Best Degrees for Single Moms: 2026 Pay + Job Outlook
The best degrees for single moms in 2026, ranked by BLS pay and demand: software dev ($133K), dental hygiene, nursing, plus how to pay for school.
Reviewed by
Subha
Published
Jan 23, 2026
Last Reviewed
Jun 17, 2026
Click to zoomA single mom studies online for her degree at home, fitting coursework around family life.
Going back to school as a single mom is a big bet, so the degree has to pay off. The ones that do share three traits: strong pay, fast-growing demand, and a path you can finish online around your kids. This guide ranks the best options by real federal data, not guesswork.
Every salary and growth figure below comes straight from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 Occupational Outlook Handbook. We focus on degrees that lead to jobs hiring right now, including two you can start with an associate degree. Pick by pay, demand, and how the schedule fits your life.
| Degree path | Median pay | Entry education |
|---|---|---|
| Software development | $133,080 | Bachelor’s |
| Cybersecurity | $124,910 | Bachelor’s |
| Health services management | $117,960 | Bachelor’s |
| Data science | $112,590 | Bachelor’s |
The short version
The highest-paying degrees for single moms are in tech and healthcare management, led by software development at $133,080 a year (BLS, 2024). For a faster, cheaper start, dental hygiene pays $94,260 with just an associate degree. Most of these programs run online, and grants plus scholarships can cover much of the cost. Choose by pay, demand, completion time, and how the schedule fits your family.
Which degrees pay off most for single moms?
Tech and healthcare management lead on pay. Software developers earn a median of $133,080 a year, information security analysts $124,910, and medical and health services managers $117,960 (BLS, 2024). All three need a bachelor’s degree and are growing far faster than average, so the jobs are there when you finish.
Data science rounds out the top tier at $112,590 a year, with demand projected to grow 34% through 2034, the fastest on this list (BLS, 2024). These four pay the most, but pay is only one factor. The right degree also fits your timeline and budget, which the next sections cover.
What is the full list of high-demand degrees?
Eight degrees stand out for combining solid pay with strong hiring demand. The table below shows the median wage, typical entry education, and projected job growth for each, all from the BLS 2024 Occupational Outlook Handbook. Two need only an associate degree, which means a faster, cheaper route into a good salary.
| Degree / field | Median pay (2024) | Entry education | Job growth (2024-2034) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software development | $133,080 | Bachelor’s | 15% |
| Cybersecurity | $124,910 | Bachelor’s | 29% |
| Health services management | $117,960 | Bachelor’s | 23% |
| Data science | $112,590 | Bachelor’s | 34% |
| Dental hygiene | $94,260 | Associate’s | 7% |
| Nursing (BSN) | $93,600 | Bachelor’s | 5% |
| Accounting | $81,680 | Bachelor’s | 5% |
| Social work | $61,330 | Bachelor’s | 6% |
Nursing deserves a special mention. At $93,600 a year with roughly 189,100 openings every year (BLS, 2024), it offers shift flexibility that can work around childcare. Social work pays less but is deeply stable and meaningful, a fit if helping families is your calling.
Can you earn these degrees online?
Yes, and that is the single biggest reason they work for moms. Nearly all of these fields, including nursing, business, accounting, computer science, and data analytics, offer accredited online or hybrid programs. You attend lectures and submit work on your own schedule, often after the kids are asleep.
Two cautions. Some healthcare degrees, like dental hygiene and nursing, require in-person clinical hours you complete locally, even when the lectures are online. And always confirm the school is regionally accredited before enrolling, since that protects both your financial aid and how employers view the degree.
Which degree is fastest and cheapest to finish?
Associate degrees are the fast lane. Dental hygiene pays a median of $94,260 a year and needs only a two-year associate degree (BLS, 2024), making it one of the best pay-per-year-of-school deals on this list. Community college tuition also runs far below a four-year university.
You can also ladder up. Start with an associate degree or a certificate, begin earning, then finish a bachelor’s later with your employer often helping pay. Registered nurses can enter through an associate path too, though many employers now prefer a BSN. Faster and cheaper beats prestigious when you are raising kids alone.
How do single moms pay for a degree?
Most single moms pay far less than the sticker price. Start with the FAFSA, which unlocks the federal Pell Grant, money you never repay, plus low-interest loans and work-study. Single mothers with low income often qualify for the maximum Pell award, which can cover much of community college outright.
Stack other free money on top: state grants, school scholarships, and nonprofit awards aimed at single parents. Our guides to scholarships for single moms and Pell Grants for single mothers walk through exactly how to apply and stack them so you graduate with little or no debt.
Is a degree worth it, or should you skip it?
A degree is worth it when it leads to a specific, in-demand job, which every option here does. The pay gap is real: data science and software pay six figures, while many no-degree roles start far lower. If you can finish a targeted, affordable program, the lifetime payoff is large.
That said, a degree is not the only path, and it should never sink you into unpayable debt. If you need income now or a four-year program is not realistic, start earning first. See our guide to online jobs that need no degree, then add school later once you are stable.
How do you choose the right degree?
Match the degree to your real life, not just the salary chart. Weigh four things together: median pay, job demand in your area, how long the program takes, and whether you can study online. A high salary means little if the program takes six years you do not have.
- Pay: does the median wage clear your family’s budget needs?
- Demand: is the field growing, with openings near you or remote?
- Time: associate (about 2 years) or bachelor’s (about 4)?
- Format: is there an accredited online or hybrid option?
- Fit: can you picture doing this work for years?
- Cost after aid: what is left once grants and scholarships apply?
Once you have a target career in mind, our guide to the best careers for single moms maps day-to-day roles and flexibility, while our financial planning guide for single mothers helps you budget through the school years.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best degree for a single mom?
It depends on your timeline, but nursing and the tech fields rank highest overall. Nursing pays a median of $93,600 with huge demand and shift flexibility, while software development tops the pay list at $133,080 (BLS, 2024). The best degree is the highest-paying one you can realistically finish online around your family.
What degree makes good money the fastest?
Dental hygiene is the standout. It pays a median of $94,260 a year and needs only a two-year associate degree (BLS, 2024), so you reach a strong salary faster and cheaper than a four-year path. Registered nursing also offers a quicker associate-degree entry point into a well-paid, in-demand field.
Can I really get a degree while raising kids alone?
Yes. Accredited online and hybrid programs let you attend class and submit work on your own schedule, often after bedtime. Many single moms finish part-time over a few years. Pair flexible scheduling with grants and scholarships, and a degree becomes realistic even on one income with young children at home.
Are online degrees respected by employers?
Yes, as long as the school is regionally accredited. Employers care about the accreditation and the skills, not whether you attended in person. Always verify accreditation before enrolling, since it protects your federal financial aid eligibility and ensures the degree counts toward licensure and hiring in your field.
Is it worth going into debt for a degree?
Only for a degree that leads to a specific, in-demand job, and only after you exhaust free aid first. Use the FAFSA, Pell Grants, and scholarships to cut the cost, choose an affordable program, and keep loans small. A targeted degree usually pays back; an expensive, undirected one may not.
The bottom line
The best degrees for single moms combine strong pay, real demand, and a schedule you can actually manage. Tech and healthcare lead on salary, while associate paths like dental hygiene get you earning faster. Use the table to shortlist two or three, confirm accreditation and aid, then enroll in the one that fits your life. School plus a plan is how one income becomes a career.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024, retrieved 2026-06-18, bls.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Information Security Analysts,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024, retrieved 2026-06-18, bls.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Data Scientists,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024, retrieved 2026-06-18, bls.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Medical and Health Services Managers,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024, retrieved 2026-06-18, bls.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Dental Hygienists,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024, retrieved 2026-06-18, bls.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Registered Nurses,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024, retrieved 2026-06-18, bls.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Accountants and Auditors,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024, retrieved 2026-06-18, bls.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Social Workers,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024, retrieved 2026-06-18, bls.gov
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✻ About the contributor · Folio N°.169
Reviewed by Subha
Psychologist and writer covering the topics that matter most to single moms, money, mental health, and the small daily rituals that keep a family running. Every article is research-backed and edited four times before publish.
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