| Some individuals who choose to start a family also | | | | Individuals who still want to stay at home while their |
| make the decision to put their personal lives on hold. | | | | kids are in school can look for schools online in order to |
| They feel that their duties are best suited to looking | | | | achieve new professional qualifications. They can |
| after the kids and taking care of the home. However, | | | | study on a more flexible basis, setting aside time when |
| with the emergence of more schools online and the | | | | they're not carrying out parental responsibilities, and be |
| ability for individuals to study on a flexible schedule, | | | | finished with coursework by the time children come |
| college for parents is not as mythic a pursuit as it may | | | | home. This way, parents are better able to help out |
| have once seemed. | | | | with their children's homework, or take kids to after |
| Taking the first step towards completing one's | | | | school activities. |
| education, or heading back to school for additional | | | | Although U.S. Department of Education information |
| qualifications can, at times, seem daunting. Parents | | | | cited in the CBS News report noted that the average |
| might want to consider, however, that the average | | | | cost for a year's worth of studies at a four-year |
| adult these days is estimated to spend $222,360 from | | | | institution is $30,393, that figure includes room and |
| the time a child is born until he or she graduates high | | | | board and other expenses in addition to tuition. Online |
| school, according to a June CBS News report citing | | | | college, university and career and technical school |
| Agriculture Department information. The more | | | | studies require little more than tuition, and scholarships, |
| education an individual has, the more money he or she | | | | fellowships and grants for college might help offset |
| typically makes, U.S. Department of Labor statistics | | | | that cost. Choosing an online degree program can also |
| show. | | | | help save on additional childcare costs, particularly in |
| A college education can also help parents enter fields | | | | families that include one parent who works full time. In |
| that fulfill them. The Daily American newspaper | | | | instances where parents work full-time and want to |
| recently reported on one mother whose parental | | | | continue their education, they can find online degree |
| experiences at school inspired her own return to | | | | programs at a variety of levels. |
| school. Darlene Pritt, who is now a school district acting | | | | Parents seeking tuition assistance for online college, |
| superintendent in the Pittsburgh area, explained that her | | | | university and career and technical school studies can |
| kids helped her realize that in order to succeed | | | | look toward the federal government, large |
| professionally at the career of her dreams, returning to | | | | corporations, non-profit organizations and community |
| school was her only option. | | | | and civic groups. Some scholarships, fellowships and |
| "As I was growing up, I often played school and I was | | | | grants for college might be offered based on financial |
| the teacher - the one in charge of my sister and | | | | need, while others are provided based on a variety of |
| cousins." she told The Daily American. "When my | | | | factors. Some organizations also offer tuition |
| children were in school, I became a homeroom parent. | | | | assistance intended to encourage certain |
| That inspired me to go back to school." | | | | demographics, such as women and minorities, to |
| Stories like Pritt's indicate that a return to college for | | | | continue their education. Some financial aid offerings |
| parents is not only welcomed, but is far from out of | | | | promote studies in specific areas. Many scholarships, |
| the ordinary. Her story is, in fact, borne out in a June | | | | fellowships and grants for college are available only in |
| New York Times article. The majority of mothers - 54 | | | | instances where online college, university and career |
| percent - now have a college education, as compared | | | | and technical schools or their programs are accredited. |
| with 41 percent who did in 1990, the article noted. While | | | | Accreditation serves as a signal to the U.S. |
| some of this might have to do with a trend in delaying | | | | Department of Education that an institution offers |
| motherhood, parents who want to help their offspring | | | | quality programs deserving of financial aid. When an |
| be productive members of society might help that | | | | institution is accredited, it's also more likely that students |
| along by providing a good example. Working hard at | | | | can transfer credits and that employers would look |
| online degree programs or taking on-campus courses | | | | more favorably upon their degrees, the U.S. |
| is one way that these individuals can communicate | | | | Department of Education notes. |
| their dedication and drive to their kids. | | | | |