While it’s typical for young and less-established parents to struggle more financially than their older counterparts, millennial parents in particular are dealing with headwinds that weren’t as pronounced a generation ago.

They’re working in an economy where it’s increasingly important (and expensive) to have a college education. And having a child only exacerbates the difficulties involved in earning and paying for a degree.

“Younger parents may not have a college education yet, which has a big impact on earnings,” said Barbara Gault, the vice president and executive director of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. “They may even interrupt their education because they feel it’s too difficult to both earn enough to raise a family and invest in their skills.”