Research

The majority of college students in the U.S. who are studying toward a coveted college degree are also working. Additionally, 48 percent of high school students report
working for pay outside of their home.

We already know the vast majority of college students – nearly 60 percent – are working learners. With the already-high cost of college tuition, books, and housing increasing, this is not surprising.

Walk onto any college campus in the United States and chances are that nearly every college student is either working or knows someone who is working to help pay their way through school. With the cost of college tuition, books, housing, and other living expenses rising faster than the cost of inflation, working and learning, or attending school and working at the same time, has become increasingly common.

ACT found that while access to and use of technology is essential to education success, there is still a digital divide between those who do and do not have access to technology.

Access to technology is essential to educational success as well as workforce and community deƀelopment. However, geographical, income-based, and racial/ethnic disparities in technology access persist.

It is widely known that the majority of college students – almost 60 percent – are working learners. College students work while learning for two primary reasons: supporting their education and living expenses as well as to gain experience in the workforce. The amount of time worked while attending college varies from part-time work for full-time students and full-time work for part-time students.

Introduction
Enrolled college students seek out work experiences for two primary reasons. For many, the income generated from working while in school is needed to support their education. The money they earn from working can go towards tuition and fees, room and board, travel, books, and other expenses.[3] Such income reduces the financial burden from families and lessens the reliance on student loans to help pay for college. In addition, some working students have families that rely on them for economic support. The other primary reason to work while in college is to gain experience in the workforce.[2] Such experiences help students determine if a particular career path fits their goals and provides opportunities to develop and foster workplace skills and abilities that will be seen as valuable by future employers. Students engaged in simultaneous employment and enrollment in school are referred to as working learners. This can be a full-time student who works part time, a part-time student who works full time, or a full-time student who also works full time.

Access to technology is essential to educational success as well as workforce and community development. However, geographical, income-based, and racial/ethnic disparities in
technology access persist.

This “digital divide”—the gap between people who have sufficient knowledge of and access to technology and those who do not—can perpetuate and even worsen socioeconomic and other disparities for already underserved groups.

This brief takes a closer look at one particular group: students who have access to only one device at home, a group representing 14% of all survey respondents.

Taking a deeper dive into the data on students with access to only one device is important because these students may face challenges not faced by students with access to two or more devices.

Access to technology is essential to educational success as well as workforce and community development. However, geographical, income-based, and racial/ethnic disparities in
technology access persist.

This “digital divide”—the gap between people who have sufficient knowledge of and access to technology and those who do not—can perpetuate and even worsen socioeconomic and other disparities for already underserved groups.

The digital divide has also been referred to as the “homework gap,” due to the challenges that students in technology-deficient circumstances face when trying to do their homework. This gap continues to widen as teachers incorporate internet-based learning into their daily curricula.