More than 80% of Latino students reported experiencing food insecurity while in college, with half saying the problem occurs weekly or even daily, according to a new survey from BSP Research and UnidosUS, a Latino nonprofit advocacy organization. Half reported having difficulty accessing affordable and healthy foods regularly.
Emotional stress was the top reason two-thirds of respondents considered stopping out during their enrollment. More than a third (34%) actually did, and rates were notably higher for low-income, LGBTQ+ and single-parent students. More than three-quarters (78%) balanced a job alongside their studies.
“[T]oo many find that college is no escape from the struggle against poverty and food insecurity,” said Eric Rodriguez, senior vice president of policy and advocacy at UnidosUS. ”We must invest in supporting these students to ensure that higher education can deliver on its promise.”
BSP Research and UnidosUS surveyed 3,000 Latino students nationwide, with a focus on Arizona, Florida, Texas and California.
Latino students said they didn’t receive enough information about financial assistance and other essential resources. Less than half (45%) applied for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP. The highest proportion of students who didn’t apply thought they weren’t eligible (45%) or weren’t familiar with the program (25%).
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Furthermore, 56% believed FAFSA only assisted with the cost of attending college. Among the 26% who did not finish their application, 22% possessed family incomes below $29,000, and 21% reported their family earned between $30,000 and $49,000. The latter elected not to apply because they believed they earned too much money to qualify. Forty-three percent of all respondents reported technical issues with filing the FAFSA during the turbulent rollout of the new form.
Latino students see the value of higher education despite their food insecurity and struggle accessing basic support services. Half believe a college education will lead to a well-paying job and a better life for their family. This optimism is reflected in the latest enrollment numbers from the National Student Clearinghouse: Hispanic undergraduate enrollment across all sectors has grown by 9.5% in the last two academic years.
Between 2020 and 2030, the Department of Labor projects 78% of all new U.S. workers will be Hispanic. But without proper student support measures, this emerging population will lack the appropriate guidance to persist through higher education, Antonio Flores, president of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, said in a recent University Business podcast. “[Hispanic students who earn] an associate degree is like getting a Ph.D. for others.”
