Community college students who are raising children demonstrate higher levels of academic engagement than their peers but face significant obstacles that threaten their educational success, according to a new national report.
"Parenting students are among the most engaged learners on our campuses, but they face barriers that too often derail their progress," said Dr. Linda García, CCCSE's executive director.
The report, titled "Multiple Responsibilities, Single Mission: Understanding the Experiences of Community College Parenting Students," analyzed data from 164 colleges during the 2024 administration of the Community College Survey of Student Engagement. About half of all undergraduate student parents attend community colleges, making this population crucial to institutional success.
Key findings reveal troubling gaps between student needs and institutional support. While 71 percent of parenting students reported that caring for dependents could cause them to withdraw from college, 91 percent said they never used child-care services. Similarly, though nearly three-quarters cited lack of finances as a potential withdrawal factor, over one-third never used financial aid advising.
The data shows parenting students face greater food and housing insecurity than their peers. Among those who needed assistance with food, only 16 percent of parenting students received help from their colleges, compared to 8 percent of non-parenting students who needed similar support.
