Defining Student Caregivers in Today's Higher Education Landscape

Student caregivers represent a vital yet often overlooked segment of the higher education population. These individuals balance rigorous academic demands with significant family responsibilities, such as parenting young children, caring for aging parents or disabled relatives, or providing financial support to household members. According to recent comprehensive surveys, approximately one in four undergraduate students qualifies as a caregiver, translating to millions across U.S. colleges and universities. This group disproportionately includes first-generation students, women, racial minorities, and those enrolled part-time at community colleges or two-year institutions.

The term 'caregiving student' encompasses student parents—who make up the largest subgroup—and those supporting extended family. For instance, a single mother pursuing a nursing degree might commute hours daily to attend classes while managing childcare and eldercare duties. These students enroll in higher education seeking upward mobility, yet systemic barriers like housing instability threaten their persistence and degree completion.

The Alarming Scale of Housing Insecurity Among Caregivers

Housing insecurity manifests in multiple ways for caregiving students: inability to afford rent, frequent moves due to evictions or unsafe conditions, overcrowding, or outright homelessness. A landmark study released just days ago reveals that caregiving undergraduates experience these issues at rates far exceeding their non-caregiving peers. Among 24,361 surveyed caregiving students across 153 institutions, 32 percent of those who moved three or more times in the past year cited unaffordable rent as the primary driver, while 23 percent fled unsafe living environments.

Demographic disparities amplify the crisis. Black and Hispanic students reported affordability-driven relocations at nearly 50 percent, compared to 25 percent for white students. Older caregivers aged 25 and above faced rent burdens pushing nearly 60 percent into repeated moves. Overall, 62 percent of student parents grapple with housing insecurity, compounded by 53 percent facing food shortages. These figures underscore a national epidemic infiltrating campuses, where two-year colleges report the highest incidences due to limited on-site resources.

• 7 percent of caregiving students encountered housing discrimination, with Black students twice as likely (9 percent vs. 5 percent).
• 68 percent of parenting students experienced housing challenges in the prior year.
• First-generation caregivers show 75 percent unawareness of available aid, exacerbating instability.

Unpacking the Root Causes Driving This Crisis

Several interconnected factors fuel housing woes for caregiving students. Skyrocketing rental costs near urban campuses outpace stagnant financial aid packages, with many students spending over 50 percent of income on housing. The broader 2026 rental market crisis—marked by a 7.2 million unit shortage for low-income renters—hits hardest here. Caregivers juggle non-traditional schedules, limiting job flexibility and childcare access, while landlord biases against families with children lead to rejections or exploitative terms.

Institutional gaps compound the problem. Most universities prioritize single, traditional students in dorm allocations, leaving family housing scarce. Only a fraction of campuses offer dedicated units, forcing caregivers into off-campus markets rife with discrimination. Part-time enrollment, common among this group (due to caregiving duties), disqualifies many from priority housing or full aid. Economic pressures post-pandemic, including inflation and wage stagnation, have intensified these vulnerabilities.

Profound Impacts on Academic Success and Well-Being

Housing instability ripples through every facet of caregiving students' lives. Frequent moves disrupt study routines, leading to missed classes and lower GPAs. AARP data shows 70 percent report caregiving—often intertwined with housing woes—affecting academic performance, with 60 percent facing tuition shortfalls. Mental health suffers too: anxiety from eviction fears, isolation in substandard housing, and exhaustion from 'double caregiving' (self and family) contribute to dropout rates double the norm.

Long-term, this crisis stifles economic mobility. Caregivers who stop out lose credentials, perpetuating poverty cycles. Persistence data from aid programs like Virginia's CAPS highlight the stakes: participants completed degrees at 48 percent vs. 24 percent for non-aided peers, largely due to housing stability.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

University Initiatives: Successes and Shortcomings

Progressive institutions are pioneering solutions. UC Berkeley's University Village provides affordable family apartments near childcare, fostering community for 1,000+ residents. Similarly, Texas Woman's University tops rankings for student parents with on-campus housing and subsidies, boosting retention. UCLA and Southern Illinois University offer designated family units with priority for dependents.

Yet challenges persist. Only 3 percent of caregiving students receive aid post-inquiry, per surveys, due to 73 percent unawareness. Many campuses lack centralized navigators or COA adjustments for caregiving costs ($7,500+ per child annually). Training for staff on identification and referrals remains inconsistent.

Check out detailed policies at leading campuses via the UC Berkeley Family Housing page.

Real-World Case Studies Illuminating the Struggle

Consider Virginia's CAPS program: Single parents received $4,800 stipends, 70 percent allocated to housing, yielding twice the credential completion rate. In California, AB 2458 mandates COA reforms for parents, automating identification to unlock aid.

Conversely, eviction studies reveal devastation: Student parents facing filings see persistence plummet, with families doubling up or dropping out. A community college caregiver might relocate thrice yearly for safety, derailing her associate's degree pursuit.

Policy Pathways: Federal, State, and Campus Reforms

Federal levers include expanding emergency microgrants via SEOG and IPEDS data mandates for caregiver tracking. States like California lead with GAINS Act housing inclusions; others should follow with part-time aid reforms.

Institutions must integrate housing into basic needs centers, offer FAFSA nudges, and build family dorms. For deeper insights, explore the full No Place to Land report.

• Proactive outreach via enrollment letters.
• Staff training on non-tuition costs.
• Partnerships with HUD for family housing pilots.

Innovations and Best Practices Shaping the Future

Emerging models include Wallace State Community College's HUD-funded family units and Ascendium's emergency funds, achieving 94 percent re-enrollment. Centralized resource hubs at campuses like Temple University's Hope Center connect students to off-campus aid.

Globally, while U.S.-centric, UK universities face similar shortages; Australian and Canadian campuses eye family priorities amid rental surges. Tech like automated parent flags promises scalability.

Photo by Danique Godwin on Unsplash

A Call for Comprehensive Action in Higher Education

The caregiving students housing crisis demands urgent, multi-level response to safeguard this resilient cohort. By prioritizing data, aid, and infrastructure, universities can transform barriers into bridges to success. Explore scholarships and flexible roles at AcademicJobs.com scholarships to ease burdens today.

Stakeholders—from administrators to policymakers—must act, ensuring higher education fulfills its promise for all, including those who care while they climb.