The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Colorado: Evidence on College Student Participation and College Services

• In Event: The Potential of Public Benefit Programs to Address College Student Basic Needs and Support Academic Success

Abstract

Over the past 5 years Colorado has been engaged in robust efforts to expand basic needs supports for college students at the state and institutional levels. RAND partnered with Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) to engage in a three-year collaborative study to build evidence to inform the state’s efforts. This initial paper maps the landscape for SNAP support in Colorado. 

We leverage descriptive analysis of statewide administrative data to assess SNAP eligibility and participation and describe variation across student groups and schools. We find that SNAP participation and application rates among Colorado college enrollees have increased since 2019. However, more than half of the students we identify as “likely eligible” do not participate. There were large expansions in college student eligibility due to changes in state and federal eligibility criteria between 2019 and 2022, which resulted in declines among the share of eligible students who participated. SNAP participation rates were higher on average for community college and technical school enrollees than for university enrollees, and there was wide variation across Colorado postsecondary institutions in SNAP participation rates among students. Women, adult learners, and students of color were more likely to be eligible for SNAP and were more likely to participate when eligible.

To describe college SNAP support practices, we conducted a survey of all public institutions across the state, and 87% of technical schools, community colleges and universities responded (27 of 31). We found that the majority of institutions responding to the survey (81%) offered SNAP support, but somewhat fewer offered robust case management. All universities offered some type of SNAP support, but some community colleges and technical schools did not offer support. To identify promising approaches and factors that help colleges provide SNAP support to students, we conducted interviews with basic needs staff at six institutions identified as leaders in the state and interviews with state policymakers and non-profit partners. We identified three universities and three community colleges with robust nutritional support efforts for interviews. Basic needs staff identified five factors that supported their efforts, including: (1) full-time staff members who are trained on SNAP eligibility and case management; (2) leadership support and funding; (3) access to the state’s SNAP application system; (4) robust outreach and referral approaches that explicitly destigmatize services; and (5) integration with food pantries and other critical wraparound services.

Author

• Brian M Phillips, RAND Corporation
  Presenting Author