The rule of thumb given above (3 hours outside of class for every hour in class) is, I believe, federally mandated, so the average student at that school should have to work that much. Let’s say you committed to a 15 credit load your first semester.
I’ve done this math before:
There are 168 hours in a week. Say you go to class for the normal 15 hours a week:
168 - 15 = 153.
Study another 45 hours a week.
153 - 45 = 108
Sleep 8 hours per night.
108 - 56 = 52
So that’s 52 hours of free time before working, if you study the normal 45 hours a week and sleep a healthy amount. Let’s say it takes you an hour a day to get ready in the morning and at night combined:
52 - 7 = 45
You have exactly as much free time each week as you do time required to study!
Assuming you like to eat, let’s say you take half an hour each for breakfast and lunch and an hour for dinner:
45 - 14 = 31
If you split that time totally evenly, it leaves you just about 4 1/2 hours per day of free time! That’s plenty of time to hit the gym in the morning and watch a movie in the evening every day.