Caregivers in Higher Education

There are very few things more difficult than maintaining a work-life balance while having kids or other dependents and attending college. In fact, a recent study found that caregiver students are far less likely to graduate college because of “time poverty.” Students caring for preschool-aged children, for example, only had 10 hours a day for sleeping, eating, homework, and leisure activities; students without children had 21 hours. The story of caregiver students illustrates how our social service and higher education systems fail those who are looking to make a better life for themselves and their children through further education.

Over the coming months, New America will explore how better to support these students. We will dive into the data to reveal the demographics of these students, investigate policy roadblocks that prevent their success, and share institutional profiles of programs that help support student caregivers and their families. Students shouldn't have to display superhuman determination to navigate an unnecessarily twisting, circuitous path towards a better life for their families.

Read the following posts that are part of our Caregivers in Higher Education series:

A Twisting Path towards a Better Life: The Experience of Caregiver Students

A Look at the Data: How Caregiver Students Fare in Higher Education

One Key Way to Support Caregiver Students: Provide Child Care

Supporting Caregiver Students: A Two-Generation Model

A Generation of Hope: Addressing the Needs of Parenting Students

This page will be updated with each new addition to the blog series.