The Effects of Employment on Student Academic Success

Effects on Grades

• According to the article "Effects of Employment on Student Academic Success," published by Brigham Young University, college students who work from 15 to 20 hours a week have higher GPAs than those who do not work and those who work more than 20 hours a week. Students who work at the college are more likely to have higher GPAs than those who work off campus.

  The article "Out-of School Influences and Academic Success--Background, Parental Influence, Family Economic Status, Preparing for School, Physical and Mental Health," published by StateUniversity.com, says the same is true for high school students: working more than 20 hours a week has a negative effect on their grades.

Effects on Graduation

• The article "Learning and Earning: Working in College," published by the College at Brockport, State University of New York, explains that students who work full-time are more likely to drop out of college than those who work part-time and those who do not work. According to students' reports, working full-time limits their class choices, the number of classes they take and their access to the library. The article also says college students have become more likely to work full-time: about 800,000 students worked full-time in 2000, compared with 366,000 in 1985.

  According to the article "Effects of Employment on Student Academic Success," published by Brigham Young University, college students who work full-time are 10 percent less likely to graduate than those who work part-time and those who are not employed while in college.

Effects on Potential Earnings

• The article "Effects of Employment on Students' Academic Success," published by Brigham Young University explains that students who work in jobs related to their academic fields improve their marketability and have better chances for higher future earnings. The article also says that employment influences future earnings indirectly: when students work in college, they are more likely to graduate and enroll in graduate school. This also increases their chance for higher future earnings.

  According to the article "Internships Will Pay Off," published by Career Overview, as of 2010, many experienced professionals are being laid off. College graduates who have no work experience in their fields are at a great disadvantage when trying to compete with those who do for jobs.

  Internships may help college students gain the experience they need. Internships are not paid positions, but they help students gain real-life experience.