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Food insecurity is widespread among US college students. We examined the impact of participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on food security status among students at a large public university using a quasi-experimental study. Sequentially adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of SNAP participation on food insecurity. SNAP participants experienced a 63% decrease in food insecurity from baseline to six months (p <.05). Adjusted models found 89% (95% CI 0.25–0.98) lower odds of food insecurity among program participants. Strategies to increase SNAP use may decrease food insecurity and its associated consequences among college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence suggests that food insecurity in US colleges and universities is higher than in US households, making this a new public health priority. We conducted a systematic review of food insecurity among US students attending higher education institutions. A total of eight studies met inclusion criteria, representing data from 52,085 students. Unweighted mean food insecurity prevalence among this sample was 43.5% (SD = 12.4), significantly higher than the 13% reported for US national households in 2015. Higher education institutions must critically examine the problem of food insecurity and take creative policy and programmatic steps to mitigate its consequences. Short-term emergency solutions, such as food pantries, may be useful, but upstream solutions to address basic needs are imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]