Campus Food Insecurity: Bringing Private Institutions into Conversations on Basic Needs

Research on college food insecurity has largely focused on community colleges and two- and four-year public institutions. Analyzing survey data collected at a small private university, we demonstrate undergraduate students at private institutions experience food insecurity at similar, or even higher, rates as those enrolled in public institutions. We report factors contributing to food insecurity on private campuses that are typically considered too “elite” or “privileged” to lack basic needs security. Given increasing enrollment of marginalized students and diversifying student bodies across all institutions, including private universities, we argue higher education needs to recognize, assess, and act on food insecurity.