Numerous studies around the world have made hypotheses about the academic performance of students who stay on campus and those who commute to campus 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 campus activities “are better off financially, educationally, and in other ways. Thus, largely due to their greater involvement in various educational and developmental activities, they achieve significantly more, particularly in non-academic personal development” (p2). Understanding group differences between commuters and non-commuters is critical, as the nationwide commuter population continues to increase and universities are forced to compete for the patronage of these commuter students: (Newbold, Metha, & Forbus, 2011, p. 142 )Research indicates that “70 to 80% 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 resident students at Southwestern State University to determine students' attitudes, opinions, and reasons for attending a college, the level of involvement and participation in various activities, social life and relationship levels, time management, stress and how to cope with the environment. They arrived at the result that 51% of commuter students said they worked more than 21 hours per week, while only 37% of residential students said the same. Commuters were significantly less active in on-campus activities...... half of paper...... Clearinghouse on Higher Education.Forbus, P., Newbold, J.J., & Mehta, S.S. (2011). A study of nontraditional and traditional students in terms of time management behaviors, stressors, and coping strategies. Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 15 (special issue), 109 -125.Pascarella, E. T. (1991). Using student self-reported earnings to estimate college impact: A cautionary tale. Journal of College Student Development, 42(5), 455.Pascarella, E.T., & Terenzini, P.T. (2005). How college affects students: A third decade of research. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Peterson, G.T. (1975). The learning center: A sphere for nontraditional approaches to education. Hamden, CT: The Shoe String Press. Tinto, V. (1993). Dropping out of college: Rethinking the causes and treatments of student dropout. (2nd ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.