Most students rely on multiple sources beyond work and savings to cover the cost of their education. Although many work while enrolled, these earnings alone are rarely enough to cover the full cost of attendance. While working one’s way through college may have been practical in the past, it has not been a realistic option for decades. This brief uses findings from the Fall 2024 Student Financial Wellness Survey and data on cost of attendance and minimum wage to explore how undergraduate students pay for college and the feasibility of self-financing postsecondary education.
