A large population of undergraduate students work while enrolled in college, and nearly four in ten identify as workers first and students second. These students often face heightened challenges, including financial insecurity, long work hours, and barriers to academic engagement. The work identity of students, whether they see themselves primarily as workers or students first, shapes their experience and the support they need to succeed. This brief draws on insights from the Fall 2023 implementation of Trellis Strategies’ Student Financial Wellness Survey to explore the unique circumstances and needs of working students.
