5 Tips for Single Parents Going Back to School for a College Degree

Going to college as a single parent can be challenging, but the process is often worth it in the end. College graduates have lower unemployment rates, higher salaries, and more professional opportunities than those with only a high school diploma. Along with the personal benefits, college students with children can also potentially provide a better quality of life for their families because of these new opportunities.

However, many single parents hesitate to even consider going back to school, questioning whether it’s possible to balance parenting with university courses. While it may not always be easy, single parents can successfully earn a degree while continuing to effectively parent. Here are a few tips for balancing a college course load with parental responsibilities.

1. Determine Your Desired Career and Plan a Roadmap

If you are considering going to college for the first time, you should have a specific goal in mind for what you hope your degree will help you achieve. While the benefits of a college degree are well-documented, simply obtaining a degree will not automatically pay off on its own. All prospective college students should have an idea of what type of field they want to work in upon graduation, if not a specific job in mind.

Once you have determined the career you want, you can begin planning for an educational roadmap that will help you earn the necessary qualifications to work in that field. Once the planning is done, it is simply a matter of working towards meeting each goal on your checklist.

2. Look for Childcare

Enrolling as a university student requires a major time commitment. Finding reliable and affordable childcare will be one of your top priorities once you’ve decided to go back to school. Some single parents are fortunate enough to have grandparents, aunts and uncles, close friends, or others they know personally that can help with childcare.

Relying on your personal network as much as you can may be a big help financially, since the costs of long-term childcare can be unmanageable for many working parents. Some parents may find that a combination of babysitting by friends and family and occasional private childcare services may be enough to make ends meet.

3. Should You Take Classes Online or in Person?

Once you’ve decided on a major and have childcare planned, it’s time to decide what type of educational format best suits you. Online college classes were beginning to become more popular even before the pandemic, and online learning is expected to be around for the long term. However, online learning is not necessarily right for everyone.

For single-parent college students, time and money are often both at a premium. An online learning program can address both of these problems, as you will save time and money by not needing to commute to campus. But you should also consider your personal learning style and whether online learning is right for you. Some students may require higher engagement and face-to-face interaction in the classroom in order to learn most effectively.

If you do decide to go the online route, it’s important to stay disciplined. You won’t necessarily be able to skip out on the babysitter, as you will need to remain actively engaged with your courses. This is not easy to do while multi-tasking, especially when the other task is something as important as childcare.

4. Come up with a Realistic Routine

Organization is critical when trying to balance a college schedule with family time. Developing an achievable and productive routine and sticking to it is one of the best ways to meet your organizational goals.

Breaking down your week into an organized schedule can help tremendously. For example, you could go through each day of the week and write down an agenda for each day, including your courses, off-campus work like studying or writing research papers, your job, and family time.

Rigorously following the schedule can help you make sure you meet your educational requirements and spend sufficient quality time with your children and other family members.

5. Don’t Neglect Self-Care

Balancing a college program, a job, and your family will often be challenging. But the potential rewards are worth it, as your family may have more opportunities and a better quality of life as a result of your sacrifices. Working hard and staying the course is important, but it’s also critical to make sure you take care of your mental, physical, and emotional health.

When planning your routine, block out some time for yourself as well. It’s important to find pockets of time to relax, as dedicating 100 percent of your waking hours to school, childcare, or work may prompt burnout. Exercise can also help reduce stress. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will make you more likely to be a successful student, and it will make the time spent with your family more enjoyable as well.