Community college students have basic misunderstandings about financial aid and can't focus enough on academics because they must work, according to a report issued Tuesday by the California Student Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG).
The report was discussed during a news conference Tuesday at Fresno City College.
Students surveyed as part of the report said they work about 23 hours a week to cover college costs -- reducing the time available for studying and taking classes.
In addition, only 10% of those surveyed could correctly answer three basic questions about financial aid. The report recommends that financial aid offices help students fill out forms and clear up those misconceptions.
Officials said the misconceptions about financial aid discourage students from applying for that help, and likely influence low graduation rates. Only 24% of students who planned to earn an associate's degree or transfer to a four-year school do so within six years.
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