👋 Though a college degree can pay off in higher earnings and less likelihood of being unemployed, many would-be students who also are parents find that education to be unattainable.
As if being a parent weren’t complicated enough, adding college to the mix can be a huge hurdle in a higher education system designed for single 18-24-year-olds. Class schedules, tuition and fees, and lack of study spaces and child care can be a deal breaker.
Recognizing the value of a college education to families and the community, many 2-year colleges are making changes to accommodate student-parents.
This issue explores ways to make college more welcoming for student-parents and includes an interview with Daria Willis, president of Howard Community College in Maryland, who shares her journey from student-parent to college president.