Student access to basic necessities is essential to creating a supportive and thriving college environment. Basic needs insecurity among college students is a growing concern for institutions of higher education (IHEs). Basic needs insecurity extends beyond unmet food and housing needs; it also includes access to mental and physical healthcare, transportation, childcare, dependent care, technology, and personal hygiene items such as menstrual products. Limited access to basic needs adversely affects students’ social, emotional, and academic performance, as well as college persistence and completion.
College students experience basic needs insecurity at higher rates compared to the general population. Estimates on the scope of basic needs insecurity among college students vary widely, ranging from 10 to 75 percent. However, a national survey conducted by Temple University’s Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice found that nearly three in five college students experienced basic needs insecurity, including 75 percent of Indigenous, 70 percent of Black, and 70 percent of American Indian or Alaska Native students. Other student groups with high rates of basic needs insecurity include those who identify as LGBTQ, students with children, Pell Grant recipients, and students who attend school part time.
To support IHEs’ efforts to address basic needs insecurity, NCSSLE offers helpful resources for administrators and staff to identify and support students with unmet basic needs.
Featured Resources
On-Campus Food Insecurity in Virginia Results from a Survey Pursuant to HB 827: Details the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia's (SCHEV) report on campus food insecurity, conducted in response to House Bill 827. The report recommends that institutions normalize seeking and accepting help, involve students in service development, and leverage existing legislation and funding to expand on-campus support. SCHEV also advises the General Assembly to increase state support for partnerships with the Virginia Department of Social Services, invest in effective services, and advocate for greater SNAP flexibility. The report includes resources such as toolkits, sample forms, and research links, addressing a critical issue faced by 23% of higher education students nationwide.
A Scan of the Indiana Basic Needs Landscape for College Students: In the last several years, states, systems, and colleges in the Great Lakes region have made strong investments to improve college students’ basic needs security, which helps support college access and completion. Basic needs include income, food, housing, health, mental health and well-being, child care, transportation, and technology. The Urban Institute was funded by Joyce Foundation and ECMC Foundation to conduct a landscape scan of policy and partnership efforts to alleviate student basic needs insecurity in six Great Lakes states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. For this fact sheet, we interviewed Indiana stakeholders and reviewed documentation to describe the basic needs support landscape in postsecondary education.
Student Housing Market and Affordability Analysis: This study aims to assess the current housing landscape, evaluate students' housing situations, define housing affordability, and propose collaborative solutions between the University, the City, and the private sector to address the challenges students face in securing suitable and affordable housing options.
Survey of Latinos in Higher Education: Unveiling Barriers, Celebrating Persistence and Identifying Opportunities for Tomorrow: To gain deeper insight into the higher education experiences of Latino students across the country, UnidosUS commissioned BSP Research to survey 3,000 Latinos, aged 18-35, who are current or recent postsecondary students. Our survey reveals that Latinos place a high value on postsecondary education but continue to face a maze of barriers that complicate their path to graduation. The vast majority are balancing work and school, and a concerning number lack access to affordable and nutritious food. As a result, they feel overwhelmed, with a large proportion reporting that they have considered dropping out.
