ERIC Number: ED657267
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Jun
Pages: 31
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Estimated Eligibility and Receipt among Food Insecure College Students. Report to Congressional Requesters. GAO-24-107074
Kathryn A. Larin
US Government Accountability Office
In fiscal year 2023, the federal government spent approximately $31.4 billion dollars on Pell Grants to help over 6 million students with financial need go to college. This substantial federal investment in higher education is at risk of not serving its intended purpose if college students drop out because of limited or uncertain access to food. Some studies have found that food insecurity negatively affects students' academic success. Certain students are eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)--the nation's largest nutrition assistance program available to low-income households. Given the substantial federal investment in higher education, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to review newly available Education data on food insecurity among a nationally representative sample of college students. This report, which is the first of two reports on college student food insecurity, describes what Education's National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) data show about food insecurity among college students and their access to SNAP benefits. GAO's estimates are based on 2020 NPSAS data, which were the most recent available.
Descriptors: Nutrition, Food, Hunger, College Students, Eligibility, Federal Programs, Welfare Services, Student Employment, Student Characteristics, Student Costs, For Profit Colleges, Minority Serving Institutions, Low Income Students, Nontraditional Students
US Government Accountability Office. 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20548. Tel: 202-512-6000; Web site: http://www.gao.gov
Related Records: ED660340
Publication Type: Legal/Legislative/Regulatory Materials; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: Policymakers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: US Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A