Using the Psychology of Working Theory as a guide, the goal of this study was to examine the longitudinal relations of economic deprivation to work volition and work volition to academic satisfaction among college students. We sampled 1508 students and surveyed them at three time points over a 6-month period. We found that economic deprivation partially predicted work volition over time, and work volition consistently predicted academic satisfaction over time. These results have theoretical implications as well as relevance to personnel working with economically marginalized college students.