Student Hunger: How We Got Here and Solutions to Increase Persistence

ABSTRACT Student hunger directly impacts persistence rates and academic outcomes, ultimately yielding significant returns on investment through increased graduation rates, lifetime earnings, and state revenues. This article examines the critical issue of food insecurity among college students, with particular focus on community colleges where approximately one‐third of students report experiencing food insecurity. Drawing on recent research demonstrating that food‐insecure students have 42% lower odds of graduating, the authors detail the work of Swipe Out Hunger, a national organization addressing campus hunger alongside 850+ institutions. The authors examine state‐level initiatives such as Hunger‐Free Campus legislation and California's CalFresh outreach efforts, while advocating for federal policy reforms, particularly to SNAP eligibility requirements that currently exclude many students.