Cuts to Campus Child Care Grants Hit Student Parents
Low-income college parents who depend on subsidized child care are being forced to reduce course loads or leave school.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Child Care
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The Trump administration has awarded fewer federal grants for campus child care programs, and some low-income college students have quit or reduced their course loads as a result. Among them is Larissa Saucillo, 33, who was making progress toward becoming a nurse at the start of this semester until the change affected her ability to keep attending.
Why it matters
For student parents, reliable child care is often the difference between staying enrolled and dropping out, particularly for low-income students pursuing degrees that lead to higher-paying work. Reduced federal grant funding for campus programs puts that support at risk across the country.
The reporting rests on a individual account of a student-parent who had secured an evening child care slot funded by a federal grant for low-income students with children, and on a description that some students have quit or reduced their course loads. No aggregate count of affected students or grants was provided.
The players
Trump administration
The federal executive branch whose grant decisions shape funding for campus child care programs nationwide.
The details
Federal grants for campus child care programs help colleges pay for on-site care, which allows low-income student parents to attend class and study while their children are supervised. Evening programs are especially valuable for students who work or attend classes during the day. When fewer grants are awarded, colleges have less money to keep these services open or expand them, and students who depended on a seat can lose it. Saucillo's situation illustrates how one funding decision can ripple into a student's academic plans.
Timeline
Start of this semester: Larissa Saucillo was progressing toward nursing and had secured her daughter's evening child care slot.
Child Care Landscape
Campus child care programs funded through the federal CCAMPIS grant program have long been one of the few federal supports aimed specifically at student parents, a group that is more likely than other students to be low-income. Reductions to these awards shift the burden of child care costs back onto individual families who are already balancing school and work.
If you are a student parent, check whether your college offers on-site or subsidized child care and ask the financial aid office about current options before the term begins. Keeping your children in stable care can reduce stress that affects both study time and personal well-being, and it is worth discussing your options with a trusted advisor or counselor.
The takeaway
Stable child care is a practical foundation for student parents finishing degrees, and changes to federal grant funding can quickly affect whether they stay enrolled. Ask your college's financial aid or student services office whether child care support is available to you this term.
Further reading
For broader context on how families manage care costs while pursuing school and work, see Child Care in our family coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Washington Post.
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Should the federal government increase funding for campus child care for low-income students?
