29 Sep EdSource: Female and Latino Students Most Likely to Work While in California Colleges

(Photo by Javier Trueba on Unsplash)

By Vani Sanganeria
EdSource

About half of students at California’s public colleges work while in school, according to a blog post by the Public Policy Institute of California and California’s Cradle-to-Career data system. Of those, female and Latino students are the most likely to be employed while studying at California State University, University of California or community colleges.

“Some may need income to support themselves while in school, and others may need to work to cover the net cost of college — which can remain high even after financial aid or other assistance,” said Iwunze Ugo, an education researcher at Public Policy Institute of California.

Community college students are more likely to work while in school than UC or CSU students, earning on average $2,700 more annually, with those rates remaining about the same since 2018. Rates of UC and CSU students working while in school, however, have risen a sharp 9 percentage points in that period.

Ugo also noted that 55% and 57% of Latino students work while attending two- and four-year colleges, respectively, the most of any ethnic group and far above the state average. Latino students also earn the most on average. Female students, however, earn on average $2,200 less than male students at UC and CSU, despite being ahead by 8 percentage points on employment.

In California, educators have increasingly warned that working more than 15 hours a week can hurt grades and delay graduation, particularly for the state’s low-income students. Experts say financial aid has also not kept pace with increasing tuition and living costs, and confusion around the Free Application for Federal Student Aid application may have led more students to take on student loan debt.

“Efforts to strengthen the connection between education and employment through apprenticeships and industry-aligned educational pathways could help students get more out of the jobs they do after class,” Ugo said.