Student Parent Success Initiative
Earning a postsecondary credential is more important than ever for families to achieve economic security and mobility. For the roughly four million college students who are parents of children under 18—70 percent of whom are mothers—earning a degree or certificate is a pathway to a better life for themselves and their families. These student parents, however, are often overlooked on college campuses and in the broader system of higher education, and lack access to the supports, such as affordable, high-quality child care, that they need to successfully graduate.
IWPR’s Student Parent Success Initiative conducts research and policy analysis, provides technical expertise and assistance, and communicates its research and builds partnerships to lift up the voices of students with children and increase equity in higher education for student parents and other underserved student populations.
IWPR Update: Research Supports Wins for Austin Workers and Student Parents
IWPR Analysis Informs Historic Sick Days Ordinance in Austin In February, the Austin City Council passed an ordinance to require the city’s employers to provide paid sick days. The ordinance’s historic passage makes Austin, Texas, the first city in the South to guarantee paid sick [...]
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.
College Students with Children: National and Regional Profiles
This report provides a national and regional profile of undergraduate college students who are raising dependent children.
