The number of hours many community college students need to work to pay for their studies can be a major obstacle to earning a degree within four years, a recent study found.

“If I didn't have to work, I would take 19 units a semester,” said third-year College of the Desert student Mayra Ocelotl.

When season picks up in the Coachella Valley, the number of hours she says she works as a hostess at Las Casuelas Nuevas, in Rancho Mirage, soars to 30 or more per week.

As a result, the 20-year-old has no time to take classes full-time.

The majority of community college students who, like Ocelotl, plan to complete an associate degree or transfer to a four-year university don't reach those goals within six years, studies show.

A recent survey of California community college students found that long work hours and lack of information about financial aid were significant factors preventing nearly 75 percent of the students from reaching their education goals.

Most have jobs

The number of students who did transfer or receive an associate degree within six years at College of the Desert is just over 31 percent, according to the Accountability Report of Community Colleges data.

The majority of COD students also work 21 hours or more every week, according to a survey.

In addition many students, like Michael Trevino of Indio, don't qualify for financial aid.

Trevino, a music major, said he works about 20 to 24 hours a week despite a class schedule requiring more than 40 hours of practice time.

Although he is paying for his education, Trevino said he makes ends meet by living with his parents whose income is too high to qualify for financial aid.

It's a problem counselor Jose Simo hears regularly.

“My personal opinion is that we do not provide enough financial aid to help students stay focused on their educational goals,” particularly those on the “fringe” of qualifying, he said in an e-mail.

Lack of aid savvy

Another problem is that students who could qualify for financial assistance lack basic knowledge about it — and the more students understand financial aid, the more likely they are to have applied for it, the CALPIRG study found.

College of the Desert has increased outreach efforts to teach students at COD and in high school about financial aid opportunities, said John Loera, dean of Enrollment Services.

This has led to a 25 percent increase in applications, he said.

Even with these challenges, it's still possible for students to succeed by focusing on priorities and avoiding time wasters such as TV and MySpace, said Trevino, who doesn't think his work hours will prevent him from eventually getting a master's degree.

“I think I can balance it pretty well,” he said.