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The Impact of Nutrition Assistance on College Student Success. Working Paper. No. 2026-1

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Title: The Impact of Nutrition Assistance on College Student Success. Working Paper. No. 2026-1
Language: English
Authors: Igor Chirikov, Jesse Rothstein, California Policy Lab (CPL)
Source: California Policy Lab. 2026.
Availability: California Policy Lab. 2521 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94720. e-mail: info@capolicylab.org; Web site: https://capolicylab.org/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 32
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Spencer Foundation
Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305A220451
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Two Year Colleges
Descriptors: Food, Hunger, Program Effectiveness, Success, Community College Students, Federal Programs, Nutrition, Welfare Services, Eligibility, Academic Persistence, College Credits
Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Abstract: Food insecurity is widespread among college students nationwide and is negatively associated with their academic success, yet little is known about whether nutrition assistance programs can improve student outcomes. We examine the impact of sustained Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation on early academic success among California community college students. We use linked administrative data from all 116 California community colleges, FAFSA records, and monthly SNAP participation data from 2014-2018. Using propensity score weighting, we compare outcomes for SNAP-eligible students who participated throughout their first year with observably similar eligible students who did not participate or participated for just a few months. We focus on first-time, full-time students who had participated in SNAP in the year before entering college. Among those students, sustained receipt of SNAP benefits during the Spring term increases the probability of earning 30+ credits in Year 1 by 1.4 percentage points and persistence to Year 2 by 2.6 percentage points. Results are robust across alternative estimators and treatment definitions. While SNAP is not designed as an academic intervention, its low fiscal cost makes it highly cost effective relative to traditional student success programs. Our findings suggest that minimizing benefit interruptions and reducing administrative barriers for eligible students may complement other strategies to improve community college completion.
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED679443
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: California Policy Lab. 2521 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94720. e-mail: info@capolicylab.org; Web site: https://capolicylab.org/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Food%22">Food</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hunger%22">Hunger</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Success%22">Success</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+College+Students%22">Community College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Federal+Programs%22">Federal Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nutrition%22">Nutrition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Welfare+Services%22">Welfare Services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Eligibility%22">Eligibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Persistence%22">Academic Persistence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Credits%22">College Credits</searchLink>
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  Data: Food insecurity is widespread among college students nationwide and is negatively associated with their academic success, yet little is known about whether nutrition assistance programs can improve student outcomes. We examine the impact of sustained Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation on early academic success among California community college students. We use linked administrative data from all 116 California community colleges, FAFSA records, and monthly SNAP participation data from 2014-2018. Using propensity score weighting, we compare outcomes for SNAP-eligible students who participated throughout their first year with observably similar eligible students who did not participate or participated for just a few months. We focus on first-time, full-time students who had participated in SNAP in the year before entering college. Among those students, sustained receipt of SNAP benefits during the Spring term increases the probability of earning 30+ credits in Year 1 by 1.4 percentage points and persistence to Year 2 by 2.6 percentage points. Results are robust across alternative estimators and treatment definitions. While SNAP is not designed as an academic intervention, its low fiscal cost makes it highly cost effective relative to traditional student success programs. Our findings suggest that minimizing benefit interruptions and reducing administrative barriers for eligible students may complement other strategies to improve community college completion.
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 32
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Food
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hunger
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      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
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      – SubjectFull: Success
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      – SubjectFull: Federal Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Nutrition
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      – SubjectFull: Welfare Services
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      – SubjectFull: Eligibility
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      – SubjectFull: Academic Persistence
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      – SubjectFull: College Credits
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      – SubjectFull: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
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