I thought I posted this earlier, but it disappeared into the ether. I have worked at a couple different universities in the past decade, and they have been some of the most interesting and chill environments you could ask for. For most departments, the bottom line is supporting the organization in educating people, not money. It makes the pace of everything a bit more tolerable, and you won't be working just to push an unnecessary product into the world or directly contribute to the harm of others (m*l*t*ry c*ntr*ct*rs). There's also a good chance you'll have between Christmas and NYE off. There are caveats of course - many universities are suffering from low enrollment and budget cuts in the past few years, but it's worth getting a sense of places near you that might be reputable places to work.
