When people think about jobs at colleges and universities, they usually picture professors standing at a chalkboard or lecturing in a classroom. While faculty positions are important and plentiful, the reality is that higher education institutions offer a huge variety of roles far beyond just teaching. These schools are like small cities — they need a wide range of professionals to keep everything running smoothly, support students, and advance their academic missions.
Of course, there are the classic faculty roles, including assistant, associate, and full professors across many disciplines. But even within faculty jobs, there are lecturers, adjunct instructors, researchers, and clinical faculty who all play different parts in shaping education and scholarship. Universities also hire postdoctoral researchers and lab managers who support important scientific and medical research projects. These positions are essential to advancing knowledge and innovation.
Beyond faculty, colleges and universities have robust administrative departments that handle everything from admissions and financial aid to marketing, student life, and registrar services. Admissions counselors work to recruit and enroll new students, while financial aid advisors help make education affordable. Offices like marketing and communications promote the institution’s brand and engage with the community. These jobs require a variety of skills, from communication to data analysis, and offer great opportunities for professionals with diverse backgrounds.
Campuses also rely heavily on technology teams that maintain IT infrastructure, support online learning platforms, and develop new digital tools. These tech roles are critical as higher education embraces more hybrid and remote learning models. Meanwhile, facilities management teams ensure the safety and upkeep of buildings, grounds, and housing, employing professionals in maintenance, security, event coordination, and more.
Support services round out the workforce, with roles in counseling and mental health, career services, library services, and student activities. These jobs directly impact the student experience and campus community. Food service workers, transportation staff, and campus bookstore employees also keep day-to-day life on campus running smoothly.
The diversity of jobs at colleges and universities means that whether you’re interested in teaching, administration, research, tech, operations, or student support, there’s likely a role that matches your education and experience. Higher education offers stable careers with meaningful work and the chance to be part of communities focused on learning and growth.
If you’ve been limiting your job search to “faculty positions” only, it’s time to expand your horizons. Colleges and universities need talented people across many fields and levels of experience. Exploring these diverse opportunities could lead you to a rewarding new career path you hadn’t considered before.
Milaj.Co specializes in posting a broad range of academic and university jobs — faculty, staff, research, and more. Take a closer look at all the types of roles available and discover your next opportunity in higher education today.