New Infographic Explores the Importance of Child Care for Graduate and Professional Student-Parents and Caregivers

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Student-parents and caregivers of dependents often face unique hurdles that make affording higher education challenging. Research has found that two of the biggest obstacles for this population are the lack of access to and cost of child care. While prior analyses have largely examined these challenges for undergraduate student-parents and caregivers, data from the 2019-20 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study reveals these hurdles are also prevalent amongst the graduate and professional student population.

In the 2019-20 academic year, 30.7% of graduate and professional students indicated being parents or caregivers of dependents.¹ Of this, 67.2% reported not having access to on-campus daycare.² Research on the lack of access to on-campus child care has shown that many higher education institutions either do not provide child care, or, if they do, have limited capacity.³ As a result, postsecondary institutions often struggle to meet the distinct needs of student-parents and caregivers.

Given this obstacle, graduate and professional student-parents and caregivers must seek child care beyond their higher education institutions. However, the average annual cost of child care has risen from $10,600 in 2021 to $11,582 in 2023, showing an alarming rate of increase, which can weigh on those unable to access affordable on-campus child care.⁴ Considering the lack of access to and the rising cost of child care, coupled with increasing tuition and cost of living, graduate and professional student-parents and caregivers are now accruing historic levels of student loan debt. Notably, 38.5% owe over $50,000 on all their educational loans, excluding Parent PLUS Loans.⁵

While there are many ways institutional, local, and state policies can support graduate and professional student-parents and caregivers, we at AccessLex Institute believe federal policy also has a critical role to play in making higher education more accessible and affordable for this population. As such, AccessLex supports the following federal policy solutions:

• Ensure federal student loan programs are affordable by eliminating fees and lowering interest rates.
• Increase investment in the federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant program.
• Provide financial education specifically designed for the unique needs of graduate and professional students, such as caregiving responsibilities.
• Increase federal investment in child care to address broader systemic issues impacting students with dependents.

In our newly published infographic, The Importance of Affordable Child Care for Student-Parents and Caregivers, we provide additional insight into the graduate and professional student-parent and caregiver population. Specifically, we offer information on the population’s demographics, challenges with accessibility and affordability of child care, accrued student loan debt, and awareness of repayment options.

To learn more about our advocacy efforts related to graduate and professional student-parents and caregivers, and the accessibility and affordability of higher education, check out our #MakeTheCase Action Center.

¹ National Center for Education Statistics. (2020). National postsecondary student aid study, graduate (NPSAS:GR). https://nces.ed.gov/datalab

² National Center for Education Statistics. (2020). National postsecondary student aid study, graduate (NPSAS:GR). https://nces.ed.gov/datalab

³ The Education Trust. (2022). For student parents, the biggest hurdles to a higher education are cost and finding child care. https://edtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/For-Student-Parents-The-Biggest-Hurdles-to-a-Higher-Education-Are-Cost-and-Finding-Child-Care-August-2022.pdf

⁴ Child Care Aware of America. (n.d.). Catalyzing growth: Using data to change child care. https://www.childcareaware.org/catalyzing-growth-using-data-to-change-child-care/#ChildCareAffordability; Child Care Aware of America. (n.d.). Child care at a standstill: Price and landscape analysis. https://www.childcareaware.org/thechildcarestandstill/#PriceofCare

⁵ National Center for Education Statistics. (2020). National postsecondary student aid study, graduate (NPSAS:GR). https://nces.ed.gov/datalab