2025

One in five U.S. college students are raising children, yet they receive far less financial help from their parents compared to childless students. Instead, student parents rely heavily on Pell Grants, loans, jobs, and support from partners to cover tuition and living costs. Despite having similar GPAs to their peers, student parents are more likely to leave college without a degree due to financial strain and childcare challenges. Completing a degree has life-changing benefits for student parents, especially single mothers, boosting lifetime earnings and reducing poverty. Expanding Pell Grants, reforming aid programs, and providing on-campus childcare and housing could greatly improve student parents’ chances of success.

Examination of the Family First Act (FFA) to increase the CTC to as much as $4200, while also extending benefits to pregnant mothers. In this brief, we assess who will benefit most from changes to the CTC and whether it can effectively support families and halt falling fertility.

Many Americans are divided politically, but they strongly agree on the value of family time and the need for paid parental leave. Support for these policies is widespread across parties and states, with more states adopting family leave in recent years. Research shows that paternity leave in particular strengthens father-child bonds, supports healthier relationships between parents, and benefits families long term. However, access in the U.S. remains limited, and cultural stigma still discourages many fathers from taking leave. With growing public support, now is the time to expand access and create workplace cultures that normalize and encourage paid parental leave.