Join us for IWPR’s 2026 Power+ Summit, The Power Grid: Driving Gender Equity Forward, taking place September 28–29 in Detroit, MI.
Together, we will spark bold ideas, share breakthroughs, and shape the future of gender equity.
By Jillian Berman
For every dollar a single mom in college invests in her education, she gets back $16.45 in increased earnings if she earns an associate’s degree and $8.50 if she earns a bachelor’s degree, according to a study published this week by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, a think tank. (The study found that each dollar invested goes farther for an associate’s degree because the cost is significantly less than a bachelor’s degree).
But reaching the finish line can be elusive for this group, putting their investment in jeopardy. Just 8% of single mothers who enroll in college graduate within six years, compared to about 49% of women in college overall, IWPR notes. That’s because these students often struggle to find the funds to afford college — 89% of single mothers in school are low-income — and typically need to balance child care, working and school responsibilities.