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In the fall of 2025, 19.4 million students attended American colleges and universities.
As exciting as this phase of life can be, experiencing some level of homesickness during the home-to-college transition is common. As a parent, you may feel a sense of responsibility when it comes to helping your now-adult child get over their homesickness. And there could be a reason for concern, since studies have shown that emotional or mental distress in college students can impact their academic performance.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways parents can help their child adjust to being away from home (perhaps for the first time) and get the most out of their college experience. Read on to learn some simple ways you can help your child feel less homesick at college.
Key Points
• Many college students, especially first-years, experience homesickness as they adjust to a new environment.
• Regularly communicating with your child, sending them care packages, and listening to them without judgment can help them feel emotionally supported, even from afar.
• Joining clubs, making new friends, and participating in campus activities can help students build connections and feel more at home in their new surroundings.
• Encouraging your child to develop healthy routines, including getting enough sleep, exercise, and nutrition, can support emotional balance and reduce stress related to homesickness.
• Paying for college can be stressful for both parents and students. Having a plan in place can help reassure a student.
Strategies to Help Your Child Cope With Homesickness
Watching your child experience homesickness from afar can be challenging. It may be tempting to run to the rescue, but it’s also important for your child to find their own footing on campus. The following tips and ideas may be helpful as you support your child in navigating homesickness and life on campus.
Acknowledging the Situation
It can be comforting for your child to know that they’re not the only one struggling with homesickness. As a parent, it might be helpful to share with your child how common this is among first-year students. Providing reassurance that they’re not alone and that, in time, their feelings of homesickness will pass can go a long way.
Keeping in Touch
As you and your child adjust to your new dynamic, you may need to find new ways to keep in touch. Keep in mind that while your child is getting used to on-campus life, you don’t want to be overbearing. Try setting up a weekly video chat or sending fun updates from home in a text message. Remember to give your child the space they need to find their footing at school.
Recommended: College Planning Guide for Parents
Sending a Care Package
When packing for college, adding a few items that bring the comfort of home could be helpful if your child starts feeling tinges of homesickness. Things like a favorite book, a blanket, or a stuffed animal could be just the thing when homesickness creeps up.
Sending your child a care package with some of their favorite cookies, candies, or snacks and a photo of a fun memory can also provide a touch of home.
Encouraging Your Child to Get Help if They Need It
If your homesick college student seems like they may benefit from professional help, you might encourage them to visit their campus counseling center. Many colleges offer mental health services and counseling on campus, often at little to no cost.
If there are fees involved, they may be covered (at least partially) by health insurance. If your child is no longer on the family medical plan, you may have enrolled them in a college health insurance plan, which is often rolled into costs of tuition, room, and board.
đź’ˇ Quick Tip: You can fund your education with a low-rate, no-fee private student loan that covers all school-certified costs.
Helping Your Child Find a New Familiar
It’s probably not the best idea for parents to visit their child every weekend, though it may be hard to resist the temptation if your child’s university is easily accessible. As lovely as it is that you’re a familiar face, it might be more helpful for your child to find a new familiar.
You might encourage your child to find ways to make their not-yet-so-familiar home feel more like home. If your college student loves coffee, they might want to find a local shop they can visit frequently, turning it into their own personal hangout spot.
If they’re into museums, discovering the best ones nearby could help them feel more grounded in their new environment.
Getting Involved on Campus
When someone is feeling down, it can be tempting to stay indoors and wallow in their feelings. Getting involved on campus can help students build community and connect with their peers. Colleges often have many clubs and extracurriculars that can help students find like-minded individuals.
If committing to a club feels like too much, your child might connect with peers in a more casual way, such as making friends in class or meeting new people during a dorm hall function.
Developing Healthy Routines
Physical health and mental health go hand in hand, so if your homesick college student is making less-than-healthy choices during this tough transition period, you might encourage them to make some changes to their routine.
This might be starting their day with a walk to the campus coffee shop or finding a weekly exercise class. Creating a schedule and finding new, healthy routines can give your child something to look forward to.
Recommended: What Percentage of Parents Pay for College?
Developing a Plan to Pay for College
Besides homesickness, paying for college can be an added layer of stress for both parents and students. If your child is worried about money or constantly working at a job to help cover costs (rather than acclimating to college), you might want to look into additional sources of funding, such as scholarships and grants and/or student loans.
It’s important to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year, since this is required for a student or parent to qualify for federal funding.
For some students, federal student loans and other sources of aid may be enough to fund their college education. If it’s not, parents also have the option of taking out loans, such as the Direct PLUS Loan or a private student loan.
When comparing federal vs. private student loans, keep in mind that private student loans aren’t required to offer the same borrower protections as federal student loans, such as deferment options or income-driven repayment plans. For this reason, you’ll generally want to look at private student loans only after you’ve exhausted federal loan and aid options.
đź’ˇ Quick Tip: Parents and sponsors with strong credit and income may find much lower rates on no-fee private parent student loans than federal parent PLUS loans. Federal PLUS loans also come with an origination fee.
The Takeaway
The transition to college life can be stressful for both students and their parents. Being in an unfamiliar environment while trying to balance studies with making new friends can lead to feelings of apprehension, anxiety, and homesickness. As a parent, providing support from a distance can include things such as sending care packages, checking in via a video call once a week, and encouraging your child to get involved in extracurricular activities.
Hopefully, in time, your child will settle into their life on campus and find a new normal. If money worries are adding to your child’s (or your own) college stress, it can also be a good idea to explore funding options that you or they might qualify for. Once the financial side of college is taken care of, your child can be free to focus on assimilating into campus life and fully embracing this exciting time.
If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.
FAQ
How common is homesickness during college?
Homesickness is incredibly common in college students, with 70% of first-year students experiencing this feeling. Homesickness is an emotional response to being in a new environment and can affect a student’s academic performance and overall well-being.
How can parents support their homesick college students from afar?
Parents can support their child by acknowledging that homesickness is normal, maintaining regular but nonintrusive communication, and sending care packages with familiar items. They can also encourage their child to seek campus resources, such as counseling, if needed.
What strategies can help students adjust to college life and alleviate homesickness?
Encouraging students to get involved in campus activities, establish healthy routines, and find local spots that bring comfort can help them build a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of homesickness. In time, being at college will become the new normal for them.
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