This year, Illinois can take an important step to address the growing crisis of college student hunger by expanding the definition of programs at public colleges and universities that are determined to be equivalent to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment & Training programs. This change would provide essential support for low-income college students facing food insecurity and stimulate local economies.
College Student Hunger Crisis and the Need for Action
College student hunger has emerged as a serious and growing crisis across the United States, with nearly 1 in 4 undergraduate students—approximately 3.8 million individuals—experiencing food insecurity. This issue is particularly pronounced among community college students, parenting students, and students of color, especially Black and Latinx students, who face disproportionately high rates of food insecurity.
Despite the widespread need, many students are unable to access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) is the primary source of nutrition assistance for over 1.07 million households in Illinois. This modest safety net benefit is a critical foundation for the health and well-being of low-income people.
Nationally, SNAP lifts millions of households above the poverty line and improves people’s food security, allowing them to spend more on nutritious food than their limited budgets would otherwise allow.
While some low-income students may technically qualify for SNAP under specific criteria known as "exemptions”, nearly two-thirds (67%) of students nationally who are likely eligible for benefits are not receiving them. This gap in access is a direct result of overly complex and restrictive eligibility rules for students in the SNAP program.
Why should we expand access to SNAP for college students?
To address this issue, the Greater Chicago Food Depository proposes expanding the definition of which programs at public colleges and universities are equivalent to SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) programs. Each state is required to operate a SNAP E&T program to help SNAP participants gain skills and find work that moves them toward self-sufficiency. In Illinois, SNAP E&T is known as SNAP to Success. One of the federal exemptions for college students to qualify for SNAP is by participating in a program operated by a state or local government that is at least equivalent to SNAP E&T. Educational programs that enhance students’ employability are allowable as long as there is a direct link between the education and job-readiness.
Currently, Illinois has not determined any programs to be equivalent to SNAP E&T for the purposes of this exemption, but if Illinois were to broaden the definition to include all public college and university programs, more students would qualify for SNAP benefits. This policy change would allow a larger number of college students to access the nutritional assistance they need to persist and succeed in their studies without worrying about food insecurity.
Additionally, expanding the exemption would help reduce the administrative burden on the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and benefits navigators on college campuses. It would streamline the process of connecting students to SNAP benefits and make it easier for them to access the support they need to focus on their education rather than on where their next meal will come from.
- Estimated Impact: An estimated 90,782 students at public 2- and 4-year colleges and universities in Illinois who experience food insecurity could gain access to SNAP. An estimated 6,733 graduate students at public universities in Illinois who experience food insecurity could gain access to SNAP.
No Cost to the State, Federal Funding Boost
SNAP benefits are fully funded by the federal government, meaning any increase in participation would bring in additional federal dollars to the state economy at no cost to Illinois taxpayers. This would not only help address student hunger but also provide a financial boost to local economies.
A Model for Success: Other States’ Actions
Several states, including California, Ohio, and Oregon, have already taken steps—either through legislative or administrative actions—to expand the definition of college and university programs that are equivalent to SNAP E&T. These states have seen positive results in terms of both increased student participation in SNAP and improved food security among students.
For more information, please contact Hillary Caron, Senior Policy Advisor, at [email protected] and Skyler Larrimore, Interim Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at [email protected].