Learning and Earning: Working in College
LEARNING AND EARNING:
WORKING IN COLLEGE
JONATHAN M. ORSZAG
PETER R. ORSZAG
DIANE M. WHITMORE
C
OMMISSIONED BY UPROMISE, INC.
AUGUST 2001
1
Executive Summary
Students are increasingly likely to work while in college. Since 1984, the fraction of college students aged 16 to 24 who also work full- or part-time has increased from 49 to 57 percent. Not only are students more likely to work today, but they are more likely to work full-time: the share of students working full-time while going to school full-time has nearly doubled, rising from 5.6 percent in 1985 to 10.4 percent in 2000.
In 2000, 828,000 full-time students worked full-time, compared to 366,000 in 1985.
Working students can be categorized into two groups: those who primarily identify themselves as students but who work in order to pay the bills, and those who are first and foremost workers who also take some college classes. Almost two-thirds of undergraduates who work consider themselves "students who work"; the other third consider themselves "workers who study."
In the 1995-96 school year, employed students worked an average of 25 hours per week. Students at four-year colleges are more likely to work a smaller number of hours per week. On average, working college students earn roughly $7.50 per hour.
The empirical evidence suggests that the effects of working while in college varies by the type of job held (e.g., full-time vs. part-time work) and its relation to the academic environment (e.g., an on-campus vs. an off-campus job).
Part-time student employment may have beneficial effects: for example, an oncampus research position may spark a student's interest in further academic programs or provide important work experience that will improve future labor market prospects. Working part-time as a student generally appears to supplant only nonproductive activities, such as watching television. In addition, students who work fewer than 10 hours per week have
WORKING IN COLLEGE
JONATHAN M. ORSZAG
PETER R. ORSZAG
DIANE M. WHITMORE
C
OMMISSIONED BY UPROMISE, INC.
AUGUST 2001
1
Executive Summary
Students are increasingly likely to work while in college. Since 1984, the fraction of college students aged 16 to 24 who also work full- or part-time has increased from 49 to 57 percent. Not only are students more likely to work today, but they are more likely to work full-time: the share of students working full-time while going to school full-time has nearly doubled, rising from 5.6 percent in 1985 to 10.4 percent in 2000.
In 2000, 828,000 full-time students worked full-time, compared to 366,000 in 1985.
Working students can be categorized into two groups: those who primarily identify themselves as students but who work in order to pay the bills, and those who are first and foremost workers who also take some college classes. Almost two-thirds of undergraduates who work consider themselves "students who work"; the other third consider themselves "workers who study."
In the 1995-96 school year, employed students worked an average of 25 hours per week. Students at four-year colleges are more likely to work a smaller number of hours per week. On average, working college students earn roughly $7.50 per hour.
The empirical evidence suggests that the effects of working while in college varies by the type of job held (e.g., full-time vs. part-time work) and its relation to the academic environment (e.g., an on-campus vs. an off-campus job).
Part-time student employment may have beneficial effects: for example, an oncampus research position may spark a student's interest in further academic programs or provide important work experience that will improve future labor market prospects. Working part-time as a student generally appears to supplant only nonproductive activities, such as watching television. In addition, students who work fewer than 10 hours per week have