The Pros and Cons of Working at a University
This article reviews the unique pros and cons of working at a university.
By Melissa Ortiz — July 10, 2023
Introduction
If you are a current college student or about to start college, you may have yet to consider working at a university as a career option. However, many people, both young and old, have made their careers out of working at a university. Think about all of the staff you encounter at a university that aren't faculty — from the workers who work at the cafeterias, to the staff that works at financial aid, to your academic advisors, to the security officers, and more. In fact, universities are often major employers in their region.
I had to work many jobs as an undergraduate student, from work study to research jobs, and I enjoyed all of them. I realized upon graduation that, from what I've heard from my peers working for-profit, corporate jobs, I wanted to stick to working in higher education. Over ten years and four higher education institutions later, I'm still here.
So, why are universities such a popular place to work? In this article, I review the unique pros and cons of working at a university. It's important to note that there are many different types of roles at a university — staff, faculty, students, researchers, etc. This article focuses on staff positions, the kinds of positions you can get straight out of college and grow in throughout your career. Other roles within universities, such as a researcher or a professor, often require more schooling beyond your undergraduate degree. Further, the pros and cons of working at a university can depend on several factors, such as location, type of university, or your team. Based on my experience and those of my colleagues, I review several generalized, unique pros and cons of working at a university.
The Pros
Benefits are probably the most popular reason people choose to make a career out of working at a university. Tuition benefits specifically are unbeatable by most other employers. Many universities will fully, or at least partially, cover your graduate (or even undergraduate) studies at the same university as your place of work. Though this will mean attending school part-time while working full-time, this also means several tens of thousands of dollars in savings. Moreover, working at a university is a great segue into furthering your education. Depending on your field of interest, working at a university will provide you with valuable connections, networking opportunities, and access to academic resources through their library. Further, tuition benefits often extend to family members as well — spouses and children may receive a steep discount to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies at the same university as your place of work or another accredited college or university.
Other generous benefits include health insurance. Universities often offer comprehensive health insurance packages (which may also extend to spouses and children). Moreover, if a university contains a hospital system, you will likely have access to a top-tier health system. Universities also offer generous vacation time, which only increases after certain yearly increments of service. Further, many universities have started offering extra days off during the Christmas break, during which the university is fully closed, that don't dip into your own vacation time.
The working environment at a university will, of course, vary between departments and colleagues, but overall, like many non-profits, universities often foster a collaborative environment. You and your colleagues are working towards the same goals. You will often also work with a relatively small team. The pace at universities is usually slower, which could mean a good work-life balance.
Finally, universities often offer incentives for living and commuting within the area. They may provide assistance for home purchasing and funds toward home improvement. You may also have access to free or reduced transportation in the region, whether through public transit or private transportation through the university.
The Cons
Like any job, there are some cons to working at a university. Firstly, the salary ranges at a university tend to be lower than comparable positions at other organizations. This is the case for most university roles outside senior positions. Further, many university positions are grant-funded, meaning they only exist for the grant's duration and do not guarantee job stability. Beware that the benefits listed above are usually only applicable to full-time, salaried employees — hourly or temporary employees, common at universities, are often excluded from any benefits.
Many university departments and centers have smaller teams, meaning opportunities for growth and promotions may be scarce. Promotions and raises most likely only occur when someone with a higher position leaves their job, as opposed to when you are ready to take on that responsibility. This may stall your career path, with lower responsibilities and a lower salary than what you are worth.
Finally, when you work in a smaller team, you are often the only person with your specific job responsibilities. This may mean that you don't receive the necessary training or oversight necessary to do your job well, which requires constantly taking the initiative to ask people questions and learn things on your own. At the same time, there is often limited autonomy within university staff positions — unless you are running your own team, your work is most likely dictated by your boss.
Conclusion
If you are a current undergraduate student, you have several opportunities to explore working at a university as a career path through work-study or regular student jobs at your university. If you have already graduated, universities usually have several temp-to-hire jobs; this means that you can temporarily work at a university for a certain period of time, and if both you and the employer have a positive experience, they will hire you as a full-time employee.
The pros and cons above may be interpreted differently by anyone. All in all, while working at a university may not be for everyone, there are many unique educational, health, and overall career benefits.
Melissa Ortiz
Melissa has ten years of experience working in research and administration in several nonprofits and higher education institutions. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University and her M.S. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.
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