Addressing College Student Food Insecurity in Colorado: Student Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and College Practices. Research Report. RR-A-3587-1
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| Title: | Addressing College Student Food Insecurity in Colorado: Student Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and College Practices. Research Report. RR-A-3587-1 |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Lindsay Daugherty, Brian Phillips, Jonathan H. Cantor, Amanda Perez, Jennifer Kret, Michael Vente, RAND Education and Labor |
| Source: | Grantee Submission. 2025. |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 32 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | Institute of Education Sciences (ED) |
| Contract Number: | R305S230002 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | College Students, Hunger, Student Participation, Eligibility, Student Characteristics, Barriers, Welfare Services, Federal Programs, Nutrition, COVID-19, Pandemics |
| Geographic Terms: | Colorado |
| Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) |
| Abstract: | Nearly one in four college students struggle with food insecurity. Over the past decade, states and postsecondary institutions have expanded support for student nutritional needs through food pantries, emergency aid grants, and outreach and application efforts to efforts to increase student participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). RAND partnered with the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the Colorado Department of Human Services to build evidence on state and local efforts to expand college students' SNAP participation. In this report, the authors (1) identify trends in SNAP eligibility, applications, denials, and participation for college students enrolled at Colorado postsecondary institutions between the 2014-2015 and 2021-2022 academic years; (2) assess how SNAP eligibility and participation varies across key student subgroups and across Colorado institutions; and (3) explore college efforts to scale SNAP outreach and application support in Colorado and highlight promising approaches from leading institutions and remaining barriers hindering student SNAP participation. The analyses draw on statewide administrative data on college enrollees and SNAP participants and applicants, surveys of staff who manage students' basic needs, and interviews with postsecondary institutions that are leaders in basic needs support and other state and nonprofit stakeholders. Key findings on student participation in Colorado include: (1) low rates of SNAP participation among eligible students, but some increases in participation between 2019 and 2022; (2) higher rates of SNAP participation among likely eligible students who were community college enrollees, women, adult learners, and students of color; (3) widely varying participation rates among likely eligible students across institutions; and (4) high denial rates that increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings on college SNAP practices in Colorado include: (1) big increases in the number of institutions offering application support since 2018; (2) fewer community colleges offering SNAP support relative to universities; and (3) various factors have helped leading colleges to scale supports. These findings suggest that there are many college students in Colorado who could be participating in SNAP but aren't, and state agencies and colleges should continue efforts to improve access and participation. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| IES Funded: | Yes |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Access URL: | https://www.rand.org/t/RRA3587-1 |
| Accession Number: | ED676603 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Nearly one in four college students struggle with food insecurity. Over the past decade, states and postsecondary institutions have expanded support for student nutritional needs through food pantries, emergency aid grants, and outreach and application efforts to efforts to increase student participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). RAND partnered with the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the Colorado Department of Human Services to build evidence on state and local efforts to expand college students' SNAP participation. In this report, the authors (1) identify trends in SNAP eligibility, applications, denials, and participation for college students enrolled at Colorado postsecondary institutions between the 2014-2015 and 2021-2022 academic years; (2) assess how SNAP eligibility and participation varies across key student subgroups and across Colorado institutions; and (3) explore college efforts to scale SNAP outreach and application support in Colorado and highlight promising approaches from leading institutions and remaining barriers hindering student SNAP participation. The analyses draw on statewide administrative data on college enrollees and SNAP participants and applicants, surveys of staff who manage students' basic needs, and interviews with postsecondary institutions that are leaders in basic needs support and other state and nonprofit stakeholders. Key findings on student participation in Colorado include: (1) low rates of SNAP participation among eligible students, but some increases in participation between 2019 and 2022; (2) higher rates of SNAP participation among likely eligible students who were community college enrollees, women, adult learners, and students of color; (3) widely varying participation rates among likely eligible students across institutions; and (4) high denial rates that increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings on college SNAP practices in Colorado include: (1) big increases in the number of institutions offering application support since 2018; (2) fewer community colleges offering SNAP support relative to universities; and (3) various factors have helped leading colleges to scale supports. These findings suggest that there are many college students in Colorado who could be participating in SNAP but aren't, and state agencies and colleges should continue efforts to improve access and participation. |
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