The Relationship of Student Employment to Student Role, Family Relationships, Social Interactions and Persistence.

This study examines the relationships of college student employment and its' effect on student life. Approximately 500, 19-24 year old, mid-western university undergraduates participated in an "on-line" survey. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analyses, reliability and correlations. Study time/student time positively correlated with employment while grade point negatively correlated with employment. Attendance and family relationships were not related to employment. "Beyond class" (social interactions) and persistence toward a degree positively correlated with employment while extra-curricular activities and socializing negatively correlated with employment. Employment was not related to study time; however, it was found that students spend less time preparing for class than recommended. Consistent with other research, students who are employed more had lower GPA's. A correlation between attendance and employment was not found, possibly due to students effectively coordinating work and class schedules. Although greater employment would likely predict less time spent with family, this finding was not validated by the data. Increased time on campus correlated with student success, possibly due to students' feeling connected to peers and faculty. A positive correlation between employment and persistence toward a degree was found. ********** Tuition and fees began to grow much more rapidly than consumer prices in the 1980's. The cost of attending college rose over three times as fast as median family income. This trend of rapidly-increasing college costs continues. Average tuition and fees at both public and private four-year colleges and universities rose 38% in the past decade (Boehner & McKeon, 2003). According to information gathered from the College Board and the Census Bureau, since 1981 the cost of a public four-year college education has increased by 202%, while the Consumer Price Index has gone up only 80% (Boehner & McKeon, 2003). The increase in college costs is also reflected in the percentage of increased student loan debt. Student loan debt is 85% higher among recent college graduates who took on debt while attending public four-year colleges than among graduates from a decade ago. Recent graduates owed an average of $15,100 in 1999-2000, up from $8,200 in 1989-1990. Among graduating seniors in 1999-2000, 68% borrowed money for their undergraduate degree. Since the 1970's, loans have increased from about one-fifth to more than half of all student aid (DeBard, 2002). It is not surprising that both the number of students who are employed and the number of hours they are employed has increased over the years. One in five full-time employed students worked 35 or more hours per week (King & Bannon, 2002). Furr and Elling (2000) found 41.1% of entering freshmen expected to get a job to help pay college expenses, up from 34.7% in 1989. In addition, they also found 6.4% of freshmen expected to be employed full-time, up from 3.2% in 1982. Among students who were employed to pay school expenses and who attended school full-time, 19% were also employed full time, and 27% were employed part-time (National Center for Education Statistics, 2002). The average number of hours employed by on-campus students was 9.6 hours compared to 24.4 hours by off-campus students (Furr and Elling, 2000). Fifty-nine percent of students not employed were campus residents, while 91% of the students employed full time resided off-campus. Employment while in college is not necessarily a hindrance to students. Working a limited number of hours (e.g. ten hours a week) at an on-campus job appears to have positive impacts on student performance. However, working an excessive number of hours (e.g. 35 hours or more per week) does have adverse consequences for students, such as class schedule limitations, fewer number of classes they can take, and limited library access. Students who work full-time are also more likely to drop out of school (J. …