Supporting Working College Students: Bridging the Gap Between Earning and Learning
Creating Pathways, Not Pitfalls, for Working Students
College students across the U.S. increasingly balance academics with jobs, often out of necessity rather than choice. This blog explores how Education at Work, alongside research from the AAUP, is helping transform college employment into an opportunity for growth rather than a barrier to success.
For millions of students across the country, the college experience isn’t just about lectures, labs, or late-night study sessions—it also includes clocking into a job, balancing shifts, and navigating the dual responsibilities of work and school. At Education at Work, we see firsthand the determination of these students, many of whom juggle part-time or even full-time jobs while pursuing their degrees. But while their grit is inspiring, the reality behind working during college is more complex—and often, inequitable.
A report, reviewing the research on students and work by Laura W. Perna in 2020, published by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) titled “Recognizing the Reality of Working College Students,” sheds light on the challenges of working while enrolled. Importantly, it also provides recommendations on maximizing the benefits that specific types of employment offer as a career accelerator for college students. Getting this balance right is necessary to ensure that every student, as Perna writes, “especially students who must work for pay while enrolled—can fully engage in the academic experience, realize the potential benefits of working, and make timely progress to degree completion.”
The Working Student Divide
Not all students enter college with the same financial stability or family support level. For many, employment isn’t optional—it’s essential. Perna cites research that demonstrates these students often face longer paths to graduation, limited access to extracurricular or academic enrichment opportunities, and higher stress levels that can affect their mental health and academic performance..
Perna calls for a shift in approaching this issue, advocating for policies and practices that better serve working students. She argues that “more can and should be done to ensure that all students—especially students who must work for pay while enrolled—can fully engage in the academic experience, realize the potential benefits of working, and make timely progress to degree completion.”
Turning Work into a Pathway, Not a Barrier
This is the challenge we tackle daily at Education at Work. We see students who can integrate employment as part of their college journeys daily when we offer them flexible schedules and the support to prioritize academics. Perna outlines a series of recommendations to “Minimize Harm and Maximize Benefits” of work. She highlights the importance of partnerships between students, employers, and higher education institutions, another key component of our model at Education at Work. She highlights proximity to campus of employment opportunities as a key criterion, another foundational design element of our employment opportunities. Our higher education partners often provide space on campus or in college-owned buildings nearby. Reducing the friction for students to travel between work, class, and extracurricular activities is an often-overlooked area of stress for students. Programs like ours aim to demonstrate what’s possible when employers, educators, and communities recognize the needs of working students and build opportunities around them. We’ve seen students graduate on time with a job. It’s proof that when work aligns with learning, everyone wins.
The Call to Action
As the Perna report highlights, it’s time to reevaluate how we serve students who work. Whether through institutional policy changes, increased employer collaboration, or redesigned student services, there is a critical opportunity to reimagine work during college as a launchpad, not a hurdle.
At Education at Work, we partner with forward-thinking universities and employers to create meaningful, flexible work opportunities that support student success. We’d love to talk if you’re ready to be part of the solution—and help shape the future of work-integrated learning. Contact us to explore how we can collaborate and make an impact together.