2027 Best College Degrees for Single Parents
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For a single parent, a promising degree is only useful if classes, childcare, and the eventual job can fit together. The stakes are substantial: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a 2024 median annual wage of $93,600 for registered nurses, but nursing students must also complete clinical training and qualify for licensure. This guide compares degree fields through that practical lens. You'll learn which paths offer scheduling flexibility, which require in-person training, and how to weigh costs and career prospects before enrolling.
Key Things You Should Know
- For schedule flexibility, business, information technology, and some computer science programs are often easier to pursue part time than programs with required clinicals or student teaching; confirm the actual course schedule before applying.
- Higher occupational pay does not mean a quick or guaranteed payoff: BLS reports a 2024 median wage of $133,080 for software developers, a role that commonly requires a bachelor's degree and strong programming skills.
- Compare the complete path - not just tuition. The maximum Federal Pell Grant for 2025-26 is $7,395, but eligibility and award amounts vary, and some careers require additional exams, supervised practice, or licensure.
Top 10 Best College Degrees for Single Parents
Business Programs
Business administration and accounting offer broad career options and often have part-time or online bachelor's programs. Courses may cover finance, operations, and management; accounting is the more direct choice for students interested in bookkeeping or eventual CPA eligibility. An MBA or specialized master's can support advancement, but it usually makes more sense after gaining experience than as an entry-level starting point. Ask whether courses run asynchronously and whether a required internship or capstone fits your schedule. A business degree alone does not qualify someone for management.
Healthcare Programs
Healthcare administration, health information management, and public health may appeal to parents who want to work in healthcare without providing bedside care. Bachelor's programs can prepare students for administrative or information-focused roles; a master's in public health or healthcare administration is generally aimed at specialization or advancement. Some entry-level jobs accept other credentials, while leadership roles commonly require experience. Check internship requirements and whether the curriculum builds specific skills, such as health data analysis. These degrees do not confer a clinical license.
Information Technology Programs
Information technology degrees emphasize networks, systems, cloud services, and cybersecurity. An associate or bachelor's program can help students build practical skills, while an IT or cybersecurity master's usually serves experienced professionals seeking specialization. Online coursework may ease childcare planning, but labs, group projects, and deadlines still take time. Employers may also value demonstrated skills and relevant certifications. Ask about hands-on labs and career support; students seeking the shortest route into support work should compare degrees with certificates and other entry-level training.
Computer Science Programs
Computer science focuses on programming, algorithms, software design, and mathematical foundations. A bachelor's degree is a common preparation route for software development; a master's may help with advanced specialization but is not normally required for entry-level development work. Some programs offer online classes, yet substantial projects require predictable study time. Parents new to programming should examine math prerequisites and introductory course sequencing before committing. Compare the degree's total cost with opportunities to build a portfolio and obtain relevant experience.
Nursing Programs
An associate degree in nursing or a bachelor of science in nursing can provide a route toward registered nurse licensure, subject to state requirements and passing the NCLEX-RN. An MSN typically serves already licensed nurses pursuing advanced practice, education, or leadership; entry requirements differ by program. Nursing offers clear occupational direction but less control over training hours: labs and clinical placements may be in person and scheduled outside ordinary class times. Confirm clinical locations, shift expectations, and childcare coverage before enrolling.
Psychology Programs
A psychology bachelor's degree develops research and communication skills but does not qualify someone to practice independently as a psychologist or therapist. A master's in an appropriate counseling field may lead toward a particular counseling license, depending on state rules; psychologist licensure generally requires a doctoral degree. For parents, supervised training hours and eventual licensing requirements matter as much as whether lectures are online. Choose a specific occupation first, then verify the degree and accreditation that its licensing board accepts.
Education Programs
Education degrees can lead toward teaching when they meet state educator-preparation requirements. A bachelor's pathway may include classroom observations and student teaching, both of which constrain daytime availability. A master's in education may serve licensed teachers seeking development or, in an approved alternative pathway, career changers seeking initial licensure. Do not assume every online education master's qualifies graduates to teach. Check state approval, placement arrangements, exams, and whether a district's working hours will fit your family's needs.
Criminal Justice Programs
Criminal justice degrees examine courts, policing, corrections, and policy. A bachelor's can provide broad preparation, while a master's may be more relevant to experienced professionals seeking specialized or supervisory work. Neither credential automatically secures a law-enforcement job; agencies may impose separate training, background, physical, and shift requirements. Parents seeking predictable hours should research the specific occupation rather than infer schedules from the major. Compare a general criminal justice degree with more targeted study in accounting, social work, or information technology if those match your goal.
Engineering Programs
Engineering bachelor's degrees offer technical preparation but commonly require sequenced mathematics, labs, and design courses that can limit part-time scheduling. A master's is usually a specialization or advancement option for someone with suitable technical preparation, not a substitute for missing undergraduate foundations. Prospective students should check whether the relevant bachelor's program has ABET accreditation, particularly if professional engineering licensure may be a goal. Ask how often required courses run and whether laboratory attendance is mandatory before choosing an online or hybrid format.
Social Work Programs
A bachelor of social work can prepare students for some entry-level roles. A master of social work (MSW) is commonly required for clinical social work licensure, alongside supervised experience and other state requirements. Eligible BSW graduates may find advanced-standing MSW pathways, but admission and completion time depend on program rules. Both degree levels can require field placements with fixed hours, making placement support especially important for single parents. Confirm accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education and ask who arranges placements near home.
What Are the Best College Degrees for Single Parents?
The best degree is the one that connects a feasible study schedule to a career you actually want. For many single parents, business, IT, or computer science offers more choices about when to complete coursework. Nursing can offer a defined path into a licensed occupation, but clinical hours make childcare planning essential. Education and social work may fit a strong service-oriented goal, provided required placements are workable.
This comparison is a starting point, not a ranking of schools. It highlights the constraint most likely to affect a parent's ability to finish each path.
| Degree field | Potential advantage | Constraint to verify |
| Business or IT | Often offers online and part-time study options | Course availability, projects, and relevant work experience |
| Computer science or engineering | Technical preparation for specialized work | Math prerequisites, labs, and course sequencing |
| Nursing | Defined route toward a licensed occupation | Clinical scheduling and state licensure eligibility |
| Education or social work | Preparation for specific service careers | Placements, state requirements, and possible graduate study |
An online associates degree may be worth comparing if you need a shorter initial credential. Verify its actual completion requirements and whether credits will apply to the bachelor's program you may want later; an advertised timeline may assume prior credit.
Online degrees can be a good choice when they remove commuting and allow coursework around caregiving. Online does not necessarily mean self-paced. Classes may have live meetings, fixed deadlines, proctored exams, or group work. Nursing, teaching, social work, and some engineering programs also have in-person requirements that cannot be completed from home.
Ask for a sample term schedule showing live sessions, weekly workload, and any campus or placement requirements. If you can study only after your children are asleep, an asynchronous course with predictable deadlines may fit better than a live evening class. Also confirm that the specific program - not just the college - offers the delivery format you need and, where relevant, meets your state's licensure requirements.
College costs vary by institution, residency status, credential, and enrollment pace. Compare total cost to completion: tuition, mandatory and program fees, books, equipment, travel, placement-related expenses, and childcare. An online option can save commuting time without necessarily lowering tuition; a lower per-credit price may also cost more overall if fewer of your previous credits apply.
Request a degree audit and written cost estimate based on your expected course load and accepted transfer credits. When exploring what is the cheapest online college, compare the price of your intended program rather than the school's advertised starting rate. Subtract grants and scholarships only after reviewing your own aid offer, and consider whether attending full time would reduce earnings or increase childcare costs.
Business, IT, computer science, and some healthcare administration programs may offer more asynchronous or part-time options than fields requiring clinicals, fieldwork, or student teaching. That is a tendency, not a promise about any particular program. A part-time track helps only if required courses run frequently enough to keep you progressing.
Build a term-by-term plan with an advisor before enrolling. Identify when each required course is offered, whether summer enrollment is optional, and who will care for your children during exams or placements. A slower, reliable schedule can be a better choice than an accelerated plan that depends on childcare you cannot consistently arrange.
Start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to learn whether you qualify for federal grants, loans, or work-study; schools and states may use it for their own aid as well. Eligible students can also seek institutional scholarships, employer tuition assistance, and state or local childcare support. Aid depends on factors including financial need, enrollment, and whether the school and program participate in federal student aid.
If a full degree is not feasible yet, compare shorter credentials carefully. Some FAFSA-approved online certificate programs may offer an initial step, but federal aid eligibility must be confirmed for the specific program. Ask the financial aid office how part-time enrollment affects your award and what happens if you must withdraw or reduce your course load.
Undergraduate applicants generally need a high school diploma or equivalent; colleges may also request transcripts and placement information. Selective nursing, engineering, or teacher-preparation programs can have separate prerequisites or admission stages. Master's applicants typically need a bachelor's degree, while MSN and advanced-standing MSW pathways require additional qualifying preparation. GPA, test, experience, and prerequisite policies vary by program.
Before paying an application fee, ask admissions to evaluate your previous coursework and explain which credits satisfy general education, major, and prerequisite requirements. An online college no application fee can reduce the cost of applying, but its fee policy does not establish that your intended degree has flexible admission or scheduling.
Computer science and nursing can connect to relatively high-paying occupations, but no degree guarantees a job or wage. The BLS figures below are 2024 national median annual wages for occupations, not salaries earned by graduates of a particular major. Compare them with the training and experience needed to enter each role.
| Occupation | 2024 median annual wage | Important qualification |
| Software developer | $133,080 | Typically needs a bachelor's degree and programming ability |
| Registered nurse | $93,600 | Requires an approved nursing education pathway and state licensure |
| Accountant or auditor | $81,680 | Typically needs a bachelor's degree; CPA practice has further requirements |
| Social worker | $61,330 | Entry and clinical practice have different education and licensure requirements |
These medians cover workers at different career stages and locations. Use the entry requirements and likely local opportunities - not the highest number alone - to judge whether the time, cost, and schedule trade-offs make sense for your family.
Requirements depend on the occupation and state, not simply the degree's title. Registered nurses must meet state nursing-board requirements and pass the NCLEX-RN. Public school teachers generally need state certification. Clinical social workers and licensed counselors usually need an appropriate graduate degree, supervised experience, and a state license. CPA licensure has separate education, examination, and experience rules that vary by jurisdiction.
By contrast, a general business, IT, or computer science degree does not itself confer a professional license; voluntary certifications may still be useful for particular jobs. Before enrolling in a licensure-oriented program, check your state board's requirements and ask the school to confirm - in writing - whether its program is designed to meet them in your state.
How Can Single Parents Choose an Accredited College Program?
Start by confirming that the college has institutional accreditation from an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Then check whether your intended occupation calls for program-specific accreditation or approval. Examples include ACEN or CCNE accreditation for nursing programs, CSWE accreditation for social work programs, and ABET accreditation for relevant engineering programs. Accreditation alone does not guarantee licensure eligibility in every state.
A common mistake is checking the college's name but not the exact program, campus or online format, and state where you intend to work. Before accepting an offer, request the program's accreditation status, a written degree plan, its full fee schedule, placement requirements, and a transfer-credit evaluation. If a school cannot clearly explain those details, keep comparing options.
Other Things You Should Know About
Business or IT may be good starting points because many programs offer part-time or online coursework. Check live-class requirements and course availability at each school; the most flexible field on paper may not have the most workable local program.
Some nursing coursework may be online, but programs leading to registered nurse licensure require hands-on clinical training. Ask where and when clinical placements occur before relying on an online description.
Match the credential to the job you want. An associate degree may offer an earlier entry point for some roles, while other occupations commonly require a bachelor's. If you expect to continue studying, confirm how each course would apply to the later degree.
Compare full program costs, complete the FAFSA, seek scholarships and childcare assistance, and have previous credits evaluated before enrolling. Choose a course load you can sustain; withdrawing can increase costs and affect financial aid.
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