Women in the United States continue to be the bedrock of our higher education system as female students enroll at significantly higher rates than men. However, not all women enrolling in college are riding the coattails of their high school diplomas. About 20% of undergraduate students and more than a third of graduate students are raising children, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Mothers account for more than half of both populations.
With how sacred of a task mothers have in caring for their children, it can be dizzying to consider just how many also take on the workload of a postsecondary program. A joint report by the University of Phoenix and Motherly details why college or university credentials are essential for mothers to secure a stable job—and what colleges can improve to ensure their success.
Why college?
Lower-income mothers report that they are far less likely to say their current job income is enough to meet basic needs, resulting in roughly one out of six reporting that they work multiple jobs. The types of jobs that lower-income mothers usually have are wage-based, says Ruth Veloria, chief strategy officer at the University of Phoenix.
Not only do these moms make less money, but they also report higher rates of taking unpaid leave from their jobs and suffer a profound lack of resources. In fact, moms consider employer resources as important as salary and roughly half would accept lower pay if it meant better access to childcare, paid parental leave and more.
“[Mothers] feel like a career is a luxury,” says Veloria. “If I were a retail worker, I would have to clock in and out daily. Think about the distraction it provides when you’ve got to go to take care of a kid without paid time off. If you have to take time off because your kids can’t get into preschool, you’re falling behind on paying the bills.”
At the University of Phoenix, 71% of students identify as female, 63% care for dependents at home and 59% are single parents, according to Chris Lynne, the for-profit school’s president.
“We understand the value working moms bring to the workplace and an appreciation of the challenges they face,” Lynne said.
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How institutions can guarantee a mother’s success
The report found that while distance learning via online mediums provides the best environment for mothers to succeed in college, effective course design is just as important. Specifically, the curriculum should leverage their prior knowledge, scaffold instruction and encourage social presence.
- Champion affordable and accessible childcare: Childcare is a problem for all moms. Most (58%) of working moms across all income spectrums cite difficulty finding childcare so they can go to work. Nearly half of lower-income moms (46%) say they spend more than 30% of their paycheck on various childcare needs. The financial burden facing lower-income moms is exacerbated by the fact that they are more likely to report having to take time off to take off their kids.
- Recognize skills acquired through motherhood: 89% of lower-income moms and 93% of mid/high-income moms say being a mother gives them skills that apply to the workplace. However, nearly half of both lower- and mid/high-income moms say the skills they gain rearing children aren’t valued in the workplace.
- Provide access to mentors: 53% of moms say they lack role models in their current jobs, making it hard to emulate the success of others and envision it for themselves. Such disenchantment leads lower-income moms to feel more overworked and have higher rates of burnout.
