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Abstract
Single mothers and their children have the highest poverty rate with over 43% being impoverished. Currently, 43% of parenting students in higher education are single mothers, but only 27% complete a degree or certification within six years of enrollment. The purpose of the current study is to identify the key programs and services that higher education institutions could implement in order to assist low-income single mothers in the completion of a postsecondary degree or certification. Fifty individuals were invited to participate in the current Delphi Study; however, 14 completed the entire five-round study process. The participants rated and identified programs and services low-income single mothers needed to complete a degree in higher education and also ranked the four categories of programs and services. The four categories were ranked from most important to least important as follows: institutional programs and services, social services, academic programs and services, and family support programs and services. The top five programs and services selected by the participants were, childcare services, financial aid services, financial assistance, class times available for working single mothers, and child-friendly on campus study spaces. From the results, an evaluative scorecard was created for institutions of higher education to review their current programs and services.
