Nailah Williams discovered her path to a college degree in the most unlikely place: behind the wheel of her Uber.

After years of jobs that forced her to choose between earning a paycheck and pursuing an education, she joined a program where Uber would cover her tuition for online classes at Arizona State University (ASU), where I teach. Created in 2018, the program covers tuition at ASU for drivers anywhere in the U.S. (or their beneficiary such as a child, spouse, or parent) who had completed at least 3,000 rides and met the rating requirements. 

With the newfound flexibility to work and study when she wanted, Nailah was able to complete a degree in urban planning while supporting herself and her family.

Nailah isn’t alone. Across America, changes to how we work and learn are reshaping who is able to go to college. 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 45% of full-time college students have a job, and around one in four of these are employed full-time. Historically, balancing work and school has taken a heavy toll. Past research found that the more students worked—especially beyond 15–20 hours a week—the more their grades, time spent studying, and graduation rates suffered.

What........

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