Bucks has been awarded the 2025-26 Parent Pathways Grant for the first time in the school’s history. The grant has been given to support parenting students trying to earn college credentials through tuition assistance, emergency funding, and wrap-around service supports.
The Parent Pathways Grant has been allocated to several higher-education institutes across Pennsylvania totaling more than $1.6 million and is awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Deputy Secretary for Postsecondary and Higher Education, Dr. Lynette Kuhn, announced the award, and the fact that Bucks was the recipient.
“Students across Pennsylvania are balancing the responsibilities of raising children while pursuing a postsecondary education. One of our top priorities is making sure all students have the opportunity to achieve their educational goals, and the Parent Pathways grant program gives students a chance by removing some of the barriers that may otherwise prevent them from completing their education,” Kuhn stated.
Kuhn added, “we will continue to work with Governor Shapiro and the administration to make higher education in the commonwealth more accessible and affordable to all students.”
Not only is this Bucks’ first time receiving this grant, but also the first time a college or university in Bucks County has been a recipient of the Parent Pathways Grant.
President and CEO of Bucks, Dr. Patrick M. Jones, stated, “this kind of grant will change lives for generations.”
Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Samantha Gross, also spoke about grant access within community colleges.
“On average, parenting students concur approximately $6,000 more in opportunity costs than non-parenting peers when pursuing secondary education,” Gross says.
Without intentional support, many parent-students can face forced withdrawals or delays in their education. This is one of the reasons the Parent Pathways Grant is given to support these students.
One of Bucks’ students, Siam Rodriguez, who hopes to go to medical school in pursuit of an M.D. to become a cardiologist, took the stage to speak about the challenges she faces balancing school and raising three children.
“Being a parent in college is very hard because you wake up early, get home late, and have to ship-up priorities. It can be very overwhelming,” Rodriguez said, explaining that despite each hurdle, “it’s worth it. Every sacrifice, every exhausting moment, it’s an investment.”
Rodriguez believes grants like Parent Pathways make parent-students feel like they belong in higher education. “Our journeys are worth investing in, many of us do it not just for ourselves, but for our children’s futures as well,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez believes that within any parent-student’s journey, the children are observing their hard work, dedication, and discipline while attending school. “This grant being received shows us that students don’t have to choose between staying in school or having to step away from our families,” said Rodriguez.
The Parent Pathways Grant is an acknowledgment of the Pennsylvania Department of Education to support parents in higher education; an effort to provide parenting students with the same opportunities non-parenting peers have access to.
Other recipients of the Parent Pathways Grant within Pennsylvania include:
Allegheny County
- Community College of Allegheny College, $150,000
- Point Park University, $150,000
Berks County
- Reading Area Community College, $150,000
Bucks County
- Bucks County Community College, $150,000
Delaware County
- Eastern University, $150,000
- Pennsylvania Institute of Technology, $144,600
Lycoming County
- Pennsylvania College of Technology, $150,000
Northampton County
- Northampton Community College, $150,000
Philadelphia County
- Chestnut Hill College, $150,000
- Saint Joseph’s University, $150,000
Westmoreland County
- Seton Hill University, $150,000