More college students using food stamps

[jeffrey]

Some college students now work two and three part-time jobs to cover living expenses and some of their tuition. They’re applying for more student loans and claiming financial independence on their tax forms to become eligible for financial aid that does not factor in parental contributions. They’re cutting corners by renting required textbooks instead of buying them or simply making due without some textbooks. They’re also bypassing expensive college meal plans and applying for food stamps, an option that once carried a social stigma on campus but no longer does now that food stamp usage is more commonplace at colleges around the country...

Food stamps: Once associated with the poor, now commonly used among college students - The Root DC Live - The Washington Post

[SeanH]

I'm in medical school and a number of my fellow classmates use it (some variation of welfare: WIC, food stamps, etc). They tend to be married with a pregnant spouse or young children.

[bjl584]

I wonder why these students put themselves in these situations? No one is forcing them to go to school. Transfer to a cheaper school and live with your parents until you graduate. Community College is way cheaper than the bigger universities.

If moving away from home to go to college meant that I would have to work 2 or 3 jobs and apply for food stamps, then I wouldn't move away for college. I guess they don't teach common sense in school.

[phantom]

That's a really frightening thought. It's like students have just found an additional way to get the government to subsidize the cost of their educations, and I can't help but think that the more students attend schools that they can't afford, the more it pushes up the cost of education, making it so that even fewer students can actually afford school. What a nasty cycle!

I actually met a college-age guy a couple of years ago who talked openly about using food stamps. I don't remember if he was actually in college or not, but I was surprised how casually he mentioned using food stamps, as though it was something everyone did. I wanted to ask him why it was that he needed food stamps, but, having just met him, I didn't want to be rude. So, I stayed quiet about it. It never occurred to me that he might be part of a larger trend.

[Ramose]

I wonder why these students put themselves in these situations? No one is forcing them to go to school. Transfer to a cheaper school and live with your parents until you graduate. Community College is way cheaper than the bigger universities.

If moving away from home to go to college meant that I would have to work 2 or 3 jobs and apply for food stamps, then I wouldn't move away for college. I guess they don't teach common sense in school.

I suppose they think they will have better job opportunities/higher wages if they attend a prestigious college/university.

[bjl584]

I suppose they think they will have better job opportunities/higher wages if they attend a prestigious college/university.

They are 18 years old. They have no idea what they are doing. Where are these kids' parents to talk some sense into them?

And, I don't think that the article made mention of how prestigious the degree was that these kids were pursuing. For all we know they are studying basket weeving 101.

[papa_squat]

I wonder why these students put themselves in these situations? No one is forcing them to go to school. Transfer to a cheaper school and live with your parents until you graduate. Community College is way cheaper than the bigger universities.

If moving away from home to go to college meant that I would have to work 2 or 3 jobs and apply for food stamps, then I wouldn't move away for college. I guess they don't teach common sense in school.

Much of the problem I do attribute to the lack of jobs avaiable the last couple of years, but I think a lot of the problem is that higher education is a total bubble. A lot of people who wouldn't have gone to college 20 years ago (due to lack of finances or early parenthood) are going these days, and many of them are taking loans for these for-profit schools (Devry, University of Phonix, ITT Tech, etc.) where the dropout rate is horrendouse and the tution isn't much better. These schools still funded by federal loans that people are not able to pay back or file for backruptcy when they can't find a job that pays to the degree stature. Even at legitamate brick-and-mortar colleges and universities, most of the tuition students pay goes toward new buildings, administration costs, athletics programs and guest speakers while very little of it goes toward improving the quality of the education. Most of these schools offer so many online classes these days, it doesn't make sense why tuition should be so expensive.

I agree that many of the people going to college are buying something they can't afford, but it's not a common sense problem.

Just to throw in my two cents, I think a lot of parents of the generation going into college right now underestimate the cost of college for their children and how the tuition and fees grow exponentially. Parents are going to encourage their kids to go to the most reputable choice if they are accepted, assuming that their kid won't be one of the ones that would have been better off not going to college. Divorces also tend to land around the time childen gain more independence, and I think the college money can get drained in that process; or at least that's part of what happened to me.

Moving out to go to college was something my parents did, so I think they expected the same or better for me my sister. I don't think the university did a very good job explaining to us just how much college would cost in the end, thanks to yearly tution hikes, newly imposed fees and the ridiculous cost of textbooks.

Don't think I blame it all on my parents. I went to a state college not far from home, but I did move out by choice, so I lived with roommates, worked two jobs most of my college career and took student loans to keep going. My loan payments are affordable, I got a good job and I'm bringing down the debt, so I'm doing better than the majority of my friends, espeically the ones who went to grad school when they couldn't find work. Even friends of mine who did attend community colleges and didn't move out from home still had to take out loans to finish.

I think one of the best decisions I made concerning college was moving out, because it made me learn to manage my money. Even if it did make it harder for me during school, having to make decisions on my own and work hard to keep it all going was as much a lesson as any class I paid out the a$$ to attend.

While it could help some people afford the cost, staying at home and going to community college isn't the solution; I think the solution lies somewhere between making access to higher education more exclusive (which would likely make it more affordable) and encouraging business to invest in on-the-job training for people who do not to go to college rather than require some form of higher education.

[MakeAStash]

For decades it has been common for college students to be cash poor. So, I'm surprised by the recent large magnitude of increase of those on food stamps (SNAP). Did SNAP qualifications change?

[siggy_freud]

I'm 27 currently. From 18-24 I went to state schools, and for about three of those years, I used food stamps. I also worked part time, but funded the large majority of my education via public and private student loans. I have no shame in admitting I used food stamps, and believed having that social support contributed to my education success, having graduated Magna Cum Laude after studying to the 400-level Russian and Arabic for all four years, and also writing an undergrad thesis for a second degree.

The cost of education, even at states schools has risen beyond what one can reasonably expect to make part time, AND still attend school and have time for homework. The majority of my classes expected anywhere from 1-4 hours of homework for every 1 hour of class, so taking 16 credit hours meant anywhere from 16-64 hours of homework in ADDITION to class each week. School WAS my full time job.

Being able to supplement my income with food stamps allowed me to work less, and thus, study more, which allowed my grades to rise. I chose to have more debt upon graduation, but as a result did better at school than I would have.

The health and human services department in our town promoted the use for of stamps for students as a way for the government to indirectly invest in the education of us, and I was thankful for that. I had $145 a month to use on food, and I managed to that budget.

I resent the broad stroke statement that people at 18 have no idea what they're doing. I had a set mission, and I completed it utilizing the finances and programs I had access to. There is no shame in that. It wasn't a crutch that allowed me to goof of. It gave me stability to focus.

Yes, I have student loans to pay off, but the experiences and knowledge gained during my time in university is more valuable to me than the 55k or so I owe. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Those experiences got me to where I am today, and I'm proud of where I am.

[siggy_freud]

For decades it has been common for college students to be cash poor. So, I'm surprised by the recent large magnitude of increase of those on food stamps (SNAP). Did SNAP qualifications change?

Yes, but for decades the cost increase of education was more linear to the cash available to students. Now, the cost of college is rising quicker than cash-strapped students can keep up. Why do you think student loan debt exceeds credit card debt now? There is no weird science behind it. College just isn't affordable enough anymore to pay as you go, except in a minority of circumstances.

[DayByDay]

I'm 27 currently. From 18-24 I went to state schools, and for about three of those years, I used food stamps. I also worked part time, but funded the large majority of my education via public and private student loans. I have no shame in admitting I used food stamps,

Being able to supplement my income with food stamps allowed me to work less, and thus, study more, which allowed my grades to rise. I chose to have more debt upon graduation, but as a result did better at school than I would have.

The health and human services department in our town promoted the use for of stamps for students as a way for the government to indirectly invest in the education of us, and I was thankful for that. I had $145 a month to use on food, and I managed to that budget.

Wow, I had no idea that I, a taxpayer, am forced to pay for those who are capable of working and supporting themselves but choose not to and that the government is actually promoting this. I feel robbed (yet again).

[siggy_freud]

Wow, I had no idea that I, a taxpayer, am forced to pay for those who are capable of working and supporting themselves but choose not to and that the government is actually promoting this. I feel robbed (yet again).

Wow, quite the attitude. I was working, every year of college, AND going to school full time. The share of your taxes that goes specifically to food stamps is pretty minimal when compared to, for example, social security, which I'll be paying on your behalf at some point. I'd be happy to give you your 2% back if you'd like to give me my 20% back when you retire.

Attitudes like yours frankly blow my mind. Do you hold investing in the next generations future at zero value? Archaic mindsets breed stagnation.

Send me your address, I'd be MORE than happy to reimburse you, with interest, for your glorious contribution to my education.

[disneysteve]

I wonder how many students receiving assistance are doing so because their parents fell on hard times, lost their jobs, had their homes foreclosed, etc. Perhaps these students started school with the expectation that their parents would help with the cost only to have the situation change and have their parents no longer able to do so.

[DayByDay]

siggy, I suppose the label "investment in the next generation" can be slapped onto any and all taxes in an attempt to justify each one of them. I'd like to draw the line somewhere, especially when the taxes feel too burdensome and affect the needs (food, basic housing) of my own family.