Parenting While Pursuing a Degree: A Typology of How Higher Education Institutions Support Pregnant and Parenting Students Under Title IX

Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in education, yet pregnant and parenting students (PPS) continue to face barriers in U.S. higher education. This study examines how 4-year public institutions enact Title IX to support the academic progress of PPS using data from 518 campuses. Guided by institutional theory, compliance is conceptualized as patterned organizational practice rather than policy presence alone. Descriptive analyses show that most institutions post Title IX nondiscrimination and accommodation policies, whereas far fewer provide coordinated supports such as childcare or PPS support programs. Latent class analysis identifies four compliance orientations: Wrap-around , Info-resources , Letter-of-the-law , and Underperforming . Enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and U.S. region are associated with class membership. Only 30% of institutions exceed minimal support, highlighting the need for stronger accountability.