The price tag on a college education is higher than ever--but not having a degree is even more costly, according to recent studies. However, for lower-income students, getting to a college degree isn't so simple. Student financial need after grant aid (commonly referred to as "unmet need") averages $6,000 for students, even at lower-cost community colleges. For low-income students--and many moderate-income students, too--this can mean that paying for higher education may require holding a job while studying or taking out loans to meet college costs. Yet, employers' scheduling practices can wreak havoc on working students' ability to succeed in school. Particularly in lower-wage jobs, unpredictable and unstable schedules are becoming the norm. This means that many workers receive their schedules at the last minute--days or hours before they are required to work; few have input into their schedules; the timing of their shifts fluctuates from week-to-week; and the number of hours they receive (along with their paychecks) rises and falls unpredictably. For students, this has a host of implications, ranging from limitations on course choices, including those required for completion of their degrees; challenges in regularly attending classes; inability to complete out-of-class work; difficulty budgeting to cover tuition and expenses; and ultimately, greater obstacles to completing post-secondary programs. Policymakers are taking note of the challenges these job scheduling practices are presenting for students. A new bill introduced in Congress, the "Schedules That Work Act," would help all workers, while offering special protections to working students and others with special needs. This brief report provides statistics on the number of students balancing school, work, and family and the types of work schedule challenges they face. It also explains how the new legislation could help working students synchronize their work and school schedules.