Food Insecurity on a College Campus: Implications for Academic Success

ABSTRACT

This study sought to understand the scope of food insecurity at one four-year public institution and whether there were implications on academic outcomes for college students who face it. Data collection consisted of administering a questionnaire to a random sample of 2,700 undergraduate students. In total, 314 students participated. Overall, 47.9% of survey respondents scored in the category of experiencing food insecurity within the past 12 months. Students who experienced food insecurity had lower GPAs, were twice as likely to fail and withdraw from a course and were four times more likely to take an incomplete grade in a course.