For thousands of international students every year, the United States is the dream destination for higher education. Whether you are from India, China, Nigeria, or any other country, you know that a US degree can open big career opportunities. But one of the most common concerns is money. Tuition fees are high, living costs can be challenging, and many families cannot afford to cover everything.
That is why on-campus jobs and OPT support become so important for international students. On-campus jobs let you earn while you study, and OPT (Optional Practical Training) gives you the chance to work in the US after graduation. When combined, these opportunities make studying in the USA not only possible but also profitable in the long run.
In this article, I will give you a complete list of the Top 12 US Universities that are known for offering on-campus jobs and strong OPT support in 2025.
Why On-Campus Jobs and OPT Support Matter?
Before we list the universities, let’s quickly see why these two factors are crucial for Indian and other international students:
- On-Campus Jobs: F-1 visa students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during academic sessions, and up to 40 hours per week during holidays. These jobs are usually in libraries, dining halls, administrative offices, labs, research positions, or as teaching assistants. On-campus work can help cover basic living expenses like rent, groceries, or transportation.
- OPT (Optional Practical Training): OPT allows international students to work in the US for up to 12 months after graduation. If you are in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program, you can apply for a 24-month extension, making it a total of 3 years of work authorization. This is one of the best ways to gain US job experience, build your resume, and sometimes even secure an H1B sponsorship.
So when you are choosing a university, don’t just look at rankings or fees. You should also check if the school provides enough on-campus job opportunities and has a strong international student office that helps with OPT.
Top 12 US Universities with On-Campus Jobs & OPT Support
Here’s the detailed list of universities that combine affordable on-campus jobs with good OPT support for international students:
1. Stanford University (California)
- On-Campus Jobs: Stanford allows F-1 and J-1 students to work on campus right from the first quarter. Students find roles in dining halls, research labs, libraries, or even as teaching assistants in later semesters.
- OPT Support: Stanford’s Bechtel International Center is very active and provides one-on-one counseling for OPT and STEM OPT. They also host job fairs that attract big tech companies from Silicon Valley.
- Why Good for Indians? Many Indian students target Stanford for MS in CS or MBA, and OPT support here is extremely valuable as tech companies are nearby.
2. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- On-Campus Jobs: Wide variety of campus jobs in administration, IT support, library, and labs. Many graduate students also work as TAs or RAs.
- OPT Support: The International Center at UMich has detailed guidelines, workshops, and legal assistance for OPT. STEM extension is commonly used by engineering and CS students.
- ROI: Average graduate salary is high, so students easily recover investment within a few years.
3. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
- On-Campus Jobs: Offers jobs in dining services, libraries, research positions, and departments. Graduate students in CS/Engineering often secure RAs.
- OPT Support: Their International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) helps with documentation and connects students to employers who are OPT-friendly.
- Highlight: UIUC is one of the most popular universities for Indian CS students, with a very high STEM OPT participation.
4. University of Washington, Seattle
- On-Campus Jobs: Plenty of opportunities within campus departments, student union, and computer labs. Graduate students can also secure teaching roles.
- OPT Support: Located in Seattle (home to Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing), the career center and ISSS provide strong OPT guidance. Many students directly transition from OPT to full-time roles at these giants.
- Why Choose? Strong job market + active international office = excellent ROI.
5. University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)
- On-Campus Jobs: International students are allowed to work 20 hrs/week during term. Many take part-time jobs in residence halls, recreation centers, or research projects.
- OPT Support: UCSB’s Office of International Students & Scholars has detailed OPT/STEM workshops. California’s tech market is very OPT-friendly.
- Advantage: Being in California means you are close to Silicon Valley job opportunities.
6. University of Texas at Dallas (UTD)
- On-Campus Jobs: Large Indian student community; jobs are available in IT helpdesk, dining, and research labs. RA/TA positions are also common.
- OPT Support: International Student Services Office (ISSO) at UTD is very supportive, helping students with every stage of OPT application.
- Special Note: Many Indian MS students in CS/Data choose UTD because Dallas has a growing tech industry.
7. Colorado State University (CSU)
- On-Campus Jobs: Graduate assistantships, teaching assistantships, and student hourly jobs available.
- OPT Support: ISSS at CSU organizes employment workshops and connects students to OPT employers.
- Why Good? Affordable tuition + solid OPT support = high ROI for Indian students.
8. University of Wisconsin-Madison
- On-Campus Jobs: Many campus jobs including RA/TA positions in engineering, research centers, and student facilities.
- OPT Support: Career Services + International Student Services work together to help students maximize OPT opportunities.
- Placement: Alumni network is very strong in tech and research, which benefits OPT seekers.
9. Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
- On-Campus Jobs: One of the largest US campuses with multiple student employment opportunities. Graduate students often get research assistantships.
- OPT Support: Penn State’s Office of Global Programs provides full OPT guidance. Students in STEM majors frequently get the 3-year OPT extension.
- Highlight: Penn State is known for high employability of graduates.
10. University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)
- On-Campus Jobs: Huge opportunities in library, IT, research centers, and student services.
- OPT Support: Austin has a booming tech industry. The university’s International Student Office works actively with companies like Dell, IBM, Oracle, and startups to guide students for OPT.
- Why Good? UT Austin is among the best ROI universities in the US.
11. Northeastern University (Boston)
- On-Campus Jobs: Available across campus departments. Students also get unique “co-op” opportunities which are like long internships with companies.
- OPT Support: Northeastern is famous for its co-op program, which directly supports OPT transition. International students benefit from industry partnerships in Boston.
- Special Edge: If you want both study + paid work experience, Northeastern is one of the best options.
12. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
- On-Campus Jobs: RAs/TAs are available in CS, robotics, and engineering. Students also find part-time work in labs and libraries.
- OPT Support: CMU is a tech powerhouse, and employers are keen to hire CMU grads. OPT guidance is detailed and efficient.
- Why Indians Love It? CMU is ranked among the top CS universities globally. With OPT, Indian students easily get jobs in Google, Meta, Amazon, etc.
Average Earnings from On-Campus Jobs
Most international students can expect to earn between $10 – $18 per hour depending on the job and university. On-campus jobs are not meant to pay tuition, but they help cover living costs like rent, food, and personal expenses.
Scholarships + OPT = Maximum ROI
Here’s a hack many Indian students follow:
- Step 1: Secure partial scholarship/assistantship at admission.
- Step 2: Work part-time on campus during study (20 hrs/week).
- Step 3: Use OPT + STEM OPT after graduation to work full-time and earn $80,000 – $120,000 per year.
This way, you recover tuition cost within 2–3 years after graduation.
Conclusion
Choosing a university in the US is not just about rankings. For international students, especially from India, it is about affordability, on-campus work options, and post-study work opportunities (OPT).
If you select universities like Stanford, Michigan, UIUC, UT Austin, or Northeastern, you will not only get quality education but also a chance to work while studying and gain US job experience after graduation.
So, before you apply, make sure the universities you shortlist provide on-campus employment + strong OPT support — because that is what ensures a high ROI on your US education inves
