Single Mothers Gain From Earning Their College Degree Online
March 22, 2010 by Natasha Bright
Filed under Financial Aid
Online college can help single mothers in many ways, and obtaining an online degree can be as good for the health as it is the pocketbook.
Completing higher education has been tied to good health on the part of graduates and their children according to a report from the ERIC Clearinghouse on Higher Education. Online college classes and online degree programs, like scholarships, fellowships, grants and other grants online, can help make continuing education a reality for single mothers.
Online college for single moms brings with it a greater ability to continue working and raising the children without interruption. Single mothers enrolled in online college classes and online degree programs can devote their child’s nap, school and bed time to their studies. Likewise, single mothers opting for online college don’t have to spend excess money on childcare, vehicle maintenance, gas or public transportation. So for single moms, college classes and degree programs taken online can also equate to a bit of a financial savings.
The majority of students enrolled in college are women, and many of them work and have families to care for as well, according to reports. Studies have also suggested that college can help single moms broaden their horizons and interact more with others. Some online college classes and pell grants for college are said to allow single mothers and others an opportunity to participate in interactive communities.
Online college for single moms can also improve their quality of life and the quality of life for children as well, studies suggest.
A report from the Institute for Higher Education Policy cites that more highly educated women are better consumers with greater savings. These women reportedly enjoy more hobbies, leisure activities and quality time with their children, helping to prepare their children for a better future. Single mothers and others who complete online college and obtain an online degree might also find that they’re more easily able to relinquish “control” and that they’re more open-minded, cultured, rational and consistent, a Carnegie Foundation Report suggests.
In the job marketplace, a single mom’s college degree can make her more competitive, able to earn more and be more of an asset to her employer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that people with bachelor degrees in 2007 earned a median $51,324 annually, where high school graduates without college degrees earned about $20,000 less per year. Most adolescents in low-income families live with single mothers and fathers without college degrees, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty.
For grants for single moms, college classes taken online can be more affordable with the help of grants, fellowships, scholarships, loans and work study programs. In addition to general college assistance programs for those who financially qualify, there are tuition assistance programs available exclusively to single mothers.
Single parents especially mothers nowadays are stronger than ever. They do multi-tasking and a lot of stuff just to give the best for their kids. This is something to commend about. And for aspiring mothers who desire to give their children a brighter future, I’m glad they could do it through online education.
Financial aid to single moms who are either working and/or studying in higher education are getting to be more and more common. Whether they be Federal or private grants, there are over 3,000 of these grants and you could check out the ones which best suit you.