Hunger

Survey of Food Insecurity on Thirty-Four Campuses
Student Food Insecurity Is Widespread
Of the respondents, 48 percent qualified as food insecure in the previous
30 days. That figure includes 22 percent who qualified as hungry,
meaning they experienced very low food security.
Table 1: Food Security Level of Survey
Respondents in Last 30 Days
Food Security Score
Zero (High food security) 31%
1-2 (Marginal food security) 21%
3-5 (Low food security) 26%
6-10 (Very low food security) 22%
When comparing these findings to existing research on student food
insecurity, the rates of low and very low food insecurity are in keeping with
other studies. However, this report found a lower than normal percentage of
respondents who qualify as highly food secure, which may suggest that the
survey oversampled students with a tendency toward food insecurity.
In their answers to the survey questions, respondents expressed
significant concern both about their ability to afford food and their
ability to afford nutritious food.
Table 2: Responses to Initial Food
Security Questions, Last 30 Days
Sometimes True
Often True
I worried whether my food would run out
before I got money to buy more.
The food that I bought just didn’t last, and
I didn’t have money to get more.
38% 16%
35% 11%
I couldn’t afford to eat balanced meals. 36% 18%
15