Being a single mom comes with its unique set of challenges, but it doesn’t have to hinder your dreams and aspirations. Returning to school as an adult can open doors to a world of empowering opportunities for both you and your children. The journey of seeking higher education as a single mom is a transformative experience, one that not only enhances skills but also holds the potential to significantly impact the financial stability and future for your family.

At University of Massachusetts Global, we offer online degrees that fit around family life and lead to flexible, high-demand careers. All programs are fully online, and there are part-time and full-time pacing options. Additionally, our support services team is dedicated to helping adult learners through their educational journey, offering tailored assistance in enrollment, financial aid guidance, academic advisement and more.

Why pursue higher education as a single mom?

Earning a college degree can have both immediate and long-term positive outcomes for you and your kids.

How to choose the right university as a single mom

When planning for your return to school, choosing the right university is just as important as picking the major itself.

  • Seek accredited schools and programs with proven student outcomes, such as high job placement rates and transparent time-to-completion data.
  • Be budget conscious by seeking out colleges with transparent tuition costs, generous transfer credit policies that allow you to earn your degree faster with less costs, and who offer personalized financial aid assistance (be sure to ask about scholarships for single parents!). 
  • Choose a school that offers flexible student experience backed by institutional support including tutoring services, career counseling, and academic advisement, alongside a community of fellow adult learners who understand the daily balancing act of parenting and coursework. At UMass Global, more than half of our alumni had at least one dependent while attending school, and 95 percent of students work while completing a program.

Best careers for single moms

Aligning your education to your career goals ensures your hard work translates directly into the opportunities you seek. These 10 high-demand degrees from UMass Global offer single mothers a reliable path toward financial independence, job security, and long-term stability for their families. 

1. Business administration

A bachelor’s in business administration is a versatile degree that equips you with always-in-demand skills in areas such as leadership, communication, problem-solving, and data analysis. At UMass Global, you can tailor your studies to your interests and career goals. In addition to your core coursework, you’ll complete 33 credits through free electives, choosing from courses in:

  • Accounting
  • Computer science
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Finance
  • Healthcare administration
  • Human resources
  • Management
  • Marketing and organizational leadership

If you’ve already earned a bachelor’s, elevate your career with a Master of Business Administration. This comprehensive program covers core business disciplines such as finance, marketing, and management. Graduates are equipped with the skills to lead teams, make strategic decisions, and drive business growth.

2. Cybersecurity

A bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity can be a springboard to one of the most in-demand job sectors. According to the BLS, employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 29 percent from 2024 to 2034, making it one of the fastest growing jobs in America.

From ethical hacking to network security management, digital forensics to risk analysis, this cybersecurity degree provides the knowledge you’ll need for opportunities across finance, healthcare, defense, and retail. 

3. Digital marketing

Blend creativity with strategy to connect with people online with a career in digital marketing. This fast-paced field focuses on helping brands build their online presence, reach target audiences, and promote products across the web. Working for businesses, advertising agencies, or as freelancers, digital marketers design ad campaigns, manage social media, write engaging content, and more depending on their specific role. Potential jobs in the field include social media managers, content strategists, digital marketing specialists, SEO managers, and email marketing coordinators. The variety of freelance options in this field may be especially appealing to a single mom looking to maintain maximum flexibility.

Jumpstart your career in this field with UMass Global’s bachelor's in digital marketing. The program’s coursework covers search engine optimization (SEO), email and social media marketing, content creation and strategy, data analytics, and more.

You can also update or elevate your skill set with two online, self-paced certificate programs that will take you about 30-36 hours to complete:

4. Educational leadership

Careers in educational leadership focus on guiding the academic, strategic, and operational vision of learning institutions. Professionals in this field cultivate supportive school cultures, guide curriculum innovation, manage institutional budgets, and implement administrative policies. They serve in key leadership roles such as K–12 principals, university deans, district superintendents, instructional coordinators, and directors of student affairs.

UMass Global offers three advanced options for future educational leaders: 

5. Healthcare administration

Careers in healthcare administration focus on directing the operational, financial, and strategic business functions of medical organizations, such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, and long-term care facilities. It’s one of the fastest growing industries, with the BLS projecting employment for medical and health services managers to grow 23 percent through 2034.

Professionals in this space hold versatile non-clinical leadership roles such as clinical practice managers, health information directors, hospital department heads, and healthcare consultants. Offering strong job security, dynamic career advancement paths, and a median annual salary exceeding $117,000, healthcare administration is an impactful option for those looking to shape patient care outcomes through effective organizational leadership.

UMass Global offers two options for those considering this path:

  • The Master of Healthcare Administration is a 33-credit graduate program and offers the option to tailor your studies with three electives in fields such as business intelligence and data analytics, information technology, human resources and more.
  • In the 12-credit Graduate Certificate in Health Administration you’ll gain job-ready skills in three foundational courses and one elective focused on healthcare management and leadership.

6. Human resources

Want to help people thrive while keeping an organization running smoothly? Consider a career in human resources. This people-centered field is all about supporting employees and building a healthy workplace culture. With jobs available in nearly every industry and companies small and large, HR professionals may be responsible for hiring talent, resolving workplace issues, managing benefits, guiding staff training, and a variety of other important tasks. 

A bachelor’s in human resources provides you with foundational knowledge needed for roles in the field. The coursework offers practical insights into workforce planning, talent acquisition, employee relations, and strategic human resource management. In UMass Global’s HR program, you can tailor your degree to your interests in areas such as business administration, communications, healthcare administration, and more.

You can further elevate your career in HR with a master’s in human resources or 15-credit HR graduate certificate. 

7. Information technology

Roles in information technology continue to be in demand, with the BLS projecting jobs across the industry to grow at a much faster than average rate over the next decade; and a bachelor’s in IT degree provides the foundation skill set needed to succeed in them. Additionally, IT is an industry with one of the highest shares of remote and hybrid roles available, making it appealing to single moms looking to stay close to home as much as they can.

In UMass Global’s IT program, you’ll earn industry-certified certifications through the course of the program, including CompTIA A+, Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), and others. Additionally, the program is offered in two online formats: The instructor-led credit-based option, and self-paced competency-based format.

8. Legal studies

A legal studies degree isn't just for aspiring lawyers; though it’s a great stepping stone to law school if that’s your goal. This program develops the critical thinking, analysis, and research skills needed for a variety of roles in business, public administration, and law.

UMass Global offers the program with two concentrations:

  • The business law concentration can ready you for law school, plus prepare you for roles in intellectual property and employment law.
  • The paralegal profession concentration prepares you for the exams you’ll need to take to advance to work as a paralegal.

For a shorter, more focused path to becoming a paralegal, UMass Global also offers the 24-credit paralegal studies undergraduate certificate. 

9. Psychology

A psychology degree is another bachelor’s program that prepares you for a broad range of career paths. You’ll sharpen your critical thinking ability, data analysis skills, and emotional intelligence, equipping you with a versatile toolkit to solve complex, human-centered problems across virtually any industry.

At UMass Global, you can choose from one of five concentrations that aligns with your interests and career goals:

  • General psychology
  • Advanced study in counseling
  • Advanced study in psychology
  • Industrial/organization psychology
  • Child psychology

10. Social work

Want to make a difference with a job helping others? Consider a career in social work. This hands-on field is all about helping individuals, families, and communities in a variety of settings and roles. Depending on your interests and career goals, you could train for roles in hospitals, schools, non-profits, government agencies, and more. Social workers offer counseling, step in during crises, and connect people with essential care and daily resources.

Common roles include licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), school social workers, child and family advocates, hospital social workers, and community organizers.

Across the United States, there’s high demand for these roles, driven by urgent needs in mental health care, substance use treatment, and an aging population. Many states, including California and Massachusetts, offer a variety of financial support options for students seeking degrees and careers in social work. Funding opportunities vary by location, so check directly with your state's higher education agencies, departments of public health, and university social work departments for state-funded grants, field placement stipends, and tuition assistance.

UMass Global offers a variety of degree and certificate options depending on your career goals and current level of education and training.

Degree programs

Certificates

Start an online degree program that fits your family’s busy schedule

UMass Global's commitment to quality online education ensures that single moms can gain the knowledge needed to support their families, with the flexibility and support you need along the way.

Hear from single moms who already did it with our blog post, Firsthand Advice from Moms Who've Gone Back to School or learn more about how you can make it happen with our blog post, Going Back to School as a Mom: A Practical Guide. 

**Check out our stats and sources at www.umassglobal.edu/sources

Earn a Degree on Your Terms

UMass Global offers a wide variety of degree programs for adult learners. Explore your options and find a degree that fits you. 

0

Save Time and Money on an Online Degree

Have questions about enrollment, degree programs, financial aid, or next steps?