The report found that 59% of surveyed students experienced at least one form of basic needs insecurity related to food or housing. This includes 41% facing food insecurity, 48% experiencing housing insecurity, and 14% reporting homelessness within the past year.
When broadening the definition of basic needs to include mental health, transportation, internet access, and childcare, the percentage of students experiencing insecurity jumps to 73%, painting a stark picture of the challenges college students face while pursuing their education.
"Basic needs security is foundational to learning; without it, students are unable to fully engage in their studies—undermining their academic success and their ability to achieve economic security," the report notes.
The survey reveals significant disparities among different student populations. Nearly 75% of Black and Indigenous students reported facing at least one form of basic needs insecurity related to food and/or housing, compared to 55% of white students—a 20 percentage point gap. Indigenous students experienced homelessness at twice the rate of white students.
Other vulnerable groups also showed elevated rates of basic needs insecurity:
Mental health emerged as another critical concern, with 44% of students reporting clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Among students who had previously stopped attending college before re-enrolling, 57% cited mental health issues as the reason for their departure.
