For student parents juggling academic pursuits with the responsibilities of raising children, access to support services can be a deciding factor in their educational journey. Among these vital support systems, child care programs stand out as potentially transformative. While the unique challenges faced by student parents are increasingly recognized, the systematic exploration of how child care access impacts their college completion rates remains limited. However, existing research and program-specific data strongly suggest a significant positive correlation between accessible child care and the likelihood of student parents achieving their higher education goals and securing degrees that pave the way for better career opportunities.
Let’s delve into the evidence that highlights the crucial role of child care in supporting student parents’ success in higher education:
On-Campus Child Care and Graduation Success: Evidence from Monroe Community College
A compelling study conducted by the Office of Institutional Research at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY, in 2013, provides striking insights into the impact of on-campus child care. The research focused on student parents at the college and revealed that those who utilized the on-campus child care center demonstrated significantly higher rates of academic persistence and completion. Specifically, over two-thirds (68 percent) of student parents who enrolled their children in the campus child care program returned to college the following fall semester. This is compared to just half (51 percent) of student parents who did not utilize the center (excluding those who had already graduated).
Furthermore, the study uncovered a remarkable difference in graduation and transfer rates. Student parents who benefited from on-campus child care were nearly three times more likely to graduate from Monroe Community College or successfully transfer to a four-year institution within three years of their initial enrollment. An impressive 41 percent of students who used campus child care achieved this milestone, compared to a mere 15 percent of student parents who did not access the center’s services. This data strongly suggests that on-campus child care programs can be instrumental in helping student parents stay enrolled and progress towards degree completion.
CCAMPIS Programs: Federally Funded Support and Enhanced Graduation Rates
The Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, a federally funded initiative, further underscores the positive impact of child care support on student parent success. CCAMPIS grants are awarded competitively to institutions to expand access to affordable child care for low-income student parents. While comprehensive, comparative data is still developing, the available outcome data from various CCAMPIS-supported campuses points towards a strong link between program participation and improved college graduation rates for student parents. These rates appear notably higher than those observed among student parents in general.
For instance, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an analysis of 77 students who participated in their CCAMPIS program between 2005 and 2011 revealed an impressive 83 percent graduation rate. This graduation rate among CCAMPIS participants was almost identical to the 85 percent graduation rate for all undergraduate students at the university in 2010. This is particularly significant when considering the national context: across the United States, non-parents are more than twice as likely to graduate from college compared to parents (68 percent versus 33 percent). The success of CCAMPIS participants suggests that targeted child care support can effectively bridge this equity gap and empower student parents to achieve academic parity with their non-parent peers.
The Balancing Act: Child Care Demands and College Withdrawal
Despite the clear benefits of child care programs, the challenges faced by student parents in accessing and affording quality care remain significant. Data from the 2016 Community College Survey of Student Engagement highlights the immense time commitment student parents dedicate to caregiving. Among community college students living with young children, nearly three-quarters of women (71 percent) and half of men reported spending over 20 hours per week providing care for their dependents.
This substantial caregiving burden understandably impacts their academic pursuits and increases the likelihood of withdrawal. The survey revealed that 43 percent of women and 37 percent of men living with young children reported feeling likely or very likely to withdraw from college specifically to manage their caregiving responsibilities. This aligns with existing research indicating that working more than 20 hours per week negatively affects college completion rates. It is reasonable to infer that the demands of child care, particularly when combined with work or financial strain, exert a similar, if not greater, pressure on student parents’ ability to persist in their education. It’s noteworthy that some states even require student parents to work a minimum of 20 hours per week to qualify for child care subsidies, potentially exacerbating this already challenging balancing act.
Voices from Mississippi: The Impact of Affordable and Stable Child Care
Direct feedback from student parents further reinforces the critical need for accessible and affordable child care. An IWPR survey of 544 women community college students in Mississippi, where nearly a third were parents, revealed that lack of affordable child care was a major obstacle to their educational progress. Among mothers who had interrupted their studies or dropped out of college altogether, nearly 60 percent stated that having access to more stable and affordable child care would have been instrumental in enabling them to stay enrolled.
Furthermore, almost half of the surveyed parents with children under 11 reported being unable to secure the quality child care they desired due to prohibitive costs. This sentiment was particularly pronounced among younger, lower-income, and African-American parents, highlighting the disproportionate impact of child care affordability issues on already vulnerable student populations.
Family Commitments: A Key Barrier to College Re-entry
The significance of child care support extends beyond initial enrollment and persistence; it also plays a crucial role in facilitating re-entry for students who have had to step away from their studies. A 2009 Public Agenda survey of adults who had some college experience but did not complete their degrees revealed that two-thirds believed that providing child care assistance would significantly help students like them successfully complete college. This sentiment was even stronger among those who had not finished their postsecondary programs, with over three-quarters expressing this view.
Moreover, “family commitments” emerged as the second most frequently cited reason why returning to college would be challenging for those who had previously left without graduating. This underscores that addressing child care needs is not only vital for current student parents but also for those seeking to resume their education after interruptions.
Investing in Creative Child Care Solutions: Paving the Way for Increased College Completion
The evidence presented strongly suggests that enhanced access to child care programs is not merely a supportive service but a fundamental factor in improving higher education completion rates for student parents. While the rationale for this connection is clear, further research is needed to identify and evaluate the most effective and affordable strategies for states, colleges, and communities to implement comprehensive child care support systems.
The growing recognition of parenting responsibilities as a significant determinant in students’ college access and completion necessitates a shift in focus and resource allocation. Prioritizing and creatively expanding child care access represents a crucial investment in student parent success, ultimately contributing to increased college attendance and degree attainment, and fostering a more equitable and educated society.
To explore further research from IWPR on this and related topics, please visit IWPR.org.
