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On- and Off-Campus Options for Students Raising Children

Roughly half of the colleges in the U.S. offer some type of child care, a big relief to the nearly  5 million  college students with dependent children. Having reliable and accessible child care on campus can make the difference between finishing a degree and simply accumulating debt. This guide focuses on how to ensure the child care you get is high quality and points you toward how to pay for it.

On- and Off-Campus Day Care Options

The number of students with dependents has risen over the last several decades; however, according to a  2017 report  from the Institute for Women's Policy Research, this has been met by a decline in the percentage of colleges offering on-campus child care. The same report indicated that, in 2004, 53 percent of community colleges had a child care center; 10 years later, just 44 percent did. Four-year universities report similar numbers.

As of 2014, only  one-third of student-parents graduated  within six years; their dropout rate was the highest of any demographic.  Some  point to this lack of on-campus child care as the reason. Although on-campus child care can be ideal for student-parents, with fewer institutions running their own centers, student-parents may have to rely on other types of care. Below are some of the most common options.

Day Care Choices

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On-Campus Early Childhood Centers

College campuses approach child care in multiple ways. One of the best is by attaching it to their College of Education, where students work as assistants alongside fully licensed providers. For example, the University of Nevada, Reno has a model classroom through its Early Learning Center as well as a Head Start program . Children at campus-based early childhood centers often benefit from the most recent teaching methods.

Day Care Centers

Day care centers are professionally run and licensed facilities that group children by age. They have multiple providers available to supervise children, and some include preschool programs. National Association for the Education of Young Children accredits such facilities.

Preschools

Typically for 3- to 5-year-olds, preschools run activities to get children ready for kindergarten. They are usually available for only part of the day. Some well-known preschools include Montessori and Head Start , the latter of which is free for low-income families.

Family Day Care

Child care for multiple children in someone else's home is known as family day care. Most states require a license once family day care providers take in more than four children. They tend to be less expensive than traditional day cares, but they usually rely on one caregiver.

School-Age Child Care

This type of care can occur before or after regular school hours, and some providers of school-aged child care, such as the YMCA , may arrange transportation with local schools.

Child Care Co-Ops

Rather than pay for child care, some parents share child care duties with other parents throughout the week so that each parent takes turns looking after everyone else's kids. Even though a co-op is not licensed care, it can still be governed by state law, as it is in California.

Nannies

Nannies are a type of in-home care. With a nanny, children often get individualized attention from a caregiver. Having a nanny also decreases the need to shuttle children to care. Websites, such as Care.com, specialize in connecting parents with nannies. One advantage of using these websites is that they offer screenings of their caregivers. Protocols, however, differ between agencies and/or web-based services.

Babysitters

Babysitters are often short-term solutions for in-home care. Although they are typically well suited to meet the needs of a child, they are less likely to help with household chores or make meals. Sittercity connects parents to babysitters and babysitter-nanny hybrids.

Au Pairs

Au pairs are, by definition, young foreign students and usually live in the home. Available throughout the day and night, au pairs often come at a high price. In some cities, however, the cost of an au pair is comparable to day care.

Family Members

Another type of in-home care is utilizing relatives. Although some family members may be willing to take on child care with little to no cost, paying relatives for child care can establish boundaries and ensure care is there when parents need it.

Tips from an Expert:
Finding the Best Care for Your Child

While there's no shortage of options when it comes to child care, finding the right option can often be a struggle. Parents may wonder how to find care that fits their needs, budget and schedule. In order to help tackle this issue, we did some investigating and talked to Jacqueline Corey, director of the Manchester Child Development Center at the University of San Diego, to get some perspective.

Choosing the Right Program

Get Referrals

Corey recommends that parents “seek out referrals from local agencies, like the YMCA, family child care networks and government programs, like First 5 [a California initiative].”

Leverage Your Campus Institutions

Don't stop with the usual suspects. Corey also suggests, “If the campus has a women's center or student-life services coordinator, ask about the possibility of getting help with finding child care. Check the job board and employment center for the possibility of finding an in-home caregiver.”

Know What Your Values Are

“Every family has different needs and priorities,” says Corey, “so a common checklist for reviewing programs can be misleading. Look for a program whose written philosophy compliments your family values.”

Visit at the Right Time

What does this mean? Corey emphasizes that parents should “visit the program while it's in session to get a feel for how the classroom is run. Watch and listen to the teachers as they interact with children. Look around at the environment both indoors and out. Observe the children at play. Does it feel comfortable and natural? Are the children engaged and busy and having fun?”

Remember the Details

Corey encourages parents to “review policies and procedures to ensure that the hours, location and enrollment obligations will work for your family.” Even the best program can be a poor match if its hours don't line up with your schedule or if it is located on the other side of campus.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Financial Aid

Many child care directors have had the conversation about financial aid hundreds of times and may even expect it. Corey says, “Asking for financial support can be difficult, but most directors are happy to share any resources or ideas they might have up their sleeves to help parents access their program. Be upfront in asking about student discounts.”

Get Your Documentation in Order

To secure student discounts or other financial aid, you'll likely need identification or even bank statements or tax returns. Make sure you have such documentation so you can easily show financial need.

Understand How the Waiting List Works

According to Corey, “Waiting lists are very program-specific. In some cases, the sooner you get on the list, the better, but others are ranked according to university affiliation or other criteria. Inform yourself about the policies for the waiting lists you join so that there are no surprises when you get the call that a space is available.”

Save Up for a Deposit

Corey says, “Respond immediately when you are informed that a space is available for you and be prepared to put down a non-refundable deposit if necessary to hold a space for your child.”

Be Honest

Corey suggests being honest about the likelihood of enrolling a child in a program. She explains, “Directors usually need to keep our programs full, but we can sometimes be flexible about holding a space if we know the family is going to commit.”

The benefits of finding a solid on-campus program come down to more than cost and convenience, as Corey notes. “Parents appreciate knowing that their child is close by and in good hands,” she says. “We've been known to pop in for visits during lectures or might run into you on campus during an impromptu picnic. It is wonderful to share our campus backyard with the moms and dads who trust us with their children during the school day.”

Financial Aid Options: Paying for Child Care

Although there are many options for child care, some student-parents may have difficulty affording it. After all, traditional financial aid packages cover tuition and living expenses, not day cares and babysitters, which is why the  Federal Pell Grant  weighs single parenthood heavily. Single parents typically receive more free money toward tuition than peers without children, and  FAFSA4caster  can help them estimate how much.

Once that hurdle is cleared, student-parents should be aware of the avenues for child care financial aid. The federal government gives money directly to the states through the  Child Care and Development Fund , which is responsible for running child care assistance programs. There are general guidelines, including that money is typically reserved for low-income parents with children under 13. However, states can modify the requirements, meaning that income limits and the types of care it can be used toward vary. A list of  state contacts  can be found at the Office of Child Care, but many states work through local  community action agencies  to distribute these funds. These agencies specialize in connecting low-income citizens with social services they are eligible for.

Similarly, the  Child Care Access Means Parents  in School Program gives money directly to schools to maintain child care facilities that serve low-income populations. Any school on the  list of awardees  may either offer reduced tuition or have scholarships available, and all families can claim the  Child and Dependent Care Credit  regardless of income. But there's a catch: the tax credit only applies to child care during hours spent working or looking for work. However, considering many single parents in college also work, this simple step can save up to $600 per child.

Resources for Parents Looking for Child Care

Weren't taking notes? No worries. We've compiled some of the best resources – from babysitter apps to child care databases – for finding care when you need it.

• BabyCenter

  This site has plenty of expert advice on developmental and behavioral milestones for babies and toddlers. Use its recommendations to get your children into a program that helps them hit those milestones.

• Care.com

  Care.com is like Craigslist for child care, but with a lot more safeguards. Members can search for everything from preschools to bilingual babysitters.

• Child Care Aware

  Child Care Aware has plenty of advice. One of its best features is the Child Care Resource and Referral search tool. Users type in their zip code and are sent to a nonprofit agency that will make recommendations about nearby facilities.

• Community Action Partnership

  Low-income students can walk into their local community action agency, see what social benefits they are eligible for, including child care subsidies, and get in-person help applying.

• Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)

  Head Start and Early Head Start are federal programs administered at the state and local level. Use the ECLKC to find a local Head Start and see if your child is eligible to attend for free.

• Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

  Some of the money one spends on child care is returned at tax time through the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Before deciding on care, know which types are eligible for the credit.

• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

  NAEYC runs an online database of programs it accredits, covering over 7,000 facilities. It also has tips on selecting a program that best suits your family.

• Office of Child Care

  This government office gives financial assistance to low-income families to get child care. It has a full packet of parent resources, including safety regulations and contact details by state.

• Office of Head Start

  Head Start and Early Head Start are free child care facilities that also include some basic health screenings and nutrition services. Most Head Start families must be below the poverty level.

• Sittercity

  Sittercity is a website and app designed to help families find in-home care from either babysitters or nannies. The service allows free searches, but connecting to sitters requires a paid membership.

• Sitting Around

  For a small fee, get into a babysitting co-op or start a new one. Sitting Around has over 700 active co-ops in the U.S.

• YMCA

  YMCA has over 2,700 stateside locations, and child care is one of its specialties. Find a YMCA and ask about its day care, afterschool and camp programs.