Student Involvement and Leadership (SIL) | Photo by Rose Taylor | The Wright State Guardian
Four students discuss their wages while employed by Wright State University, which sometimes requires a tight budget.
Background and comparison
It is no question that student life is getting more expensive.
An article about understanding college affordability by The Urban Institute puts into picture just how simple it was to pay for tuition, fees and room and board six decades ago.
“In the 1960s and 1970s, a student working 10 hours a week for 38 weeks during the college term and 35 hours a week for 12 weeks over the summer—800 hours a year—at the minimum wage could earn enough to pay for tuition and fees as well as most of the room and board charges at the average public four-year college,” The Urban Institute asserts.
Many students find it necessary to find at least part-time work to continue in their educational pursuits. The same portion of work now would only cover 27% of total published fees.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, “In 2018, some 6 percent of full-time undergraduates were employed less than 10 hours per week, 7 percent were employed 10 to 19 hours per week, 17 percent were employed 20 to 34 hours per week, and 10 percent were employed 35 hours or more per week.”
Current open jobs by Wright State University On-Campus Student Employment range from $10.45 per hour -Ohio minimum wage- and $16 per hour.
Is this enough to afford independent life in a dorm or apartment in Dayton? The total average cost of living in Dayton, according to livingcost.org, is $1,721.
Let’s compare the minimum wage and highest wage of current open jobs for students at WSU with consideration toward total hours worked per month. The green shaded cells satisfying the cost of living requirement in Dayton.
| $10.45 per hour | $16 per hour | |
| 10 hrs per week | $418 per month | $640 per month |
| 20 hrs per week | $836 per month | $1,280 per month |
| 30 hrs per week | $1,254 per month | $1,920 per month |
| 40 hrs per week | $1,672 per month | $2,560 per month |
WSU students are only allowed to work 28 hours per week on campus, which means students are not able to live independently and pay average living expenses while just working an on-campus job.
Student Perspectives
Current students often have some kind of assistance, whether it be through living with parents or heavy scholarships. Many are paid student leaders, an uncommon occurrence in most universities.
Senior marketing major Felipe Perez is President of Amigos Latinos, making approximately $12 an hour for twenty hours a week managing the organization. Perez’s expenses are gas, food, and miscellaneous needs and wants. As a commuter and scholarship recipient, Perez avoids living expenses and a large portion of tuition.
“I feel because of this, to me, it feels more like a part time job. I have classes and I have this and I’m able to just transition easily to it,” Perez said. “I feel like it covers it pretty well.”
General manager of WWSU 106.9FM, Greyson Howells, is also a scholarship recipient, covering approximately half of their tuition. However, Howell also works as an WSU admissions ambassador and summer orientation leader. During this semester, Howell works approximately 23-24 hours per week making $13 per hour as general manager and $15 per hour as an admissions ambassador. Their expenses include a portion of tuition, an on-campus apartment with roommates, food, car payment and miscellaneous expenses.
“It can be a little tight sometimes, but I have not had a problem with it in the past. I will definitely say that not a lot of campus jobs pay the best so that’s been one of the struggles, but usually I’m free to pay,” Howell said.
Howell adds that their work at the radio station could be more fairly compensated for the work that Howell does.
Junior Garrison Mccune worked previously in Campus Recreation for approximately 10 hours per week earning $10.45 per hour. Mccune paid for groceries for Mccune’s on-campus apartment, car payment and a small portion of tuition.
“Majority of those [I could pay], but some I couldn’t.” Mccune said. “Some of my [expenses], like my car payment, I got over $100 per month.”
Senior admissions ambassador Hannah Smith is both an ambassador and a senior manager at Graeter’s. Between the two jobs Smith works approximately 25-30 hours per week earning $15 per hour and $12.95 plus tips respectively. Smith lives off-campus with parents, paying for their phone bill, car insurance and car payment.
Due to the assistance, Smith is satisfied with their current pay.
Overall, one can conclude WSU students who receive assistance from a support network or scholarships can afford expenses, but even those assisted may not feel fairly compensated or may struggle with bigger expenses. On the contrary those without familial or financial assistance may not be able to afford independent university life at all.
