As higher costs of food, housing, and healthcare put college out of reach, new federal policy solutions can help learners stay in school and support themselves.
Across the country, millions of Americans are finding it harder to afford the essentials they rely on every day. Nearly half of U.S. adults struggle to pay for healthcare. Families are having trouble affording food in the face of high grocery prices and cuts to vital nutrition programs. And for many, finding a stable place to live is becoming harder, with few programs available to offset rent and mortgage costs.
Today’s learners feel these pressures acutely: as many as 59% face at least one form of basic needs insecurity. They’re following all the right steps – working towards a degree to build a more stable future – yet rising costs create barriers and make persistence harder. Too often, learners must make tough choices: pay for food, housing, and healthcare, or stay on track with their education.
Paloma, a Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) graduate, faced this struggle early in her education journey. Paloma juggled three jobs and her courses – often sleeping in her car. Without access to necessities, she found it difficult to prioritize her education, but she persevered.
Her story reflects a national challenge. While Paloma graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science in 2024, many learners in similar situations are forced to stop out, or leave higher education altogether – often with debt but no degree.
By 2031, an estimated 72% of U.S. jobs will require some postsecondary education or training. Soon, higher education won’t just be valuable; it will be essential to economic mobility. Achieving that future means looking beyond access to ensure learners have the support they need to meet their basic needs.
Policy Solutions to Reduce Financial Barriers
Federal and state programs that offer food assistance, housing supports, and healthcare tax credits are powerful tools to help learners cover core expenses while in school. When these programs are protected and expanded – and when colleges help connect learners to them – more people can complete their degrees and move into well-paying careers.
Our latest fact sheet, Basic Needs Gaps Increase the Risk of College Stop Outs, takes a closer look at these affordability issues and provides clear, actionable policy recommendations.
Three actions policymakers can take to help today’s learners:
- Restore and expand funding to the Federal Basic Needs for College Students Grant Program to support learners paying for emergency expenses
- Streamline Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) access for college students (such as proposed in the EATS Act)
- Fund Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance subsidies so that learners enrolled in insurance through the ACA exchange have access to affordable healthcare
A better future shouldn’t require learners to sacrifice their stability today. We owe it to them to ensure this opportunity isn’t overshadowed by the stress of affording life along the way.