Parenting Students
Student parents at UC
Parenting students are an essential part of the University of California (UC) community. Despite disproportionate basic needs challenges, they are more likely to work and volunteer than nonparenting students. They are also more likely to be transfer students, first-generation students and members of underrepresented groups (URGs). However, they graduate less often than their nonparenting counterparts. This website provides resources and information relevant to understanding the student parent population at UC and supporting their success.
Resources
Guidance to Campuses
- AB 2881 Guidance: Public Postsecondary Education Implementation Guidance for Students with Dependent Children
- Parenting Student Financial Aid Budgets and Guidance (PDF)
Financial Aid
- Maximizing Financial Aid for Parents: SHEEO conference slides
Legislation or measures implemented 2019-2025
Data
- 2025 Student Parent Brief
- Undergraduate Student Parent Infographic
- Graduate Student Parent Infographic
- Student basic needs dashboard | University of California (see "subgroups" tab and select "parenting students")
UC Webinar on Parenting Students
Reports
- Basic Needs Annual Report to the Regents of the University of California 2025 (PDF)
- Basic Needs Annual Report to the Regents of the University of California 2024 (PDF)
- California Student Aid Commission Food and Housing Basic Needs Survey 2023 (PDF)
California Student Parent Relevant Legislation
- Bill Text - AB-2881 Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children.
- Bill Text - AB-2458: Public postsecondary education: student parents.
- Bill Text - AB-2033 Public postsecondary education: electronic benefits transfer cards: basic needs services and resources.
- Bill Text - SB-271 Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children: childcare services, resources, and programs.
Student Parent Resource Centers
- Berkeley: Home | Student Parent Center
- Davis: Student Parent Resources
- Irvine:
- UCLA: Welcome to the Students with Dependents Program | Students with Dependents Program
- Merced: Parenting Student Resources | Student Affairs
- Riverside:
- San Diego: Resources for Students With Dependents
- San Francisco: Student Resources
- Santa Barbara:
- Santa Cruz: Students as Parents – Division of Student Affairs and Success
Click here for more information on Campus Basic Needs Centers
Student Parent Facts
- About 2 percent of undergraduate UCUES student respondents in 2022 (1,015) and 2024 (865) identified as parents.
- About 11 percent of graduate UCGSES student respondents in 2021 (1,352) and 2023 (1,485) identified as parents.
- Undergraduate parenting students are more likely to be food insecure (64%) and housing insecure (25%) than nonparenting students (46% and 7%, respectively).
- Graduate parenting students are more likely to feel prepared for post-graduation job searches (45%) but less likely to agree they can balance work and family commitments (34%) than nonparenting students (34% and 42%, respectively).
- Undergraduate parenting students are more likely to work (55%) and volunteer (62%) than nonparenting students (48% and 42%, respectively).
- Undergraduate parenting students are more likely to be first-generation students (63%) than non-parenting students (39%).