One Way Congress Can Support American Families and College Students with Children

Becoming a new mom has given me a deeper empathy for other parents—especially those juggling school alongside child care. Balancing work, household responsibilities, and parenting can already be overwhelming. From cooking and cleaning, to meeting work deadlines, and attending pediatrician appointments, it often feels like I’m working two jobs. Although I’m grateful for these privileges, I can’t imagine adding the pressure of school assignments to the mix. However, that’s the reality for more than 3 million parenting students in higher education.  

Parenting students—those enrolled in college with dependents—make up roughly one-in-five students in the U.S. higher education system. Yet despite their significant numbers, parenting students often feel invisible on their campuses, lacking the support services that traditional students receive. I understand how crucial support is for parents, and as the age-old adage goes, “it takes a village to raise a child.” But how can that village help if it doesn’t know who you are or what you need? This lack of support affects the academic performance and overall well-being of parenting students. 

Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a public health advisory in 2024 about the mental health of parents. Parents experience various financial stressors, with child care being one of the most burdensome costs. In 2023, the average annual cost of child care was nearly $12,000 per child, and in 39 states and the District of Columbia, the average cost of child care for an infant in a daycare center was higher than in-state tuition for colleges and universities. For instance, when I enrolled my infant son in daycare, the cost was a daunting $620 a week. Fortunately, my spouse’s employer discount helped reduce some of the expense, but many parenting students do not have access to such benefits. For them, the financial stress of child care makes it even harder to meet their academic and personal needs. 

These struggles are not new to parenting students. Many report high levels of stress due to a lack of sleep and of basic needs support, which often leads to delays in completing their education. What if this didn’t have to be the case? 

Recent research shows that a majority of parenting students are women, students of color, low-income, and over the age of 30. They make up about 18 percent of undergraduate students and 28 percent of graduate students. Despite the obstacles they face—balancing work, child care, and school—they still manage to maintain comparable GPAs to their non-parenting peers. This speaks to their strong work ethic, dedication, and resilience.

There is growing public support for helping parents, especially in low-income families, succeed. More than half of American voters agree that to make sure children from low-income families thrive, we must also invest in their parents’ economic well-being. Congress has an opportunity to act on this issue.

Currently, there is no federal mandate requiring colleges to collect comprehensive data on parenting students, leaving us without crucial information about their needs. Some states, like California, have passed laws to improve data collection, but a federal mandate would ensure that colleges and policymakers better understand the challenges facing parenting students.

Postsecondary education unlocks the door to greater financial security and upward mobility. But to ensure that parenting students can succeed, colleges must understand who they are and what they need. The proposed Understanding Student Parents Outcomes Act would mandate that colleges collect data on parenting students, helping institutions and policymakers create support systems that address their unique challenges. With this data, colleges could provide services like affordable child care and priority registration for classes, becoming the village parenting students need to raise their children and succeed in school. 

Research from New America’s higher education team reveals that parenting students who persist through college are more likely to attend institutions that offer financial, child care, and basic needs support. This highlights the importance of investing in services that help students balance their educational goals with the demands of parenting. By passing legislation that mandates data collection on parenting students, we can give colleges the tools to become the support community that all students, especially parents, need to succeed.

In Dr. Murthy’s words, “Raising children is sacred work. It should matter to all of us.” Supporting parenting students is not just an investment in their success—it’s an investment in the future of their children, and ultimately, the future of our society.

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