More than 26 percent of today's undergraduate students, or 4.8 million individuals, are raising dependent children. Rates of basic needs insecurity are high across higher education and even higher for student parents, 70 percent of whom experienced food and/or housing insecurity in 2020 compared to 43 percent of students overall. 

For parenting students, these experiences range from homelessness to being unable to pay full rent or utilities. Some colleges are stepping up with holistic supports and creative programs to help housing-insecure student parents thrive. 

Photo: Shalina Chatlani

The Biden administration's new “gainful employment” rules should help graduates of vocational education programs earn enough to repay their loans. But will the rules stay in place?

Robert Kelchen, a professor and head of the department of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, weighs in with his thoughts.

For many Americans, paying for a college education can be hard to fathom. Even if there are multiple income-earners in their home. Even if they have enough cash to cover rent, utility bills and keep food on the table. Even if they don’t qualify for government assistance. 

The University of Central Arkansas is testing out a solution it says will largely eliminate financial barriers to a bachelor's degree for families earning less than $100,000 per year. That could be crucial in a state like Arkansas, which has the 10th highest poverty rate and the third lowest rate of bachelor’s degree attainment in the country.