More than one-fifth of all college students are student parents. That’s nearly 4 million college students with children. In between taking classes, millions of these individuals hold part-time or full-time jobs while also managing the tasks of raising a family. 

For many student parents, a strong campus support system is a deciding factor in whether they complete a degree or credential. A new report from The Education Trust offers a snapshot of several ways in which institutions and policymakers can improve the college-going experience for student parents.

Illustration: Amrita Marino

Colleges have considered applicants’ race in admission decisions for decades. Starting next year, that could be curtailed or even illegal, depending on the outcome of cases before the Supreme Court.

Institutions seeking to boost diversity are now looking at new ways to recruit applicants. Among their strategies: Proactively offering spots to students before they apply and forging relationships with churches and community centers. 

A college education is now the second-largest expense an individual is likely to make in a lifetime—right after purchasing a home. But it wasn’t always that way.

The Biden administration has promised to make a decision on student loan forgiveness within weeks, or even days. And yet, college affordability will remain an issue for years to come, experts say.