Americans Believe Even Stay-at-Home Moms Need an Education, According to New Research from eLearners.com
Hoboken, New Jersey (March 18, 2010) — A new survey by eLearners.com (http://www.elearners.com), a web resource of EducationDynamics, which connects prospective students with online degrees, found that nearly three in four (72 percent) Americans believe a college education is a good backup plan for stay-at-home moms who might need to work in the future. With many jobs in construction and manufacturing eliminated, men have felt the effects of the economy the hardest. In 2009, more men than women lost jobs, suddenly forcing many women to become the primary breadwinners in their family. According to a report released by the Center for American Progress in October 2009, more than one in three (39.3 percent) mothers is the primary breadwinner for their family. This trend has been referred to by some as a “mancession.”
“With more men facing hard times in this economy, this research shows that people are starting to think ahead and create alternate plans,” said Terrence Thomas, Executive Vice President of Marketing for eLearners.com. “Families no longer feel secure with just one person working and many households are starting to consider all the options, which means additional education for some.”
The eLearners.com survey (click for full details) also found that more women than men (75 percent vs. 68 percent) think a college education is a good thing for moms to have, in case they need to rejoin the workforce after being at home for a while.
Other Key Findings
- Career Plan
Almost six in ten (59 percent) believe a mother getting an education beyond a high school diploma is crucial in order to get a job in today’s market. - Smart Thinking
Close to seven in ten (69 percent) Americans think a mother being educated beyond high school is a wise decision. - Additional Benefits
Personal growth is an added benefit. Americans believe a mother who seeks post-high school education after having children become good role models to their children (67 percent) and can use this as a valuable way to interact with other adults (50 percent). Women are more likely than men (56 percent vs. 44 percent) to observe that a post-high school education is good for moms looking to interact with other adults. - The Minority Opinions
Only three percent of Americans feel it’s unnecessary for a mother to be educated beyond high school, while a mere two percent think it’s a waste of time and another two percent feel it’s a waste of money.
“Even if it’s just for peace of mind, people realize the importance of a college degree,” continued Thomas. “The beauty of online education is that you can get a degree without sacrificing family time. Online students can study from home and can fit their school work around their family’s schedule.”
To help more parents, especially moms, afford a college education, eLearners.com created Project Working Mom. In its fourth cycle, the Project Working Mom program has already awarded about $6 million in full-tuition scholarships to more than 150 parents. Project Working Mom 2010 is currently underway offering close to $5 million in full-tuition scholarships. For more information and to apply for a scholarship visit www.projectworkingmom.com.
About eLearners.com®
eLearners.com is one of several high visibility websites operated by EducationDynamics. Since 1999, eLearners.com has been successfully connecting learners to online education, including online degree and certificate programs, specialized career training, and a variety of online courses. For prospective students, eLearners.com provides a powerful search engine for users to find thousands of online degree program offerings, as well as educational evaluation tools and financial aid resources. For online colleges and universities, the eLearners.com website offers a low-cost, performance-based method to provide national exposure and increase enrollments in their online learning programs. For more information on eLearners.com, visit http://www.eLearners.com.
About EducationDynamics
EducationDynamics, a portfolio company of Halyard Capital, is higher education's leading marketing services company dedicated to helping institutions find, enroll and retain students. Its content-rich and highly visible education websites, including EarnMyDegree.com, eLearners.com, GradSchools.com, StudyAbroad.com, and its more than 50 special interest microsites, make EducationDynamics the premier provider of qualified prospective students for colleges and universities. In addition, the company offers a full suite of Web-delivered services proven to drive enrollment growth and reduce student attrition. Through its Market Research Services division, the company brings a decade of proprietary research, unparalleled market and student intelligence, and best practice insights to its clients. For more information, visit http://www.educationdynamics.com.
Survey Methodology
The eLearners.com Project Working Mom Survey was conducted by Kelton Research between January 22nd and January 28th, 2010 using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total U.S. population ages 18 and over.
Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.
){kind=link}