College students come from all walks of life. Some are fresh out of high school, and others have taken time away from school to work or start a family. Attending college when you’re a parent comes with some unique challenges, so it’s important to locate colleges that support and accommodate students with children. Some schools excel at catering to students with children, while others do not. That’s where our research comes in. We reviewed the best colleges for students with children so that you can balance your studies with your family life.
Why This Matters
A growing number of college students are “nontraditional,” meaning that they’ve taken time off between high school and college and/or have life experiences — children, work, military service — that are not typical of the average college student. Anyone who’s a parent knows that raising children is a 24/7 vocation, so prospective college students with children need to find schools that meet the unique needs of parents.
The resources, flexibility, and support systems available to students with children vary by school. Some colleges indirectly support students with children through online and hybrid courses that can be completed on their own time. Others are more directly supportive, offering services such as discounted child care and nursing rooms on campus.
Attending college while raising children can be daunting, whether you’re a single parent or with a partner. If you’re a parent, you must find a college that will support you as a student with children.
Our Ranking Criteria
To create our list of the best colleges for students with children, we researched 28 colleges and universities across the U.S. and narrowed them down to this list of eight. We based our research on the materials available online on each school’s website. Important criteria included flexible course scheduling, family-friendly location, and childcare options.
The 8 Best Colleges for Students With Children
1. Champlain College
Since 1987, Champlain College’s Single Parents Program has welcomed single parents and empowered them to pursue an education. The Single Parents Scholarship meets the full tuition needs of qualifying Vermont-resident single parents. The SPP also hosts a range of family-friendly community events and parenting-focused workshops and seminars. On-campus support services include an individual student resources coordinator, free tutoring, free mental health counseling, free career advising, and access to jobs with varying time commitment requirements.
- Location: Burlington, VT
- Intelligent Score: 99.71
- Average Tuition: $1,436-$2,000 per credit hour
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
- Student Enrollment: 3,060
2. College of Saint Mary
Mothers Living & Learning, a nationally renowned and progressive program for single mothers, is one of the College of Saint Mary’s crowning achievements. The program enables single mothers to earn a college degree while living on campus with their children, ages six weeks to 10 years. Services include special parenting workshops, a network of advisors, and access to the Spellman Child Development Center. The Single Parent Success program offers guidance from finding a pediatrician to enrolling in a daycare program.
- Location: Omaha, NE
- Intelligent Score: 99.00
- Average Tuition: $425-817 per credit hour
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
- Student Enrollment: 539
3. Endicott College
Endicott College displays its commitment to supporting underrepresented and nontraditional students through its Single Parent Services and Single Parent Scholarships. A golf-based fundraiser, Endicott College Scholarship Classic, secures funds that help single parents and first-generation students achieve the dream of earning an undergraduate degree at Endicott. Other parental support includes access to free babysitters through Sitters Without Border and assistance in finding low-cost childcare.
- Location: Beverly, MA
- Intelligent Score: 98.18
- Average Tuition: $1,325 per credit hour
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
- Student Enrollment: 3,062
4. Ferris State University
The resources for students with children at Ferris State University and in the surrounding areas are wide-ranging. They include affordable after-school/summer activities, an Early Learning Center that provides daycare services to children of students, faculty, and staff, and food and housing support. Big Rapids is home to several public, private, and charter schools, as well as several community health centers and food banks.
- Location: Big Rapids, MI
- Intelligent Score: 97.90
- Average Tuition: $500-$882 per credit hour
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
- Student Enrollment: 9,000
5. Misericordia University
Home to the Ruth Matthews Bourger Women with Children Program, Misericordia University empowers single mothers living in poverty to better their lives and opportunities by attaining a college degree. The program provides year-round housing, subsidized child care, and extensive family enrichment programming for both mothers and children. By disrupting cycles of poverty, this program helps change not only mothers’ lives but their children’s lives as well.
- Location: Dallas, PA
- Intelligent Score: 95.35
- Average Tuition: $460-1,166 per credit hour
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- Student Enrollment: 1,776
6. Northeastern University Oakland
Northeastern University Oakland provides robust support for students with children, offering family-friendly resources like flexible scheduling and access to childcare options. The university’s commitment to inclusivity ensures student-parents can thrive, balancing academic and parental responsibilities. There is a Parenting Lounge for single parents and their children, food support, and on-campus childcare for children from infants to older elementary children, including a Spanish immersion preschool.
- Location: Oakland, CA
- Intelligent Score: 96.75
- Average Tuition: $2,031 per credit hour
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
- Student Enrollment: 5,459
7. St. Catherine University
St. Catherine University has a comprehensive access and support network catering to student-parents. Students with children are encouraged to speak with one of the social workers on staff, who can connect them with a wide range of resources related to child care, finances, food support, housing, transportation, healthcare, and more. The University also works closely with PACER, which helps families with children or young adults with disabilities from birth through childhood. In 2023, St. Catherines was chosen as a recipient of Generation Hope’s FamilyU Seal for institutions that support student parents.
- Location: St. Paul, MN
- Intelligent Score: 94.90
- Average Tuition: $$525-$1,404 per credit hour
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
- Student Enrollment: 2,404
8. Texas Woman’s University
Texas Woman’s University is recognized nationally for its success in supporting students with children. In addition to on-campus family housing, the university offers programs through the Campus Alliance for Resource Education (CARE) Office. CARE helps parents obtain holiday gifts for their children, secures lactation spaces, and connects students with childcare resources. CARE also hosts a student-parent organization to connect peers in similar life circumstances.
- Location: Denton, TX
- Intelligent Score: 94.58
- Average Tuition: Residents: $238-$268 per credit hour; Non-residents: $648 per credit hour
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Student Enrollment: 10,153
What Are the Benefits of Attending College as a Parent?
Attending college as a student with children can be much more complicated than attending college without any dependents to care for. However, the impact of earning a degree while caring for children is arguably even greater than the impact of earning a degree on your own. In choosing to pursue an education, you set yourself up for better employment opportunities and therefore set your children up for a more stable, secure future. You also model for your children the importance of education and what it takes to succeed in school.
If you choose to attend a college with strong support services for students with children, then you can also benefit from on-campus family housing, free or subsidized daycare and after-school care, family health insurance, counseling, and a variety of other resources. When you’re a parent, investing in yourself is also investing in your children and their future.
Who Should Attend College as a Student With Children?
Parents wanting to return to school to earn a college degree must consider several things. Some of these depend on your individual circumstances: How old/independent are your children? How much outside support do you have? What do your finances look like? What do you hope to achieve through earning a college degree?
You should have a clear goal and be realistic about what you can afford and where you need additional support. The colleges included in this guide offer everything from financial support to daycare services to pregnancy and lactation support, so there are likely colleges out there that can meet your specific needs.
Interested in a degree instead?
Learn more about online degrees, their start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.