Education and Career Advancement
Education is a cornerstone of economic security, and we are committed to breaking down barriers to advancement. We research student parents, career training opportunities through apprenticeships and workforce development, and other policies that reduce student debt and make college more accessible for women, particularly women of color.

Single Mothers in College: Growing Enrollment, Financial Challenges, and the Benefits of Attainment
DOWNLOAD REPORT Single student mothers are growing in both absolute numbers and as a share of the college population. They often face significant financial and time-related obstacles that make it difficult for them to persist to graduation. Investing in programs and supports that [...]
IWPR’s Liz Noll on How Joining Together to Support Other Student Parents Helped Her in School
Elizabeth Noll, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist at IWPR, received both her B.A. and M.A. degrees in Sociology from Temple University and a Ph.D. in Social Welfare from the University of Pennsylvania. Before pursuing her BA, Dr. Noll attained her associate’s degree in Computer Science at [...]
Building Family-Friendly Campuses: Strategies to Promote College Success Among Student Parents
For parents, receiving a college degree is one of the best investments they can make to improve the financial security, social mobility, and overall well-being of their family.