Are We Shortchanging Some Undergraduates? An Examination of Off-Campus Living Allowances and Poverty

• In Event: Design Matters: Implications of Instituitonal Enactment of State and Federal Policies

Abstract

Many college students struggle financially, encountering periods of food insecurity and homelessness. Although institutions provide Cost of Attendance (COA) estimates, covering college costs and living expenses, their living allocations often do not align with local living costs. This research investigates how two- and four-year public undergraduate institutions’ off-campus living cost estimates compare to the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) thresholds within their respective Core Based Statistical Area or county. Initial findings show that SPM thresholds had a normalizing effect on the data distributions when examined by Bureau of Economic Area region, except in the Plains. This study offers researchers, practitioners, and policymakers a relevant framework for assessing the adequacy and equity of institutions’ COA living cost estimates to help guide reforms.

Author

• Kara Graham, The Ohio State University