Overcoming Academic and Career Barriers for Single-Parent Students in STEM

Session Abstract: Our project investigates the experiences of single-parent students in STEM fields. This population has been paid less attention in academic and IR professions. In collaboration with and advised by NCES Data Institute 2024, we used data from Baccalaureate and Beyond to examine the degree completion of single-parent students in STEM, their persistence in STEM careers after graduation, and their gross income in early-mid careers. Our findings indicate that single-parent students encounter barriers to success in STEM degrees due to managing multiple responsibilities, such as academic commitments, employment, and financial hardships. These issues are directly tied to core areas of institutional research, including student success, retention, and equity. Our study emphasizes the need to address the challenges and inequities in STEM major choice, persistence, and economic stability for single-parent students in STEM.

Keywords: single parents, student support, career development, labor effectiveness