College Students Face Significant Financial Stress and Basic Needs Insecurity, Ellucian Report Reveals
A new report from the education-technology company Ellucian indicates that a substantial number of college students are grappling with severe financial stress and basic needs insecurity, including challenges in affording food, housing, and transportation. The data, collected from a survey of 2,000 students in the spring, shows that 78% of students at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and 75% at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) reported having to choose between paying for college and meeting their basic needs. This compares to approximately 58% of all college students surveyed. To cope, 56% of all students work full-time jobs, a figure that rises to 71% for HBCU students and 72% for MSI students. Furthermore, 42% of all students reported that financial stress significantly impacts their mental health. 
