Many studies around the world have made assumptions about the academic performance of students who stay on campus and those who travel there every day. Some studies suggest that students who live on campus tend to have an advantage over those who do not (Peterson, 1975). In this literature review, we will look at the different perspectives of people who have researched the topic. Peterson (1975) suggested that students involved in on-campus activities “are better off financially, educationally, and in other ways, to begin with.” Then, largely as a result of their greater involvement in various educational and developmental activities, they make significantly greater progress, particularly in non-academic personal development” (p2). Understanding group differences between commuters and non-commuters is critical, as the commuter population nationwide continues to increase and universities are forced to compete for the patronage of these commuter students: (Newbold, Metha and Forbus, 2011, p. 142) Research indicates that “70 to 80 percent of students work while enrolled” (ACE Center for Policy Analysis, 2006; p.1). Newbold, Mehta, and Forbus (2011) examined demographic differences between 108 commuter students and 345 residential students at Southwestern State University to determine students' attitudes, opinions, and reasons why attend university, their level of involvement and participation in various activities, their social relationships. life and relationships, time management, stress and how they adapt to the environment. They found that 51% of commuter students reported working more than 21 hours per week, while only 37% of residential students reported the same. Commuters were significantly less active in on-campus activities... middle of article...... Higher Education Information Center. Forbus, P., Newbold, JJ, & Mehta, SS (2011). A study of nontraditional and traditional students in terms of their time management behaviors, stressors, and coping strategies. Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 15 (special issue), 109 -125.Pascarella, ET (1991). Using student self-reported earnings to estimate the impact of college: A caveat. Journal of College Student Development, 42 (5), 455. Pascarella, ET and Terenzini, PT (2005). How college affects students: A third decade of research. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Peterson, G. T. (1975). The learning center: a space for non-traditional educational approaches. Hamden, CT: The Shoe String Press. Tinto, V. (1993). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures for student attrition. (2nd ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.