For many Concordia University Wisconsin students, attending a private university requires balancing more than tuition bills, as long work hours, limited free time, and rising stress have become part of daily life.
A graduate student in the physical therapy program, Evelyn De Troye, works multiple jobs alongside her coursework. She works about 15 hours per week at a physical therapy clinic and an additional seven hours on campus while commuting 30 minutes to school.
“Working while being a student has pros and cons,” De Troye said. “I’ve learned a lot about my future career, but it also means cutting out fun things with friends or spending weekends catching up on homework.”
A recent survey, conducted on the Beacon Instagram page for CUW student followers, found that 23 out of 28 respondents work while attending school full-time, reflecting how common employment has become among students navigating the financial demands of a private university education.
While tuition costs are often the most visible expense, students say the real cost of Concordia also includes time, energy and academic pressure. Of 12 students who shared how they pay for school, four said they cover tuition on their own, while six rely on a mix of personal earnings and family support. Only two said someone else pays their tuition entirely.
“It limits availability and makes balancing everything harder,” De Troye said. “It can be stressful when grades are important and there’s only so much time in the day.”
Junior, Sydney Morgen, also balances multiple jobs while paying for school independently. Morgen works as a Resident Assistant, a nanny and an occasional respite caretaker, typically working between 20 and 30 hours per week.
“Having these jobs means I have to be really organized,” Morgen said. “Sometimes I have to cut back on social time, but I try to balance things week to week.”
Both students said working while being a full-time student can be exhausting, but necessary to afford a Concordia education. As tuition costs climb at private universities, students say managing work, academics and personal well-being will continue to be a major part of the college experience.
— Alexandra Princeton is a junior majoring in Mass Communications with a minor in Marketing, set to graduate in December 2026. She currently works at Baird in downtown Milwaukee and serves as Student Editor for The Beacon.