work can’t always be flexible, but there may be instances when you can adjust your responsibilities to ensure you have enough time to complete your studies. 

7. Use work holidays and PTO.

If your full-time role offers PTO or holidays, take advantage of that time off by planning to get through some of your studying or assignments. These opportunities can be a great way to catch up—or get ahead. 

Draw on the scheduling methods we mentioned earlier by paying attention to free time that’s coming up, and setting it aside to tackle anything coursework-related. 

8. Communicate your goals with your employer.

Education benefits companies, and you should feel proud of what you’re doing. Earning a degree requires dedication, drive, and organization. If you’re comfortable, share with your supervisor that you’re earning a degree while working, and see if there are ways your company may be able to support you. 

This may be something like having clear work-life boundaries so that your team knows you’re unavailable to respond to messages in the evening or asking to be put on a less demanding project if you know you’re taking harder courses. 

Look for sources of support

You will inevitably need some kind of support as you juggle both of your key responsibilities. Use the tips below to build and turn to your network as needed. 

9. Look for working peers.

Having classmates who are going through something similar can make a world of difference, offering a sounding board or even a study partner who will hold you accountable. See if there’s a way to connect with other working students—either part-time or full-time—and turn to them as you need encouragement or advice. It may even be nice to form a study group to work through lessons together. 

10. Seek out school resources. 

Universities, whether online or in-person, tend to offer some kind of student support services, like tutoring or advising. Take advantage of these (usually free) resources when you need help figuring out what courses to take or how to prepare for an assignment or test. 

11. Ask for help as you need it.

Turn to family or friends, if they’re available, and ask for their help with things that aren’t work- or school-related. Can a good friend watch your children once a week so you can study? Or can a family member help out with a few household chores so you can finish an assignment? Knowing that you’re working toward a big goal, the people in your life may be able to lend a hand. 

Take care of yourself

It’s often easier said than done, but it’s important that you set aside time to take care of yourself, making sure to get rest so that you’re as refreshed as possible to handle your competing responsibilities. 

12. Don’t skimp on the self-care.

Getting lots of sleep may not always be possible, but prioritizing rest is crucial, especially when juggling a full-time job and a degree. Beyond sleep, finding ways to eat well, stay hydrated, and spend time doing things you love will all go a long way into making you a more focused student. 

13. Celebrate wins, big and small. 

Make sure to acknowledge your “wins.” If you do well on a test or successfully finish a project at work, celebrating those accomplishments will energize you as you work toward your major goal of graduating. 

Benefits of working full-time while going to school

There are benefits of working full-time while earning your degree, even though it can also require sacrifice, such as when you choose to get through an assignment rather than joining your friends for a fun night out. Whether you’re already enrolled in a degree program or are considering earning a degree while you keep working, keep these benefits in mind: 

• Possibly avoiding student loans: If you can pay for your education through your full-time job rather than taking out student loans (or as many student loans), then you’re potentially setting yourself up for financial success after graduation. 

• Employer reimbursement: Many companies offer some kind of tuition reimbursement if you’re working while earning your degree. Check with your employer to see if you qualify for that benefit.

• Apply what you learn in real-time: You’ll get the chance to apply what you’re learning in the classroom to your role in real-time, which can be a nice “hands-on” component of working while you learn. 

Earn your bachelor’s or master’s on Coursera

Find flexible degrees in in-demand subjects on Coursera, where you may be able to apply prior learning you completed in a Professional Certificate for degree credit. Some programs also offer performance-based admission, so you don’t have to pull together a lengthy application. Instead, you’ll prove your knowledge with three pathway courses to gain full admission. Learn more today.