Here's a list of characters who are presumably paying their own tuition: Lily.
Quinn is probably covered by a restaurant scholarship, and most of the other characters are either covered by parents, or by student loans - like Maya thought she was - but without their parents hijacking the loan from under them (Patrick would probably be guilty of fraud, but also impossible to prosecute for it since the paperwork would be in order - except it seems like whatever arrangement he's made isn't actually a genuine student loan, so who knows what's going on there?).
Typical tuition for a state resident attending a public four year college is $11k a year. Rent and books start from at least another $7k, but $10k seems more typical. B&R seems to be a private college, which doubles or triples the tuition. So that's $30-40k a year before spending a cent on food, clothing or any sort of luxuries. Median income for a high school graduate in the US, with experience in their chosen career, is $42k a year.
So you're suggesting that Maya, fresh out of High School, with little to no work experience, and wanting to spend at least half her time on schoolwork, should find a job that pays her as though she had 20 years experience and were working full time?
Quinn's restaurant might have done it, or joining the Pink Rose, but for someone not willing to sell their body, getting a job to put yourself through college doesn't seem realistic - a quick check turns up estimates that the number of hours someone would have to work to pay their way through college have quadrupled over the last thirty years. The idea of working a part time job and covering your education is a 20th century one.
There are a few times you can opt to let your lover take charge, and Jade is pretty proactive, but, yeah, it's not a major part of the game.
