Being Low-Income at USC

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

This year is my junior year. For some, it is their last, their second, or their very first. 

Some are wealthy, some are living decently, and some are barely surviving when it comes to money.

While I have other identities, being low-income in college is what I will talk about in this post. In this post, I hope to share my story for those who are going through something similar and to share resources that I have used to help me get through financial issues.

My freshman year, I remember walking around unsure if I had enough meal swipes. When it came to certain expenses, I was unsure how I would pay for them. Going out with friends was a struggle since most of the time going out meant eating at a restaurant, going to an amusement park, etc.

What hurt sometimes was hearing my friends get cool items: a car, a nice meal, a trip to Europe. I could never do that. Not with a paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle.

Since money was and is tight, I knew that I had to get a job. I know quite a bit of people who have Work-Study and have jobs, so it was nice to relate to them when I couldn’t with others. Work-Study is a federal program that allows their students to work part-time, while still being a full-time student. And while working did add another stress to being a student, having money handy once in a while does lift up some of that stress.

Fortunately for myself, the school played a huge part in helping me with finances. Work-Study and scholarships help so much, and while I do believe that tuition hikes are unjust, I do believe that there are people out there who want to help. People want you to succeed and not have money be a burden on you. So, apply to scholarships, appeal for a lower cost to pay, do what you can to reach your goal. 

In 2016, USC enrolled more than 4,000 low-income undergraduate students. And while I think that the campus is not as diverse as it should be, it’s gradually getting there. And fortunately enough, there are students who will accept you and who are also willing to listen and to learn about your background. 

And in terms of resources, I used some resources, such as talking to my college advisors and staff at the Student Union and using MoneyGeek and other websites. These resources have helped me on this journey on learning how to budget my money, how to pay for tuition, books, etc. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. People on campus are there to help you. 

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