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Student worker education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a student worker. Student workers usually study business, psychology, or criminal justice. 65% of student workers hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 62,372 real student worker resumes to see exactly what student worker education sections show.

The most common colleges for student workers are the Texas A&M; University and the Texas A&M; University.

There are also many online student worker courses to help get the education required to be a student worker.

There are certain student worker certifications that you should consider. These student worker certifications include Microsoft Office Specialist Master Certification (MOS) and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA).

What education do you need to become a student worker?

What degree do you need to be a student worker?

The most common degree for student workers is bachelor's degree, with 65% of student workers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 15% and associate degree degree at 12%.
  • Bachelor's, 65%
  • Associate, 15%
  • High School Diploma, 12%
  • Master's, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a student worker?

You should major in business to become a student worker. 15% of student workers major in business. Other common majors for a student worker include psychology and criminal justice.

Most common colleges for student workers

Student workers often get their degrees at Texas A&M; University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and Mississippi State University. Here are the most common colleges for student workers in the US based on their resumes.
Student worker common collegePercentages
Texas A&M University17.96%
Southern Illinois University Carbondale7.96%
Mississippi State University6.16%
Murray State University6.14%
Louisiana State University and A&M College6.06%

Best majors for student workers

RankMajorPercentages
1Business14.6%
2Psychology12.3%
3Criminal Justice7.0%
4Biology6.4%
5Communication6.2%

Best colleges for student workers

The best colleges for student workers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston College.

A student worker with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for student workers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become student workers.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. SUNY at Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,011

Enrollment

13,434

3. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

5. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

9. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

20 best online courses for student workers

Advertising disclosure

1. Sort students marks using bubble and insertion algorithms

coursera

The learner will create two sorting algorithms in Java programming language. The learner will create an optimised bubble sort function that sorts students' marks in ascending order by repeatedly swapping adjacent elements within an array if they are in the wrong order. The learner will also create an insertion sort function that sorts students' marks in ascending order by building a sorted array, one element at a time...

2. Enhance Student Learning through Kahoot

coursera

By the end of this project, you will have created a Kahoot collection that will engage your students during virtual learning or as a more engaging way to encourage practice and review at home or in the classroom. Teaching is constantly evolving. As we learn more about our students, we uncover new ways to ensure that they are not just learning - they are thriving. When we can connect our tech-savvy students to tech-connected learning, our students are more likely to enjoy learning. We can also...

3. Business English Course for ESL Students

udemy
4.6
(9,199)

Learn essential Business English vocabulary for presentations, meetings, negotiations, phone calls, e-mails, and more!...

4. Thermodynamics for Engineering Students

udemy
4.8
(564)

A Detailed Introduction to Thermodynamics...

5. Unleash Student Creativity with Buncee

coursera

By the end of this project, you will be able to use Buncee to unleash your students’ creativity. Buncee is “a creation and communication tool… to create interactive content, allowing those of all ages to visualize concepts and communicate creatively.” With Buncee, learning becomes more personalized as students are able to share through engaging multimedia projects using Buncee’s templates, stickers, and animations. Throughout this project, we will work together to ensure that you are confident...

6. Encouraging Student Collaboration with Padlet

coursera

By the end of this project, you be able to use Padlet to create a collaborative classroom fostering interactive student engagements, creating virtual lessons, and more. With Padlet, teachers and students can collaborate in real time on lessons, projects, and anything else you can imagine. Together, we will learn how to use Padlet to connect with students during virtual learning, for in class collaboration, and discover ways to improve our ability to differentiate instruction using Padlet. The...

7. Law: A Comprehensive Summary for LLB Students

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4.2
(253)

An essential 24 hours of Video Lectures, Spider Graphs and Case Summaries made to guide LLB students preparing for exams...

8. Data Entry Skills: A Complete Data Entry Course from Scratch

udemy
4.7
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A Complete Guide to Data Entry Skills: Learn Data Entry Skills and become a Data Entry Pro & Get a Online Data Entry Job...

9. Engage and Assess Students with Quizizz

coursera

By the end of this project, you will be ready to use Quizizz with your students to create gamified quizzes, polls, and lessons. Whether you are teaching online or in the classroom, Quizizz allows you to gather valuable assessment data while your students are actively engaged in a friendly competitive game. Throughout each task, we will set up your Quizizz account and learn how to create your own quizzes as well as use the reporting feature to see how your students are progressing. Engage your...

10. Create a Record of Students using Arrays in Java

coursera

This project provides a step-by-step approach in instruction and will equip you with fundamental concepts of creating arrays and array lists in Java programming, from the ground up. Using jGRASP development environment, you will create a Java project that records and processes students’ data. The data includes name, mode of study, and marks. Using this data, you will output the student details, compute the total marks per student, determine the average mark, and the highest mark for the class...

11. Cisco Troubleshooting Labs For CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE Students

udemy
4.9
(496)

TSHOOT Labs in Routing, Switching, BGP, IPv6, IP Services, MPLS, and Security for CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE Students...

12. Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO)

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4.5
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Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO) Certification Exam Prep Course...

13. Increase Student Buy in with Google Slides

coursera

By the end of this project, you will have created a student punchcard that will engage your students during virtual learning or as a more engaging way to encourage buy in during classroom learning. Teaching is constantly evolving. As we learn more about our students, we uncover new ways to ensure that they are not just learning - they are thriving. Using a punchcard will not only provide your students with more choice and independence, it will also provide your classroom with the procedures and...

14. Creating a Student Profile in Google Docs

coursera

By the end of this project, you will have created a Student Profile in Google Docs that will allow you identify student needs and differentiate instruction. We will work together to learn how to use Google Docs as we create a Student Profile template and complete it for a particular student you have in mind. You will be provided with additional resources that will help improve your teaching practice through identification of students needs and ensuring that the appropriate accommodations are...

15. Implement Adobe Analytics - The Ultimate Student Guide

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4.2
(1,296)

Get your basics right. Implement Adobe Analytics on your website...

16. A Law Student's Toolkit

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Whether you are an advanced law student looking to review the basics, or an aspiring law student looking for head start, this course will help you build the foundation you will need to succeed in law school and beyond. This course will introduce you to terminology, concepts, and tools lawyers and legal academics use to make their arguments. It will help you follow these arguments—and make arguments of your own. This course consists of a series of short lectures and assignments. A reading list...

17. Using Google Forms for Student Success

coursera

By the end of this project, you have used Google Forms to create several tools to use with your students and parents in order to ensure a successful school year. With volunteer sign-up forms, you can simplify your volunteer process within your classroom and across the school. Through exit tickets and assessments, you will be able to check your student’s understanding of the content taught that day or during a unit so that you can adjust instruction to address misunderstandings or gather...

18. Student Self-Assessment with Microsoft Word

coursera

By the end of this project, you will have created a self-report card and a behaviour reflection form for student self-reflection. You will also be equipped with suggestions for how to use these documents with students. Encouraging our students to reflect on their learning is one of many goals we have as teachers. One valuable way to do this is by allowing our students to share their perspective on the school year. What areas are going well for them? What areas do they see where they could grow?...

19. Preparing for Graduate Study in the U.S.: A course for international students

coursera

Preparing for graduate school in the United States can be nerve-wracking. Many international students have questions about what the programs are like and what resources they can use to excel in their studies. This course allows potential and incoming international students to practice their communication skills, identify tools that support academic success, and gain confidence as they prepare for their advanced degrees. Alongside advancing your English skills, get the chance to hear from...

20. Introduction to Computer Information Systems

coursera

This Specialization is intended for anyone seeking to learn basic computer skills. Through 3 courses, you will study computer hardware, software, and data safety. You will also learn about digital literacy and productivity tools. These courses will prepare you for a number of jobs within the field of computer information systems...

Top 10 most affordable universities for student workers

The most affordable schools for student workers are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for student workers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for student workers.

1. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

6. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

7. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

8. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for student workers

The hardest universities for student workers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston College.

Some great schools for student workers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for student workers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

7. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

8. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

9. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

10. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for student workers

The easiest schools for student workers to get into are Nyack College, kean university, and mount saint mary's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a student worker without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for student workers.

1. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

2. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

3. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

4. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

5. Iona College

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,089

6. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

7. Presentation College

Aberdeen, SD • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,050

8. Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,059

9. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

10. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

Average student worker salary by education level

According to our data, student workers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $30,031 annually. Student workers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $25,000.
Student worker education levelStudent worker salary
Master's Degree$30,031
Bachelor's Degree$25,000

Student worker education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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