2027 Best College Degrees for Parents
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Choosing a degree while raising children means comparing more than career prospects: you need to know whether classes, required fieldwork, and costs fit your family's week. The decision matters because opportunities differ substantially by occupation; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects registered nurse employment to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034. This guide compares degree fields and credentials for parents, including online-friendly options and paths that require in-person training. You'll learn how to check schedules, calculate costs, and avoid enrolling in a program that cannot lead to your intended job.
Key Things You Should Know
- Business, information technology, and some computer science degrees often offer easier-to-schedule coursework; nursing, education, and social work commonly require placements or supervised practice.
- For 2024-25, College Board reports average published tuition and fees of $4,050 at public two-year colleges and $11,610 for in-state students at public four-year colleges. Neither figure is a complete degree price.
- Start with the job and required credential, then compare part-time schedules, transfer evaluations, total costs, accreditation, and any state licensing rules before applying.
Top 10 Best College Degrees for Parents
Business Programs
A master's in business administration, accounting, or management may suit parents with a bachelor's degree who want to build on existing work experience. Part-time online coursework can be practical, but group projects, live sessions, and recruiting events may still require fixed hours. An MBA is usually broader than a specialized accounting master's; neither automatically leads to promotion. If your goal is entry-level business work, compare the cost of a bachelor's completion program or targeted certificate before paying for graduate school. Ask whether your prior degree triggers foundation courses.
Healthcare Programs
Healthcare master's programs span public health, health administration, and clinical fields. An MPH or health administration degree may fit a parent seeking analytical or operational work rather than direct patient care, although internships or experience may matter for hiring. Clinical master's programs can require specific prior credentials, supervised hours, and state approval. Do not treat "online healthcare" as a promise of home-based study or remote employment. Compare the exact occupation you want with the program's admission prerequisites and in-person requirements.
Information Technology Programs
A master's in information technology, cybersecurity, or information systems may help experienced workers move toward specialized technical or organizational roles. Online labs can offer scheduling flexibility, but team projects and proctored assessments may not be self-paced. Parents entering tech for the first time should compare graduate prerequisites with a bachelor's degree, certificate, or entry-level experience. A cybersecurity degree alone does not substitute for the practical skills, experience, or security clearance an employer may require.
Computer Science Programs
A computer science master's can suit parents with programming and mathematics preparation who want deeper study in software, systems, or AI. Career-change programs may admit applicants from other majors but require bridge coursework that adds time and cost. Coding assignments can be completed at home, while deadlines remain firm. Choose this route for technical depth rather than assuming a graduate credential is necessary for every developer job; a relevant bachelor's degree and demonstrated skills may be a better starting point.
Nursing Programs
Nursing master's degrees generally serve licensed registered nurses seeking advanced clinical, educational, or leadership preparation. Admission may require an RN license and nursing background; clinical tracks also involve supervised placements and state-specific rules. Parents should confirm who finds placements, when shifts occur, and whether local sites qualify. If you are not yet a nurse, first compare approved associate or bachelor's nursing pathways and their in-person clinical schedules. An online lecture does not eliminate hands-on training or guarantee advanced-practice licensure.
Psychology Programs
A psychology master's may emphasize research, applied behavior, or preparation for a particular counseling path. These purposes are not interchangeable: psychologist licensure typically requires doctoral education, while counseling licensure depends on the state and the program's specific curriculum and supervised training. Research-focused coursework may fit parents who need predictable study hours, but practicum placements can constrain a clinical path. Before applying, identify the job title you want and ask the relevant state board whether the degree meets its educational requirements.
Education Programs
Education master's programs may support teaching, curriculum work, or school leadership, depending on the track. Some are designed for already licensed teachers; initial-licensure routes have different prerequisites and usually require supervised student teaching. Evening or online classes will not necessarily make a daytime school placement flexible. Parents should check their state's approval rules and ask schools whether they can arrange placements near home. If you need an initial teaching credential, do not assume a general master's in education provides one.
Criminal Justice Programs
A criminal justice master's can deepen study of policy, administration, or research for people already working in public service. Reading- and writing-intensive online courses may be easier to schedule around childcare than a field-based program, but supervisory jobs commonly require experience beyond a degree. Parents considering policing, corrections, or federal roles should check each employer's hiring, training, physical, and background requirements first. A less costly bachelor's or job-specific training path may be sufficient for entry.
Engineering Programs
An engineering master's usually builds on substantial undergraduate mathematics and engineering preparation. It can be useful for specialization, but laboratories, design teams, and research projects may limit schedule flexibility. A parent changing fields should ask whether prerequisite courses would make a second bachelor's degree more practical. Professional engineer licensure is separate from graduation and generally involves education, examinations, and qualifying experience under state rules. Check whether the intended role actually needs a master's before committing to graduate tuition.
Social Work Programs
A master of social work (MSW) is the usual graduate pathway toward clinical social work, but the degree alone does not grant a clinical license. Field placements require substantial scheduled time; graduates generally must also meet state supervised-practice and examination rules. Parents with a qualifying bachelor of social work may be eligible for an advanced-standing MSW, subject to the school's rules. Compare placement hours and available sites before choosing between part-time and accelerated study: a shorter academic calendar does not make required fieldwork optional.
What Are the Best College Degrees for Parents?
The best college degree for a parent is the one that meets a specific career goal without requiring a schedule or debt load the family cannot sustain. These are degree fields, not a ranking of schools. Start with the credential needed for your target job - associate, bachelor's, or master's - then weigh the field against your available study hours and childcare coverage.
The comparison below shows why the same degree can be a strong choice for one parent and a poor fit for another. Requirements vary by occupation and program.
| Degree field | Potential fit for parents | Key trade-off |
| Business | Broad career uses and often workable part-time coursework | General degrees may not provide a direct route to a specific job |
| Information technology or computer science | Substantial coursework may be done from home | Technical prerequisites, projects, and employer skill expectations |
| Nursing | Defined clinical career pathway | Required in-person clinical hours and licensure steps |
| Education or social work | Clear fit for service-oriented goals | Placements and state-specific credential rules |
Already have a bachelor's degree? A focused graduate program may make more sense than starting over, but speed depends on prerequisites, course sequencing, and any fieldwork. Compare one year masters programs online only after checking what previous preparation their advertised timelines assume.
For busy parents, an online degree works best when both its weekly schedule and its completion requirements are manageable. Asynchronous courses allow students to access lessons outside scheduled class meetings, but they still have deadlines. Live online classes can provide structure while requiring dependable childcare at set times. Neither format removes required labs, internships, clinicals, or student teaching.
Business, IT, and some computer science degrees are worth investigating for remote coursework. A parent pursuing nursing, teaching, or clinical social work should plan around local placements even if academic classes are online. Ask whether part-time students can get required courses every term, whether exams are proctored, and whether the school helps secure a nearby placement.
Be especially careful with unusually short timelines. A 6 month masters degree online may depend on previous credits, intensive enrollment, or a narrowly defined pathway; verify the full curriculum and calendar rather than assuming it will fit around parenting and work.
Degree cost depends on the institution, credits still needed, residency status, enrollment pace, and expenses outside tuition. College Board's 2024-25 national averages provide a starting benchmark for published tuition and fees, not a quote for an individual program:
- Public two-year colleges: $4,050 for in-district students.
- Public four-year colleges: $11,610 for in-state students.
Compare the cost to finish, not just the price per credit: request a degree audit showing accepted transfer credits, remaining courses, mandatory fees, books, equipment, and any travel or placement costs. Living expenses and childcare can also affect what a family must finance. Ask about federal financial aid eligibility, grants, employer tuition assistance, and payment plans. A longer part-time program may be easier to fund each term but can increase total fees or delay entry into the intended occupation.
No degree guarantees a salary. BLS occupational medians describe people already working in a role - not the earnings of recent graduates or the payoff from a particular program. The figures below can help parents identify careers worth researching alongside entry requirements and local opportunities.
| Occupation | 2024 U.S. median annual pay | Important qualification |
| Software developer | $133,080 | Employers assess programming ability; a master's is not generally required for entry. |
| Registered nurse | $93,600 | Requires an approved nursing education pathway and state licensure. |
| Social worker | $61,330 | Requirements vary by role; clinical practice requires further state licensing steps. |
For a parent who must work from home, job location matters as much as pay. Software and some business or IT roles may offer remote opportunities, while patient care and school placements cannot generally be done remotely. If that constraint drives your choice, compare the best degree for remote work with actual job postings and their experience requirements. Then weigh likely career access against program cost, time away from paid work, and childcare needs.
Certificates can be a faster way to test an interest or gain a specific skill, but duration depends on the curriculum and required training. Parents might compare a college certificate in bookkeeping, IT support, medical coding, or a technical specialty with the entry requirements in local job postings. A certificate is not interchangeable with a professional certification, license, or degree.
If you may pursue a degree later, ask whether certificate courses carry college credit and apply to that exact program. An associate degree is a different credential with broader course requirements; advertised fast-track options, including 1 year associate degree programs online, may assume substantial transferable credit or an intensive schedule. Request a written evaluation of what you would still need to complete.
Coursework should match both the career and the credential level. Business students may study accounting, finance, and operations; IT students may work on networks and systems; computer science students study programming and computational concepts. Nursing adds patient-care preparation and clinical training. Education programs may require teaching methods and classroom practice, while social work programs combine policy and practice with field education.
At the master's level, expect more specialized work and possibly a capstone, thesis, practicum, or internship. Ask for the required course sequence - not just a sample list of electives. A parent who can study at night still needs to know whether the final term includes daytime fieldwork or a course offered only once a year.
Adult learners typically apply using prior transcripts, but requirements depend on the school and credential. An undergraduate applicant may need proof of secondary education and transcripts from every college attended; a master's applicant generally needs a bachelor's degree. Selective programs can also require prerequisites, a minimum GPA, a portfolio, an interview, professional experience, or an existing license. Do not assume a college's general admission policy applies to nursing or another separately admitted program.
Before enrolling, request a program-specific review of previous coursework. Confirm which credits satisfy general education, major, and elective requirements; any grade or course-age rules; and the credits you must complete at the new school. Work experience or professional credentials earn academic credit only when an institution offers and approves a relevant evaluation process.
First, verify the college's current institutional accreditation with the accreditor or the U.S. Department of Education's accreditation records. Then check whether the specific program needs separate accreditation or state approval for your goal. For example, a nursing pathway must meet applicable state board requirements, and licensure-track teaching, counseling, and social work programs need scrutiny against the rules where you intend to work.
Ask the school to identify the exact degree and campus or online program covered by its approval. Confirm licensure eligibility with the relevant state board before paying a deposit, particularly if the school is based in another state. Institutional accreditation alone does not establish that a graduate can sit for a particular professional exam.
How Should Parents Choose a Reputable College Program?
Start with the job you want and work backward to the minimum useful credential. Then compare schools using the same questions: What courses remain after transfer evaluation? When are required classes offered? Which activities require fixed hours or travel? What is the estimated total cost to graduate? For a licensed occupation, will the program meet the rules in your state?
Ask for answers in writing, including placement responsibilities and the schedule available to part-time students. Red flags include vague claims that "online" means self-paced, a short completion estimate that ignores prerequisite credits, or salary claims presented as guaranteed graduate outcomes. The strongest choice is a program you can finish and afford that actually prepares you for your intended next step.
Other Things You Should Know About
Yes, many programs offer online coursework. Check for live meetings, fixed deadlines, exams, and required in-person activities before deciding whether the schedule fits your childcare arrangements.
Business, IT, and some computer science programs may offer workable part-time schedules. Your best option also depends on your prior credits, career goal, course availability, and how many study hours you can reliably protect.
Possibly, but acceptance is not the same as applying credit toward your chosen major. Request an official evaluation that identifies remaining requirements before relying on a completion estimate.
Not necessarily. Compare job requirements with a bachelor's degree, certificate, approved licensure pathway, or entry-level experience first. A master's makes more sense when it provides preparation your intended role actually requires or values.
- Education pays: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm
- Certification Procedures - Questions and Answers http://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/certification-procedures-questions-and-answers
- GAC - Chapter 135-5 REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/135-5
- FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
- Licensure for Administrators and Student Services | NC DPI https://www.dpi.nc.gov/educators/educators-licensure/licensure-administrators-and-student-services
- Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) | dol.gov https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/benefits-leave/fmla
- Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment - COE https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cba/annual-earnings
- UWM Online https://uwm.edu/online/
- Undergraduate Transfer Credit and Credit for Prior Learning | charlotte.edu https://provost.charlotte.edu/policies-procedures/academic-policies-and-procedures/undergraduate-transfer-credit-credit-for-prior-learning/
- Estimated Costs of Attending New York Tech https://www.nyit.edu/admissions/costs-and-aid/tuition-and-costs/
