How to Handle Food Insecurity as a College Student
- Many college campuses have food pantries where students can get free food.
- If you’re looking for food off campus, search for a community food bank and kitchen.
- Federal programs like SNAP can help you get stable access to groceries if you qualify.
More than a quarter (29%) of surveyed students at four-year colleges and more than a third (38%) at two-year colleges said they experienced food insecurity in the fall of 2020, according to the Hope Center.
Food insecurity is generally the state of not having a stable food source for a healthy life. As a college student, on-campus and off-campus resources are available to help you combat food insecurity.
If you don’t have access to your daily needs, check here to see where you can find food on campus and within your community.
What Is Food Insecurity?
Food insecurity is “a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life,” according to Feeding America, a national nonprofit fighting hunger.
You might be considered food insecure if you:
- Don’t have access to healthy foods
- Don’t have consistent access to food
- Have to skip meals or eat less to save money or food
- Are worried about food running out before the ability to buy more
Who Is Most Likely to Be Food Insecure?
First-generation students were more likely to be food insecure, BestColleges previously reported. These students also finished college at a significantly lower rate than first-generation students who did not experience food insecurity (47% vs 59%).
A new U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found other student groups like students with disabilities, students attending for-profit and minority-serving institutions, single parents, gender-nonconforming students, and nontraditional students like adult learners also experience food insecurity at higher rates.
As a college student, food insecurity can take a toll on your academics and your mental and physical health. It can be difficult to study or concentrate on work while you’re hungry. And seeking out food or the means to buy food could take time away from studying, social activities, or sleep.
5 Ways to Get Food in College When You Can’t Afford It
If you are experiencing food insecurity, there is likely help on campus and in your community. Here are five ways to get assistance:
1. Go to Your Campus Food Bank
Check online or with your counselor, advisor, or a faculty member to see if your campus has a food bank. Food banks are places where you can get free nonperishable foods and other items like hygienic products, fresh produce, refrigerated/frozen foods, and more depending on your bank.
Your campus food bank may require you to prove that you’re a student, so don’t forget your student ID or ID number.
2. Find Off-Campus Food Pantries
Food pantries aren’t just on college campuses — there are usually ones for the wider community at nonprofit organizations and churches.
They work the same way as college food banks. Outside organizations usually support them so that you can access food free of cost. You can search for food pantries by state and county by visiting FoodPantries.org.
3. Apply for SNAP Benefits
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits provide funding to low-income Americans to buy food. You can use SNAP benefits to purchase necessities like fruits, vegetables, meats, bread, and dairy. According to the GAO report, most college students who would’ve qualified for SNAP in 2020 didn’t take advantage of the benefits.
You can apply for SNAP benefits by visiting SNAP’s State Directory of Resources. Click on your state, and apply on your state’s website.
To qualify for SNAP as a student attending college at least half time, you must meet the regular requirements — your income cannot exceed 130% of the federal poverty level — and one college-specific exemption. For example, if you attend college more than half time and work at least 20 hours a week, you can qualify for SNAP. There are also exemptions for student parents.
However, even if you meet one of the exemptions, you may not qualify if you live on campus and get over half of your meals from a college meal plan.
If you attend college less than half time, you don’t need to meet a college-specific exemption.
SNAP Exemptions for College Students
College students must meet the regular SNAP requirements, plus be one of the following:
- Under 18 or over 50
- A parent of a child under 6
- A parent of a child aged 6-11 years old who can’t obtain adequate childcare during school
- A single-parent, full-time student with a child under 12
- A student lacking access to adequate childcare while working 20 hours per week
- Someone who works at least 20 hours per week
- Participant in a federal or state work-study program
- Recipient of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits
- Someone who has a physical or intellectual disability
- Employment and training program enrollee
4. Use Swipe Banks
Swipe Out Hunger, a national nonprofit focused on ending food insecurity among college students, hosts “swipe banks,” campus dining hall meal swipe donations at its partner campuses. Students in need can pick up swipes donated by other students for food.
The organization partners with over 800 campuses. Find out if your school has one and whether or not you qualify. If you need information on how to use a swipe bank, check with volunteers at your campus food bank.
5. Find Local Food Kitchens
Food kitchens, sometimes called soup kitchens, provide food for free or at minimal prices to people in need.
Different types of organizations, including shelters and churches, host these kitchens. Many food kitchens provide basic options like soup and bread, while others offer more variety.
Search online for “food kitchens” or “soup kitchens” in your area to find these organizations and their locations.
Resources for College Students Facing Food Insecurity
Feeding America's local food bank map
Click on your state or search by your ZIP code to find the nearest food banks and distribution events near you.
SNAP state directory
Find out how to apply for SNAP benefits in your state and see if you qualify.
FoodPantries.org
Find the nearest food pantries in your state and counties with this free directory.
Swipe Out Hunger
If you want to take action and collect meal donations at your campus, you can partner with the nonprofit Swipe Out Hunger to do it.
Students Against Hunger guide to running a food pantry
Is your campus lacking a food pantry? This guide will teach you how to start and run one on your campus.