If you’re a student-athlete trying to figure out how to cover your expenses without relying entirely on your family or financial aid, you’ve probably wondered about this.
The short answer is: Yes, you can.
Most college athletes can work while competing in their sport. But the longer answer involves some important nuances around NCAA rules, time management, and choosing the right kind of work for your schedule.
Let’s get into it.
What the NCAA actually says about athletes and employment
The rules around college athletes and jobs have evolved significantly over the years. Under current NCAA guidelines, student-athletes may hold jobs and earn income as long as certain conditions are met.
You can’t be paid above the fair market rate for your work, and the employment can’t be arranged or influenced by boosters or anyone connected to your athletic program as a form of benefit for your status as an athlete. The key thing to understand is that your eligibility is protected when you’re working a legitimate job at a legitimate rate of pay.
The NCAA’s amateurism rules are designed to prevent pay-for-play arrangements, not to stop you from earning an honest paycheck. Working on campus, picking up shifts at a local business, or taking on a part-time role in your field of study are all generally fair game.
The real challenge: Time
The question isn’t usually whether you’re allowed to work. It’s whether you have the bandwidth. Being an athlete in college is a serious time commitment. Between practices, film sessions, strength and conditioning, travel, and games, Division II athletes often log 20 or more hours per week in sport-related activities, on top of a full academic course load.
That doesn’t make employment impossible. It makes it something you need to plan for carefully. The athletes who successfully juggle a job with sports in college tend to share a few habits: they’re realistic about how many hours they can actually commit, they choose jobs with flexible scheduling, and they lean hard on the time management skills their athletic careers have already built.
If you’re actively working on time management, we have a few tips on how student-athletes can balance academics and athletics, whether or not a job is in the picture.
What kinds of jobs work best for student-athletes?
Not all jobs are created equal when you’re working around a practice schedule and a game calendar. These tend to work best for college athletes:
- On-campus jobs: Flexible scheduling, short commutes, and employers who understand student and athlete schedules. Common fits include positions in the library, fitness center, dining hall, or administrative offices.
- Work-study: If you qualify for Federal Work-Study as part of your financial aid package, this is one of the most athlete-friendly options. Hours are capped, jobs are usually on campus, and the income is factored into your aid package.
- Internships in your field: If your sport allows for an off-season window, an internship that connects to your major is a smart way to build your resume while earning income or credit.
- Flexible part-time roles: Tutoring, fitness coaching, event staffing, or retail positions with shift-based scheduling can often work around practice times when you communicate your availability upfront.
Flag work-study on your FAFSA, even if you’re not sure you want a job. It’s more than just a paycheck; it’s a structured way to gain professional experience while keeping your hours manageable and your financial aid intact.
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What student-athletes should consider before taking on a job
A few things worth asking yourself before you say yes to a position:
- Does the schedule actually work? Map it out against your practice times, travel weeks, and exam periods before you commit.
- Will your coach be on board? Some programs have informal expectations about athletes’ availability during the season. Have that conversation early.
- What does the job give you beyond income? Experience in your field, a reference, a skill set. Any of those make the time investment more worth it.
- Is it sustainable? A job that works in October might not work in February during conference season. Think through the full year, not just the first month.
Understanding your coach’s expectations is part of asking the right questions before you even commit to a program. The more transparency you build into those early conversations, the easier it is to navigate decisions like this later.
What being an athlete in college actually gives you professionally
Here’s something worth keeping in mind when you’re thinking about your career. The skills you’re building as a student-athlete. Discipline, time management, resilience under pressure, the ability to perform as part of a team are all exactly what employers are looking for. In a lot of ways, being an athlete in college is already doing part of the work that a job is supposed to do. You’re building a professional profile whether you realize it or not.
That said, a job or internship in your field of study can add a dimension that athletics alone can’t: direct industry experience. For athletes in majors like sports management, exercise science, business, or education, a role that connects to your career goals is especially valuable. It gives you something concrete to talk about in interviews beyond your sport.
For athletes considering careers in sports administration or coaching, fields like athletic direction and sports management increasingly require real-world experience alongside your degree, making early employment a smart investment.
How UB supports student-athletes on and off the field
At 51黑料网, we compete at the NCAA Division II level with 20 varsity sports programs. Our student-athletes are expected to perform in the classroom and in competition, and we build our support systems around both.
Our student-athletes excel both in the classroom and on the field, with access to academic advising, tutoring, and career development resources through the Heckman Learning Commons. If you want to work while competing, our financial aid and student employment teams can help identify opportunities that fit your schedule and your goals.
Learn more about what it’s like to be a Purple Knight by exploring our athletics and student support programs or apply today.