Final answer:
The most common reason for mature-age women not completing their degrees is due to family responsibilities, which can be more challenging to manage alongside education than financial constraints or other factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among mature-age women returning to higher education, the most common reason for not completing their degrees is often tied to family responsibilities. Balancing academics with the demands of managing a household, childcare, and at times, a job, proves extremely challenging for many. This difficulty is compounded for those without sufficient support systems that could alleviate the strain of juggling multiple significant obligations.
Financial difficulties can also hinder completion rates, but family responsibilities frequently emerge at the forefront. Moreover, mature-age women may face the additional stress of raising children or maintaining full-time employment while pursuing their education, factors that can notably impact their educational journey.