College Students With Kids More Likely to Lack Basic Needs

"Who are caregiving students? Eighteen percent of respondents indicated they were a parent or guardian of a child, or approximately 9,500 of the survey's 53,000-plus respondents. Seven percent of respondents said they were a caregiver to another individual, not a dependent, and 6 percent said they provided care for a child and another individual, identifying them as a double caregiver."

"For example, younger caregivers were more likely to say they spent less than 20 hours per week providing care for their dependents, compared to their peers aged 25 to 40, but young parents were also more likely to say they missed at least one day of class due to a lack of childcare (32 percent), versus their peers in their early 30s (27 percent)."

Eighteen percent of respondents identified as parents or guardians, seven percent as caregivers to another individual, and six percent as double caregivers. Women represented a larger share of caregivers, and Black students reported higher caregiver and double-caregiver responsibilities than non-caregivers. Two-year college students reported caregiving at higher rates than four-year students. Caregivers span ages 18 to 45, with younger caregivers often providing fewer care hours but experiencing more missed class days due to lack of childcare. Competing priorities of work and caregiving increase the risk of stopping out, creating a need for additional institutional supports.

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