Westchester College Students Are Going Hungry

Instant noodles are the poster child of the “College Student Diet.” They’re easy to make, but more importantly, inexpensive. However, they’re not particularly nutritious.

While many can relate to being a “broke” college student with a tight grocery budget, college hunger is a very real, and growing, issue.

According to a 2019 survey from The Hope Center, 45% of students at both two- and four-year institutions were food insecure in the previous 30 days.

Multiple factors are at play in the spread of food insecurity across college campuses, such as the price tag on tuition and food, access to meals, and the changing average lifestyle of contemporary college students. 

First and foremost, the cost of tuition is putting extreme pressure on budgets. Data from the past 20 years shows that the average cost of tuition and fees for private and public universities has risen by 175%. 

College meal plans can be extremely expensive. On average, it costs $18.75 a day to eat on campus. Even if a student is on their school’s meal plan, they may find it difficult to actually access food.

Most campus dining halls have limited hours. If class, work, sports, or extracurricular activities conflicts with the hours of their college eatery, they could often find themselves without a meal, especially when their food budget is already tied up in the plan.

Perhaps the most important factor to note is that the type of student in higher education programs is changing.

A Feeding America blog characterized the “traditional” college student as being one who is enrolled full-time immediately after high school, and is still financially dependent on their parents.

According to the article, 71% of college students are actually considered “non-traditional.” These days, the average age of higher ed students is 26 years old, meaning they are typically financially independent and therefore must also balance being a student with having a job. 

One in five college students are also parents, simultaneously supporting a family and stretching budgets to make ends meet. 

Balancing being a student and a parent, all whilst working full or part-time is no easy feat. 

Tack on an abundance of expenses, like medical bills, rent, and car repairs, and there’s often little left for nourishing groceries.

Without proper nourishment, it is impossible for our brains to function at their fullest potential. 

Bringing free food, Mobile Food Pantries, and other food distributions to local colleges is essential. It is vital to support students in improving their future through higher education. 

Having just one less thing to worry about allows them to direct their focus on their studies, jobs, and families.

Feeding Westchester works with college campuses across the county by supporting the school pantries hosted at Westchester Community College, Mercy College, Pace University, and Purchase College, which also holds a regular Mobile Food Pantry.

These pantries are a huge help to so many students in Westchester County. 

As we continue to bring life-changing hunger-relief services to local campuses, your support, as always, makes a world of difference. 

It’s only because of you, and supporters like you, that people struggling with hunger in our own neighborhoods can bring nourishing food to their homes.  

To support our mission to nourish our neighbors in need, including students working to be the future of this county, click here.