| The economic downturn has led many parents | | | | Although Pegues's family is currently struggling to |
| nationwide to realize their careers are not | | | | keep him in school and stay afloat financially, he |
| recession-proof. As a result, many families are forced | | | | hopes his pursuit of his first degree will "set a |
| to adjust their lifestyles by obtaining secondary | | | | precedent for his family" and inspire his children to go |
| incomes, reorganizing their budgets or making mid-life | | | | to college, he told the Odessa American. |
| career changes. | | | | Many parents seeking an advanced degree are also |
| The recession has led many parents to "go back to | | | | choosing to gain their education through online |
| school to learn more methods for dealing with the | | | | programs, including Nevonna Davis, who works in the |
| bad economy," Chandra Muller, a sociology professor | | | | accounting department at the Veterans |
| at the University of Texas at Austin, told the Daily | | | | Administration in Miami. |
| Texan. However, Muller added, rising tuition at | | | | A single mother of a four year-old boy, Davis |
| traditional universities has many students - particularly | | | | "decided to enroll in Kaplan University online classes" in |
| continuing students who have family responsibilities - | | | | order to "have more time with her son," she told |
| seeking more convenient alternatives, such as those | | | | CBS4. |
| offered by online universities. | | | | Single parents such as Davis who are seeking |
| The cost of a four-year degree program at a public | | | | convenient and relatively inexpensive options to |
| institution has risen 6.5 percent over the past year, | | | | continue their education, such as online degree |
| according to the College Board. Consequently, parents | | | | programs, may benefit from financial aid opportunities. |
| who are already paying or preparing to pay for their | | | | For example, Denny's Single Parent Student |
| children's higher education need to find less expensive | | | | Scholarship provides $1,500 awards to mothers and |
| options to fund their own educational pursuits. | | | | fathers who are the sole providers for their children |
| Kenneth Pegues, for example, chose to pursue an | | | | wishing to obtain college degrees. |
| associates degree in occupational safety online at | | | | Although she said she is "pretty secure" in her |
| Odessa College in Odessa, Texas after an accident | | | | current position, Davis is hoping to get a promotion |
| left him unable to continue working at his restaurant | | | | that will allow her to better provide for her child, she |
| job. | | | | added. |