Balancing Books and Babies: The untold lives of student parenthood in college
“Take the Mic”, is a new series where Good Measure Evaluation Funds grantees have space to shine light on topics, events, or values that are interconnected to their organizational mission.
We are kickstarting this series with Jeremiah Program’s Tiffany Lewis, Ph.D.
In the pursuit of a college degree, students face a myriad of challenges — rigorous coursework, sleepless nights, and the perpetual struggle to balance social and academic life. Yet, for about 1 in 5 U.S. students, working toward a diploma comes with an additional layer of complexity: the responsibilities of parenthood.
September is Student Parent Month, a timely moment to reflect on the unique struggles these students experience and to advocate for the support they so desperately need. Student parents — especially single mothers — are a demographic often overlooked in discussions about academic support and face a unique set of challenges that can undermine their educational and economic aspirations.
The Statistics
The statistics are startling: Of those 1 in 5 student parents in college, women make up more than 70%; just over half (51%) are Black, Hispanic, or Native American. Nearly 10% — 1.7 million — of all U.S. undergraduate students are single mothers, with only 8% completing a college degree within six years of enrolling and only 2% of teen mothers earning a college degree before age 30.
In the U.S., single mothers with only a high school diploma are 1.8 times more likely to live in poverty than those who hold an associate degree and three times more likely to live in poverty than those who hold a bachelor’s degree.
The Struggles
Financial strain is one of the most immediate challenges. Higher education costs are 23 times higher than they were 70 years ago, and many student parents find themselves grappling with tuition fees and textbook costs, along with child care expenses. For those receiving financial aid, the support often falls short of covering the full spectrum of costs, leaving parents who are already stretched thin to stretch even further. It’s a precarious balancing act where educational and familial responsibilities are at odds, forcing students to choose between their academic goals and financial stability.
Time management is another hurdle. While traditional students may bemoan their busy schedules, they usually have space to dedicate to studying, attending office hours, and engaging in campus and social life. Student parents, however, must contend with a schedule dictated by their children’s needs. They face the challenges of meeting academic deadlines while tending to their children’s health, education, and emotional well-being. This means even less time for participation in campus activities, networking, socializing, and even basic self-care — especially when parenting solo.
Support systems within academic institutions are frequently inadequate. While some colleges and universities have made strides in offering services like on-campus child care, these resources are not universally available or sufficiently funded. When they do exist, they often come with long waiting lists or outrageous costs. This leaves many student parents scrambling to find affordable, reliable child care or, worse, it forces them to drop out of school to focus on their parenting duties.
The mental and emotional toll is also significant. Student parents frequently experience higher levels of stress and anxiety, which can affect their academic performance and overall well-being. The pressure to excel in both parenting and academics can lead to burnout, and without sufficient support, these individuals may find themselves caught in a cycle of struggle and underachievement.
The Solutions
Education is a vital lever in disrupting generational poverty. However, without equitable access to higher education, student parents are left behind — and the vicious cycle of poverty continues. The journey these parents face is a testament to resilience but also underscores the critical need for systemic change in our educational institutions.
We need a comprehensive approach to address these issues. Institutions should expand and prioritize support systems tailored to student parents. This includes increasing access to affordable child care, providing flexible class schedules, and offering financial aid packages that account for the added costs of parenting. Colleges should also create designated spaces for student parents to connect and support each other, fostering a community that acknowledges and addresses their unique challenges.
Moreover, policy changes at the federal and state levels are crucial. Increased funding for student parent programs and enhanced child care subsidies can alleviate some of the financial burdens. Additionally, legislation aimed at improving work-study opportunities and expanding parental leave can provide much-needed relief.
Ultimately, acknowledging the struggles of student parents and taking actionable steps to support them is not just about fairness; it’s about creating a sense of belonging, recognizing the value of their commitment to their families and their education, and demonstrating that both things are possible. These individuals embody a determination that should be met with structural support, ensuring that their pursuit of knowledge and a better future does not come at the expense of their well-being or their children’s welfare.
In celebrating the triumphs of student parents, we must also commit to addressing the systemic barriers they encounter. By doing so, we not only enhance their educational experiences but also reaffirm our dedication to creating a more equitable and inclusive academic landscape for all students.
Tiffany Lewis, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the Jeremiah Program Austin Campus. Jeremiah Program is a national organization with a mission to disrupt the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children, two generations at a time through its five-pillar programming: career-track college education; child care and early childhood education; safe, affordable housing; empowerment and leadership training; and community support.