It is estimated that about a fifth of undergraduates in college are parents. A disproportionate share of student parents attends community colleges, which have more flexible programs that cater to adult students. Though parenting students often have clear goals for what they want out of college—usually related to employment—they face challenges that nonparenting students do not, including financial needs and caregiving responsibilities that can make completing a degree or transferring to a bachelor’s program difficult.
This fact sheet from the Community College Research Center provides an overview of the trends and statistics relating to student parents—as well as the policy considerations and school supports that can help them achieve their educational goals.