Student parents rate access to campus-based child care as an important factor affecting their college enrollment. Unfortunately, such services are often in very short supply, particularly for low-income parents who may find the cost of existing services prohibitive. This may leave students with less access to child care services. This is crucial given that people who receive public assistance and then complete college are far more likely to leave welfare permanently than those who do not. There is no question that a person's earning potential increases dramatically with a college degree.
Higher education is crucial to getting a job in today's global job market.
More than half of the new jobs that have been and will be created between 1995 and 2000 will require education beyond high school. While nearly 40 percent of American jobs are currently in lowskill occupations, only 27 percent will fall in that category by the year 2000. Over the same period, high-skill occupations will grow from 24 to 41 percent of the work force. Getting the skills necessary to meet these market demands simply requires higher and higher levels of educational achievement. Student parents are more likely to remain in school, and to graduate sooner and at a higher rate if they have campus-based child care.