30 Ways to Get Paid to Go to School in 2025

Can you get paid to go to school? Or is that just a pipe dream?

You’ll be happy to know that, yes, you can get paid to go to school.

Let’s face it. Going to school is expensive.

In 2024 to 2025, the average annual tuition for public, four-year colleges is $11,610 for state residents and $30,780 for out-of-state residents.

You just want to enjoy your school experience and focus on learning without worrying about your finances.

Thankfully, college doesn’t have to be this huge financial stressor. There are actually ways to get help with the cost of college and essentially get paid to go to school.

This post gives you 30 ways to do just that.

Programs That Pay You to Go to School

There are various ways that you can directly or indirectly make money by going to school. Here are your best options.

1. Get a scholarship

Scholarships reward you with money based on merit. They do not need to be repaid. There are thousands of scholarships out there.

They’re awarded by a bunch of different places, like:

Schools
Employers
Individuals
Private companies
Not profits
Communities
Religious groups
Professional and social organizations

You’ll get money to go to school and you don’t have to pay it back. This means that you essentially get paid to go to school.

The criteria for each scholarship varies.

You can get more information about scholarships from the following places:

The financial aid office at the college or career school that you plan to attend.
A high school or TRIO counselor.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s free scholarship search tool.
Religious or community organizations

Apply for Federal Grants

Yes, believe it or not there are a few ways to get free money from the government!

Federal grants are financial awards that help you to pay for college. These grants do not have to be repaid.

Typically, federal grants are distributed based on your financial need, but some grants may also consider merit.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, and you’ll be considered for public grants.

After submitting the FAFSA form, you may be eligible to receive federal grants, like:

2. Federal Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grants are typically awarded to undergraduate students to show that they have exceptional financial need. They must also not have earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree.

The amount you’re awarded changes yearly. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award for the 2025 to 2026 award year is $7,395.

3. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FGSEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSGEOG) is a grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. You may be able to get money from this grant if you meet the criteria.

The FSEOG program is administered directly by the financial aid office at each school that participates in the program. Not all schools participate though. Be sure to check with your school’s financial aid office to see if they provide the FSEOG.

4. Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

Planning to be a teacher? Get paid to go to school with a Teacher Education Assistance or College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.

Students who are completing or who plan to complete course work needed to start a career in teaching are provided with grants of up to $4,000 a year through the TEACH Grant Program.

Apply for Institutional Grants

Some private colleges and universities offer grants to students. Be sure to check with the school you plan to attend to see if they offer such grants. You can contact them to ask.

Here are some examples of schools that provide students with grants:

Companies That Pay for Your College

Did you know that your employer may actually cover some of the cost of your tuition? Many do!

Since you’re working too, you’re essentially getting paid to go to college.

Here are some employers that offer tuition reimbursement:

Get Paid to Go to School Through the Military

Are you in the military? Then you may be able to get paid to go to school!

Those in the military can get assistance with paying for school through GI Bill benefits. These can help you to pay for school and cover expenses while you’re training for a job.

The GI Bill has helped qualifying veterans and their family members to get money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training since 1944.

Now, those in the military and veterans can get help through a number of programs, including:

22. Post-9/11 GI Bill (PGIB)

You may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (PGIB), or Chapter 33, if you served on active duty after September 10, 2001.

This bill can help you to pay for school or cover expenses while you are training for a job.

23. Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)

You may qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) program if you’ve served at least two years on active duty.

The program can help you to pay for education and training programs.

24. Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard may be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program.

The program provides you with up to 36 months of education and training benefits.

25. Survivors’ and dependents’ assistance (DEA)

Are you the child or spouse of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability?

If so, you may be able to get paid to go to school with the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program.

If you’re eligible, the program may be able to help you pay for school or cover expenses while you’re training for a job.

Other Ways to Get Paid to Go to School

Here, I’ll cover some other ways that you can indirectly use your school experience and learning to make money.

26. Tutor people

Use the knowledge you’ve gained as a student to tutor people. This can be done online on sites like:

Tutoring people can be a good way to earn money while studying.

27. Freelance writing

Do some freelance writing work while you’re in college. Use the cash that you make to support yourself. Find freelance work on sites like Upwork and PeoplePerHour.

28. Sell books through Kindle

Consider taking the topic you’re majoring in, or even just a topic that you’re interested in, and writing a book about it.

You can publish your book through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. It will then be up for sale on Amazon.

You’ll earn up to 70% in royalties every time your book sells.

You could make money while sitting in a lecture! This means that you’re basically getting paid to go to college.

29. Sell courses online

As a college student, it’s likely that you’re pretty knowledgeable about what you’re studying.

Turn this knowledge into cash by selling courses online.

You can sell courses on platforms like Udemy and Teachable.

30. Research the cost of community college

It’s a good idea to look into the cost of community college.

You’ll find that in most places across the country, the cost of tuition at community college is less than the full Pell Grant.

And if your federal grant funding happens to be more than the cost of tuition, then the college will actually refund you the difference back with a check. Good, right?

Use that money to pay for everything from books to food to rent – all while you’re studying.

You’re basically getting paid to go to college!

Summary

The cost of tuition seems so overwhelming nowadays. It doesn’t have to be though.

As you can see, there are many ways you can actually get paid to go to college – whether that’s through scholarships, grants, or your employer. You have so many options!

If you have used any of these options to make going to college less expensive or know of any other way to get paid to go to school, please leave a comment below and share it with us.