College Support with Basic Needs and Mental Health

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Many individuals who pursue postsecondary education and training are struggling financially, and financial aid may not be sufficient to meet the life needs that individuals face. According to national survey data, 23 percent of college enrollees in 2020 faced food insecurity and 8 percent of enrollees were homeless. Low-income students and older students who are balancing family and work responsibilities are particularly likely to face food and housing insecurity as they train for improved career opportunities. College students also increasingly face depression and anxiety, and may benefit from mental health support.

States and postsecondary education and training institutions across the U.S. are exploring ways to provide additional wraparound supports to address students' basic needs. The aim of these efforts is to remove barriers to the completion of postsecondary credentials, which then translates into expanded job opportunities and improved economic well-being.

RAND research has examined promising approaches to implementing college basic needs supports and mental health supports, and the results of that work offer useful guidance to college leaders and staff looking to improve their efforts to support student basic needs. RAND research has also examined particular programs and tools (e.g., Single Stop, FindHelp) to understand how they are being implemented and assess student outcomes. Other RAND research explores the role of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as a support for college students. Finally, RAND has explored the prevalence of mental health needs among students in California community colleges. These projects have been conducted with various partners, including Colorado Department of Higher Education, Colorado Department of Human Services, Colorado Community College System, North Carolina Community College System, and California Mental Health Services Authority.

Featured Research

Key Findings

• SNAP participation and application rates among Colorado college enrollees have increased since 2019.
• SNAP participation rates were higher, on average, for community college and technical school enrollees than for university enrollees, and there was wide variation in SNAP participation rates across Colorado postsecondary institutions.
• Changes in state and federal eligibility criteria between 2019 and 2022 expanded the percentage of college enrollees who were eligible for SNAP. However, the share of eligible students who participated in SNAP generally declined over this period.
• There were high denial rates of SNAP applications for college enrollees, and denials increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
• Women, adult learners, and students of color were more likely to be eligible for SNAP and were more likely to participate when eligible.

Research Summaries

Food, Housing, and Community Support

Mental Health Support

Research Team