Over one in five college students—and over two in five community college students—are parents, according to a recent study by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR). Student parents are most likely to attend community colleges, but also make up 17, 18, and 13 percent of public four-year institutions, for-profit colleges, and private non-profit institutions, respectively.
The IWPR study also found that student parents are more likely to be older than students without children and are more likely to be students of color. Student parents often experience significant financial burdens, accumulating debt that is an average of two-and-a-half times greater than that of non-parenting students.
Despite the high number of parents attending postsecondary institutions, little is known about the needs and experiences of this population, particularly in regard to mental health and wellness. As part of Ascend at the Aspen Institute’s efforts to promote dual-generation approaches to working with young families, their report, “Accelerating Postsecondary Success for Parents: Identifying and Addressing Mental Health Needs” outlines policy solutions to increase mental health supports for student parents. In addition to providing and ensuring access to mental health services, the report encourages postsecondary institutions to help student parents secure affordable, quality childcare, safety net benefits, and financial and social services.