Sexing the Student Body: A Systematic Review of College Student Sex Work in the U.S.

College student sex workers navigate a dual terrain at the intersection of higher education and a stigmatized labor market, yet existing research is fragmented across disciplines. This review aggregates qualitative evidence on the experiences and contexts of college students engaged in sex work in the United States. Six academic databases were searched in May 2026, supplemented by Google Scholar to identify studies not indexed in traditional databases. Qualitative studies were included if they examined the lived experiences and surrounding contexts of adult college students enrolled at U.S. institutions and engaged in sex work. Studies conducted internationally, studies focused on sex trafficking, quantitative studies, non-empirical studies, and non-English studies were excluded. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full texts. Data were synthesized using meta-aggregation. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, producing 44 findings, 10 categories, and four synthesized findings: Practical Motivations for Student Sex Work; Managing Stigma Through Hierarchical Identity Work; Multidimensional Violence and Hypermarginalization; and Navigating Structurally Hostile Campus Environments. Findings suggest student sex workers are motivated by practical advantages but face significant stigma, marginalization, and structural hostility, and that clearer institutional policies are needed.