Basic Needs Insecurities Among College Students At Minority-Serving Institutions

It is well demonstrated that basic needs insecurities (i.e., food insecurity, housing insecurity, or homelessness) are more pronounced among certain groups of historically marginalized students, including students of color at traditionally under-resourced Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCUs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). This brief examines data from 14,117 students attending 26 MSIs from Trellis’ Fall 2021 Student Financial Wellness Survey (SFWS)—including 19 HSIs; five HBCUs; and three PBIs. With nearly two-thirds of students from these MSIs facing one or more forms of basic needs insecurity, it is critical for college administrators, the broader campus community, and policymakers to have a full understanding of these students’ lived experiences.