{"id":11007,"date":"2025-12-04T15:49:37","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T23:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scholarshipowl.com\/blog\/?p=11007"},"modified":"2026-03-27T15:05:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T22:05:19","slug":"gen-z-under-pressure-scholarshipowls-2025-survey-reveals-the-financial-hardship-reality-students-face","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scholarshipowl.com\/blog\/uncategorized\/gen-z-under-pressure-scholarshipowls-2025-survey-reveals-the-financial-hardship-reality-students-face\/","title":{"rendered":"Gen Z Under Pressure: ScholarshipOwl’s 2025 Survey Reveals the Financial Hardship Reality Students Face"},"content":{"rendered":"

The narrative of the American student often centers on academic competition, but for Gen Z, the central tension is increasingly about financial hardship. As inflation drives up costs for everything from tuition to groceries, how are students and their families truly coping?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Stressed<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In November 2025, ScholarshipOwl<\/a> surveyed 14,646 high school and college students on our platform to gain a clear, unvarnished perspective on the financial hardship<\/a> facing the next generation of college attendees. The results reveal a population navigating persistent economic headwinds, but also one deploying strategic and resourceful measures to secure their education. This data paints a vivid picture of the current economic reality and underscores the critical importance of financial aid and scholarships<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n

Who Participated in the Survey?<\/b><\/h2>\n

In November 2025, ScholarshipOwl surveyed 14,646 high school and college students on the ScholarshipOwl scholarship platform to learn more about financial hardship that Gen Z students and their families are facing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Among the respondents, 62% were female, 34% were male, and 1% identified themselves as a different gender identity or preferred not to respond to the question. Over half (51%) were Caucasian, 18% were Black, 18% were Hispanic\/Latino, 6% were Asian\/Pacific Islander, 2% were American Indian\/Native American and 6% selected \u201cother\u201d or preferred not to respond to the question.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nearly two-thirds (62%) of the respondents were high school students, with the overwhelming majority high school seniors; more than one-quarter (28%) were college undergraduate students, primarily college freshmen and college sophomores; 5% were graduate students and 3% identified themselves as adult\/non-traditional students.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In thinking about how things are going financially for yourself and your family, which of the following statements best describes your financial situation?<\/h2>\n

\"Financial<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n