- More than 1 in 10 (12%) college students say they sometimes or often go an entire day without eating because they cannot afford it.
- Skipping individual meals is more common. About one-third (33%) of students report that they skip an individual meal at least sometimes because they cannot afford to eat.
- A majority of students pay for food by working a part-time or work study job (35%) or with help from family (35%).
Complaining about dining halls is a rite of college, but some students struggle to pay for meals. The issue has attracted the attention of legislators, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Al Lawson introduced legislation aimed at combating food insecurity among college students in July.
A new survey of 1,500 undergraduates found that one-third (33%) of students say they sometimes or often skip an individual meal because they do not have enough money for food, while more than 1 in 10 (12%) students say they sometimes or often go an entire day without eating because they cannot afford it.
Students on financial aid face even more obstacles than their peers. They are more likely than students not on financial aid to report that they go a whole day without eating at least occasionally (13% vs. 8%).
Minority students are also more likely to report skipping meals. Hispanic students (45%) are far more likely than white (30%), Asian (32%), and black students (32%) to say they often or sometimes skip a meal because they cannot afford it.
Hispanic Students are More Likely to Skip Meals Because of Money
How often, if ever, do you skip a meal because you don’t have enough money for food?
enough money for food?
Getting fresh, healthy foods on campus is another problem for many students. More than 1 in 5 students say they rarely (14%) or never (7%) have access to fresh fruits and vegetables on campus.
Only about one-third of college students participate in a school meal plan (35%), so the majority of students have to buy three meals a day. And students are eating cheap. Almost 4 in 10 (39%) students spend $25 or less on food each week, while 34% spend between $26 and $50 per week, and 14% spend between $51 and $75.
A majority of students get money for food from a part-time or work study job (35%) or from their family (35%), while 16% use their savings and 5% use student loans. Students on financial aid are more likely than students without financial aid to pay for food with money they earn at a job (40% vs. 23%), while students without financial aid are more likely to get help from family members (52% vs. 28%).
Students with Financial Aid Rely More on Part-Time Jobs to Buy Food
Where do you primarily get money for food during the school year?
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Methodology: This survey was designed and conducted by College Pulse. Interviews were conducted among a sample of 1,500 full-time and part-time students attending four-year colleges or universities in the U.S. who are part of College Pulse’s American College Student Panel.
