John Legend Helps 50 College Students Pay Rent as He Recalls His Own College ‘Hustle’

John Legend is drawing on his own experience struggling to cover housing costs in college to help students facing similar financial pressures today.

The 47-year-old singer has teamed up with Bilt for the company's October Rent Day initiative, which will help pay housing costs for 50 students attending four universities personally selected by Legend.

The schools include three universities—Morehouse College, Central State University, and Wilberforce University—as well as Legend's alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, as per a press release shared with Realtor.com®.

For Legend, the initiative hits particularly close to home because of his own experience paying rent while attending Penn.

The musician lived on campus during his freshman year before moving off campus for his remaining three years of college, while working multiple jobs to cover his expenses.

"I was paying my own rent, had a work-study job, and I had a job at a church," Legend recalled. "I was hustling, and I was doing it so I could pay my rent."

Legend said that experience gave him firsthand insight into the financial pressure that many college students continue to face.

"I know what it feels like to be in that position where you've got to figure out how to do it yourself," he added. "I'm sure a lot of kids in school right now are in that same position."

As part of the partnership, Bilt and Legend are working with Scholarship America on a rent assistance program aimed at students living off campus who are at risk of eviction.

"Education has always been such an important thing for me," Legend said. "I know what it meant for me to be able to go to college and get a great education; it set me up for life."

Bilt members will also be able to contribute their points to Scholarship America beginning on Rent Day, with 100% of donated Bilt Points going to the organization.

"John's music has been the soundtrack to the pivotal moments of so many people’s lives: falling in love, moving in together and exploring a neighborhood, getting married, and coming home,” said Ankur Jain, founder and CEO of Bilt.

“It feels right to build this Rent Day around him and around 'Muse.' And it feels even more right that in the same month members can win rent and pre-order the album, they can also turn their Bilt Points into scholarships for students who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford college," Jain added.

The charitable effort comes as Legend prepares to enter a new chapter in his music career with the release of his upcoming album, "Muse."

The record, which was produced in full and co-written by Pharrell Williams, is scheduled to arrive Oct. 23. Legend released "Fireflies" on Sept. 25, following the album's lead single, "Daylight."

His collaboration with Bilt will also give members several opportunities tied to the album and its release.

Members can preorder a limited-edition version of "Muse" featuring an exclusive cover, while others will have the chance to attend a private Legend performance in San Francisco on Oct. 21.

The special-edition vinyl is available for preorder while supplies last and is expected to ship alongside the album's wider release.

Legend will also take part in Bilt's Rent Free game, through which members can win a month of free rent.

According to Bilt, the amount of rent awarded will be tied to Legend's performance answering questions during the game.

The partnership ultimately brings together Legend's forthcoming musical project with a cause that reflects his own path through college—when making rent meant balancing his studies with multiple jobs.

Now, more than two decades into his music career, he's using that experience to help make the same burden a little lighter for dozens of students.