8.4.5: Hungry College Students
The trope of the “starving student” may actually be closer to reality than many realize. As the cost of tuition, books, and living expenses in many college towns increases, many students are also finding themselves housing or food insecure. The cost of college is estimated to be 1200% higher than it was in 1980 (Bhutada, 2021). See Fig. \(\PageIndex{1}\) below.
Fig. 8.7 Bhutada, G. (2021, February 3). The rising cost of college in the U.S. Visual Capitalist. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ris...ollege-in-u-s/
Food insecurity among college students as a public health issue is clouded by many different factors, including student debt, poverty stigma, and a tendency among college students to opt for cheaper, convenient, and less healthy foods even when on university meal plans. Despite these and other confounders, the data still highlights significant food insecurity among both private and public university students, with higher rates found at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and community colleges. Students from lower income households, first-generation college students, and those non-traditionally aged and those with disabilities report higher rates than the overall average. As many students attend college to improve their earning potential and/or escape generational poverty, experiencing food insecurity can hamper their academic progress and negatively impact their health (Hagedorn-Hatfield et al., 2022).