Student caregivers—those who are parents, caregivers or provide financial assistance to family members—have become a growing focus for colleges and universities seeking to strengthen the workforce and improve postsecondary success amid declining enrollment.
That means addressing their basic needs; childcare students often balance work and family responsibilities, and experience higher rates of food and housing instability than their peers. The centers offered a variety of support, from emergency assistance to dedicated staff and integrative services.
However, new research suggests that gaps remain in awareness and access, limiting how well care students can use those resources—and, in many cases, whether they can access them at all.
Here are five things Within Higher Ed learn about what caring students face—and how colleges and universities can help.
- Older, working and caring students experience higher food insecurity—and lower persistence—compared to their peers.
A recent analysis from the Institute for Higher Education Policy, using data from the 2020-22 Beginning Postsecondary Student Longitudinal Study, found that about 19 percent of older students, 15 percent of working-class students and 21 percent of caregiving students experienced food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis, compared to about 11 percent of other students.
That disparity extends to student outcomes. About 56 percent of older students, 55 percent of working-class students and 53 percent of childcare students were certified or still enrolled three years after initial enrollment, compared to about 73 percent of their peers.
Marián Vargas, assistant director of research at IHEP, said the analysis does not establish a causal link but highlights the gap between the challenges students face and the support they receive.
“We know from previous research that factors such as food insecurity have a significant impact on student persistence and graduation,” said Vargas. “During times of violence, when food insecurity increases, that may contribute to persistence.”
- Emergency aid does not always reach the students who need it most.
A similar analysis by IHEP found that about 26 percent of older students, 25 percent of working-class students and 29 percent of childcare students reported receiving emergency financial assistance from their institution during the pandemic, compared to about 31 percent of their peers.
Vargas said several factors may have contributed, including complicated application requirements and lack of awareness that these programs exist.
“If the application is complex, long or confusing, students with limited time may not be able to complete it,” said Vargas. “That is especially true for students whose time is limited by caregiving responsibilities or work.”
He also pointed out gaps in awareness. Students who spend less time on campus—such as those who study online or work long hours—may be less likely to hear about programs through general access. “It shows how students with different experiences may not always be reached.”
- Housing insecurity is a significant—and often overlooked—barrier for students in child care.
A recent report by New America, drawing on data from Trellis Strategies’ 2025 Student Financial Wellness Survey of more than 24,000 undergraduate students, examined the housing challenges facing students who care for children. Among those who moved three or more times in the past year, 46 percent said their most common reason was the need to be closer to school—a finding that reflects “the real-world issues that caregiving students face,” the report said.
But accessibility and safety also played a role. About 32% of the respondents said they moved because they did not have money to rent, while about 23% said they moved because their living conditions put them or their families at risk.
Allyson Cornett, director of research at Trellis Strategies, said housing insecurity lags behind other fundamental issues in getting strong institutional responses, especially for students of color.
“We recognize that housing insecurity among childcare students is widespread, racialized and misunderstood,” Cornett said. “It’s not just about whether students have housing, but whether that housing is affordable, safe and stable enough for their education and their families.”
- Awareness of housing-related financial assistance remains low, and access is limited even for those seeking assistance.
A similar report from New America highlighted a widespread lack of knowledge about available housing assistance: About 73 percent of students in foster care said they did not know they could seek additional institutional support for housing costs.
And among those who sought help, few received it. Only three percent reported applying for and receiving additional housing assistance, while another four percent said they applied but were denied.
Richard Davis, a policy analyst at New America, said the gap is significant given how little money students have for childcare.
“When it comes [caregiving students]most of them cannot afford short-term emergencies of up to $500.” “Many housing challenges stem from things like security deposits, falling behind on utility bills or missing rent. Being able to provide temporary help to students—especially students who care for children—is really important.”
- Access to child care is a major barrier for student parents.
A recent report from California Competes finds that parents of young children face some of the most difficult barriers to enrolling in and completing college. Among Californians ages 25 to 54 without a college degree, 42 percent have a child under the age of 18, including nearly 2.7 million people statewide. In the Bay Area, more than 100,000 unaccompanied adults intending to enroll cited child care as a significant barrier to doing so.
Su Jin Jez, chief executive of California Competes, said Bay Area parents without a degree earn about $33,765 a year, compared to $106,190 for those with a degree. Meanwhile, child care costs an average of $49,800 a year for families with young children—underscoring the financial challenge of going back to college.
“You have many mouths to feed, you live many people,” said Jez. “College already feels unaffordable for many Californians, so if you add [childcare] cost, it becomes an even more unaffordable place.”
Taken together, the research suggests that better support is not just about increasing resources, it is about building relationships on an ongoing basis to ensure that caring students are aware of those resources and can access them while balancing work and family commitments. That is key not only to enrolling childcare students, but also to helping them finish college.
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