What kind of help is available for college students struggling financially to meet their basic needs? For starters, the great news is help is available, and many advocates are working to provide even better and more plentiful solutions for all types of college students, young and old, from all walks of life.
These solutions are needed because more than half of the college students across the nation are not sure how to provide for their food, housing, and health care. In fact, in 2020 a surprising 3 out of 5 college students were insecure of basic living necessities. What is more, when students find themselves in these situations, 25% will drop a class, and of those who miss a class for financial reasons, only 20% will graduate.
Contributing to this serious problem is the fact that tuition in the U.S., from 2008-2019, has risen 35%. This helps to explain why 43% of full-time students today must work while attending school. For students in poverty, the choice is often to skip college altogether.
On the other hand, when students receive some form of aid, 68% report that such help greatly increases their odds of graduating. This is precisely why organizations that are directly helping students find funding for their basic needs are so important. With practical solutions for the real issues students face, they can complete their studies with the peace of mind that their basic needs are met—and focus on the road to success.
Source: Kentucky Student Success Collaborative
