New California Study Helps Better Understand and Support Student-Parents

A study released by Wheelhouse at UC Davis identified the population of student-parents applying for financial aid, which is over 200,000. The study did not include student parents who did not apply for financial assistance.

Among the student population who parent while in college, the researchers also determined the challenges these parents face.

Student Parents Choose College Over University

About 72 percent of student-parents seeking financial aid intended to enroll in a community college instead of a private university. Student moms, in particular, are more partial to colleges.

Financial Insufficiency Hinders Completion of their Degree

Amid the pandemic, student parents are welcoming digital learning or remote work as a means to complete their academic requirements faster. But, they also have full-time jobs yet still struggle with rent, bills, and medical expenses. Because of more significant financial needs, these student-parents are also less likely to enroll full-time.

They may accumulate fewer credits per term. Despite this, student-parents have slightly higher grades in the first year than non-parents, SF Chronicle reported. However, student parents greatly need support as they are likely to leave college without a degree within five years than those without children.

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Obstacles to Earning a Degree while Parenting

One student-parent noted the challenges of studying while raising kids. The student-parent cited "lack of childcare" as a significant factor that impacts productivity. Mainly, it is the lack of quality yet affordable childcare options that these parents struggle with. They struggle to concentrate on their studies and feel that a full course load is impossible.

Despite these challenges, many student-parents in California continue to seek college credentials and their children's prosperity. Given that two generations can benefit from supporting these busy parents, college leaders and policymakers are encouraged to better support this student population.

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Many Student Parents are Also Single Parents

It is no coincidence that a more significant portion of the student parent population are women, as more than half of this population are single parents. Further, most single mothers in college are of color, with only 1 in 7 white single mothers in college. These parents are facing insurmountable odds to finish their degrees, Study International noted.

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How to Support Student Parents

Generation Hope, a nonprofit organization for student parents, recommends ways to best support this student population, Inside Highered reported. Given the many barriers to completing a degree-finances, lack of time, lack of childcare, lower incomes-student parents can be helped in various ways like:

• Increasing emergency aid for student parents and making it easier to access such assistance
• Enhance counseling services
• Offer ways to support the children of students, such as activity supplies
• Over-communicate expectations
• Find ways to make student parents feel included and supported, such as welcome emails and creating the course syllabus
• Being as flexible as possible with time