Caregivers form a key constituency of current, potential, and returning college students, with around one in five undergraduates having legal dependents. Students who take care of children and other family members face greater barriers to education than their peers without caregiving responsibilities, impacting their ability to access and complete a postsecondary credential, with intergenerational implications. Increasing degree attainment among U.S. adults requires alleviating the barriers caregivers face—financial insecurity, time poverty, and decreased sense of belonging—improving their ability to complete a credential and to do so sooner with less debt. This report explores recent data on caregiving students from the Fall 2024 Student Financial Wellness Survey and highlights strategies for institutions, states, and the federal government to invest in the modern learner.
