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Postsecondary Education

College Student Employment

Last Updated: May 2022
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The percentage of full-time undergraduate students who were employed was lower in 2020 (40 percent) than in 2015 (43 percent). Similarly, the percentage of part-time undergraduates who were employed was lower in 2020 (74 percent) than in 2015 (78 percent).
Many undergraduate students ages 16 to 64 are employed at the same time they are enrolled in school. In 2020, the percentage of undergraduate students who were employed was higher among part-time students (74 percent) than among full-time students (40 percent).1 Being employed can help a student pay for classes and other living expenses; it can also be associated, either positively or negatively, with a student’s academic performance.2, 3 Thus, it is important to examine employment patterns among undergraduate students and how these patterns vary over time and by student characteristics.

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All available findings Age group Level of institution Other individual characteristic Race/ethnicity Sex or gender Time series
Figure 1. Percentage of undergraduate students who were employed, by attendance status and hours worked per week: 2010, 2015, and 2020
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A confidence interval is a range of values that describes the uncertainty surrounding an estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, confidence intervals are calculated as the estimate +/- the margin of error, based on a 95 percent level of confidence. This means that there is 95 percent certainty that the range includes the true or actual value of the statistic.
Confidence Interval
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! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

NOTE: To estimate the margin of error, the standard error is scaled based on the desired level of confidence in the estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, margins of error are produced based on a 95 percent level of confidence. Margin of error is calculated as 1.96*standard error. Students were classified as full-time if they were taking at least 12 hours of classes during an average school week and as part-time if they were taking fewer hours. Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, which excludes persons in the military and persons living in institutions (e.g., prisons or nursing facilities). Detail may not sum to totals because the percentages of hours worked per week exclude those who were employed but not at work during the survey week. Includes undergraduate students ages 16 through 64. Although rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded data.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October, 2010, 2015, and 2020. See Digest of Education Statistics 2021, table 503.40.

There was no measurable difference between 2020 and 2010 in the percentages of undergraduate students—either full-time or part-time—who were employed. However, the percentage of full-time undergraduate students who were employed was lower in 2020 (40 percent) than in 2015 (43 percent). Similarly, the percentage of part-time undergraduates who were employed was lower in 2020 (74 percent) than in 2015 (78 percent). [Time series ]
In 2020, the number of hours worked per week differed between full-time and part-time undergraduates. Overall, the percentages of undergraduates who worked at least 20 hours per week were higher for part-time students than for full-time students. Specifically, 40 percent of part-time students worked 35 or more hours, compared with 10 percent of full-time students. Additionally, 26 percent of part-time students worked 20 to 34 hours per week, compared with 15 percent of full-time students. In contrast, the percentages of undergraduates who worked less than 20 hours per week were higher for full-time students than for part-time students. Three percent of full-time undergraduates were employed less than 10 hours per week, and 9 percent were employed 10 to 19 hours per week. In comparison, 1 percent4 of part-time students were employed less than 10 hours per week and 6 percent were employed 10 to 19 hours per week. [Other individual characteristic]
Figure 2. Percentage of undergraduate students who were employed, by race/ethnicity and attendance status: 2020
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Users can select any combination of available years and categories in any figure format (i.e., bar or table). The initial selection of years and categories may not be optimal in different views.
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A confidence interval is a range of values that describes the uncertainty surrounding an estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, confidence intervals are calculated as the estimate +/- the margin of error, based on a 95 percent level of confidence. This means that there is 95 percent certainty that the range includes the true or actual value of the statistic.
Confidence Interval
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Users can select years at irregular intervals. However, as a result, the distance between the data points will not be proportional to the number of years between them.
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† Not applicable.

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable estimate or the coefficient of variation (CV) is 50 percent or greater.

NOTE: To estimate the margin of error, the standard error is scaled based on the desired level of confidence in the estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, margins of error are produced based on a 95 percent level of confidence. Margin of error is calculated as 1.96*standard error. Students were classified as full-time if they were taking at least 12 hours of classes during an average school week and as part-time if they were taking fewer hours. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, which excludes persons in the military and persons living in institutions (e.g., prisons or nursing facilities). Includes students ages 16 through 64.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October, 2020. See Digest of Education Statistics 2021, table 503.40.

Among undergraduates enrolled full time in 2020, a higher percentage of females (43 percent) than of males (35 percent) were employed. For part-time undergraduates, there was no measurable difference between the percentages of male and female students who were employed (75 and 73 percent). [Sex or gender]
In 2020, the percentage of full-time undergraduates who were employed was higher for Hispanic (43 percent) and White (42 percent) students than for Black (33 percent) and Asian (28 percent) students. Additionally, the percentage of full-time undergraduates who were employed was lower for American Indian/Alaska Native students (21 percent)5 than for students of Two or more races (40 percent), White students (42 percent), and Hispanic students (43 percent). [Race/ethnicity ]
The percentage of part-time undergraduates who were employed was higher for White (78 percent) and Hispanic (74 percent) students than for Asian (56 percent) students. The percentage of part-time undergraduates who were employed did not differ measurably between Asian and Black students. [Race/ethnicity ]
In 2020, the percentage of full-time undergraduates who were employed was higher at 2-year institutions (47 percent) than at 4-year institutions (38 percent). In contrast, the percentage of part-time undergraduates who were employed was higher at 4-year institutions (78 percent) than at 2-year institutions (68 percent). [Level of institution ]
Figure 3. Percentage of undergraduate students who were employed, by age group and attendance status: 2020
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Users can select any combination of available years and categories in any figure format (i.e., bar or table). The initial selection of years and categories may not be optimal in different views.
Bar | Table
A confidence interval is a range of values that describes the uncertainty surrounding an estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, confidence intervals are calculated as the estimate +/- the margin of error, based on a 95 percent level of confidence. This means that there is 95 percent certainty that the range includes the true or actual value of the statistic.
Confidence Interval
Bar | Table
Users can select years at irregular intervals. However, as a result, the distance between the data points will not be proportional to the number of years between them.
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NOTE: To estimate the margin of error, the standard error is scaled based on the desired level of confidence in the estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, margins of error are produced based on a 95 percent level of confidence. Margin of error is calculated as 1.96*standard error. Students were classified as full-time if they were taking at least 12 hours of classes during an average school week and as part-time if they were taking fewer hours. Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, which excludes persons in the military and persons living in institutions (e.g., prisons or nursing facilities). Although rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded data.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October, 2020. See Digest of Education Statistics 2021, table 503.40.

Comparing full-time and part-time undergraduates, different patterns emerge in the percentage enrolled by age group for the working age population (i.e., ages 16 to 64). In 2020, the percentage of full-time undergraduates who were employed was lower for those ages 16 to 24 (37 percent) than for those in other age groups. There was no measurable difference in employment among full-time undergraduates in other age groups (ranging from 55 percent for those ages 30 to 39 to 61 percent for those ages 50 to 64). Among undergraduates enrolled part time, the percentage who were employed was lowest for those ages 50 to 64 (52 percent). Additionally, the percentage of part-time undergraduates who were employed was lower for those ages 16 to 24 (71 percent) than for those ages 30 to 39 (80 percent). [Age group]
Figure 4. Percentage of undergraduate students who were employed, by attendance status and selected student characteristics: 2020
Hover, click, and tap to see more for all figures on this page.
Users can select any combination of available years and categories in any figure format (i.e., bar or table). The initial selection of years and categories may not be optimal in different views.
Bar | Table
A confidence interval is a range of values that describes the uncertainty surrounding an estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, confidence intervals are calculated as the estimate +/- the margin of error, based on a 95 percent level of confidence. This means that there is 95 percent certainty that the range includes the true or actual value of the statistic.
Confidence Interval
Bar | Table
Users can select years at irregular intervals. However, as a result, the distance between the data points will not be proportional to the number of years between them.
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1 Householders are persons in whose name the housing unit is owned or rented. Never-married students living away from home in college dormitories are not considered householders.

2 Own children are never-married sons and daughters of the student who are under 18, including stepchildren and adopted children.

3 Students with no spouse present are all students who did not live with a spouse, including students who are single, divorced, separated, or widowed.

NOTE: To estimate the margin of error, the standard error is scaled based on the desired level of confidence in the estimate. Throughout the Condition of Education, margins of error are produced based on a 95 percent level of confidence. Margin of error is calculated as 1.96*standard error. Students were classified as full-time if they were taking at least 12 hours of classes during an average school week and as part-time if they were taking fewer hours. Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, which excludes persons in the military and persons living in institutions (e.g., prisons or nursing facilities). Includes undergraduate students ages 16 through 64. Although rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded data.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October, 2020. See Digest of Education Statistics 2021, table 503.40.

The percentage of undergraduates who were employed varied by the characteristics of the households in which they lived. For example, among full-time undergraduates in 2020, a higher percentage of householders than of nonhouseholders were employed (54 vs. 36 percent).6 The percentage of full-time undergraduates who were employed was higher for those who lived with one or more of their own children (49 percent) than for those who did not live with any of their own children (39 percent).7 Also, the percentage of full-time undergraduates who were employed was higher for those who lived with a spouse (60 percent) than for those who did not live with a spouse (38 percent).8 Among undergraduates enrolled part time, the percentages who were employed did not measurably differ either by householder status, the presence of own children, or the presence of a spouse. However, the percentage of part-time undergraduates employed was greater than the percentage of full-time undergraduates employed for all subgroups by household characteristics. For example, the percentage of undergraduates who were employed was higher for part-time undergraduates living with one or more of their own children (73 percent) than for full-time undergraduates living with one or more of their own children (49 percent). [Other individual characteristic]

1 Students ages 16 to 64 were classified as employed if they worked during any part of the survey week as paid employees. Those who were employed but not at work during the survey week were also included.

2 Dundes, L., and Marx, J. (2006). Balancing Work and Academics in College: Why Do Students Working 10 to 19 Hours per Week Excel? Journal of College Student Retention, 8(1): 107–120. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2190/7UCU-8F9M-94QG-5WWQ?journalCode=csra.

3 Pike, G.R., Kuh, G.D., and Massa-McKinley, R.C. (2008). First-Year Students’ Employment, Engagement, and Academic Achievement: Untangling the Relationship Between Work and Grades. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 45(4): 560–582. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://naspa.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2202/1949-6605.2011#.W4an6c5KhhF.

4 Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

5 Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

6 Householders are persons in whose name the housing unit is owned or rented. Never-married students living away from home in college dormitories are not considered householders.

7 Own children are never-married sons and daughters of the student who are under 18, including stepchildren and adopted children.

8 Includes students who are single, divorced, separated, or widowed.

Supplemental Information

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Table 503.40 (Digest 2021): Percentage of 16- to 64-year-old undergraduate students who were employed, by attendance status, hours worked per week, and selected characteristics: 2010, 2015, and 2020
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College Employment status Full-time enrollment Household Part-time enrollment Postsecondary institutions (basic classification by level) Racial/ethnic group Undergraduate students
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College Student Employment – November 2015
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Suggested Citation

National Center for Education Statistics. (2022). College Student Employment. Condition of Education. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved [date], from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/ssa.
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