WORKING YOUR WAY THROUGH COLLEGE HAS GOTTEN A LOT HARDER:

We might have reached a natural limit for how many students can realistically find work while in school, at least until the economy rebounds. The two graphs below are adapted from Department of Education data* on student employment covering selected years from 1970 through 2010. They illustrate a point that’s both obvious and easy to overlook: In a bad job market, it’s a lot tougher for an undergraduate land employment.

And, of course, tuition keeps climbing at a rate that vastly exceeds wage growth. This phenomenon calls for more attention.