5 Takeaways From Recent Research on Student Loneliness

As colleges grapple with student mental health and belonging, loneliness is emerging as a central—and often overlooked—factor.

According to recent research, the effects of loneliness reach beyond emotional well-being, shaping how students experience and evaluate their institutions.

Here are five things Inside Higher Ed has learned about the state of student loneliness.

1. More than half of college students say they feel lonely.

A recent report from Trellis Strategies, based on data from Trellis’s 2024 Student Financial Wellness Survey of nearly 44,000 college students, found that 57 percent said they felt lonely—45 percent sometimes and 12 percent always. Just 15 percent reported never feeling lonely.

“Loneliness is an issue on college campuses that affects more students than you would think at first glance,” said Carson Domey, a fourth-year student at the University of Texas at Austin and executive director of the Coalition for Student Wellbeing. “It presents very differently for each person, which makes the challenge all the more complex.”

2. Loneliness is closely tied to anxiety, depression and lower satisfaction with the institution.

Students who frequently experience loneliness are far more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression than their peers who rarely or never feel lonely, according to the Trellis Strategies report.

They are also significantly less likely to say they feel supported by their institution—or to recommend it to others. Just under 11 percent of students who reported frequent loneliness said they would recommend their college, compared to nearly 30 percent of their nonlonely peers.

The findings suggest that loneliness is not only a mental health concern but also a factor shaping students’ sense of belonging and overall satisfaction.

3. LGBTQ+ students and those facing economic instability report higher loneliness rates.

Loneliness is especially prevalent among students with additional vulnerabilities, according to the Trellis Strategies report.

More than 60 percent of students under 25, former foster youth and those facing basic needs insecurity said they felt lonely sometimes or always. Among LGBTQ+ students, that figure rose to more than 70 percent.

Allyson Cornett, director of research at Trellis Strategies, said the data shows loneliness is not a fringe issue but a widespread challenge—one that may require targeted community-building efforts to ensure high-risk groups feel connected on campus.

4. Heavy social media use is associated with higher odds of loneliness.

A report from the University of Cincinnati, based on survey data from nearly 65,000 students ages 18 to 24 across more than 120 colleges, found that students who spend more time on social media are more likely to report feeling isolated.

Spending 16 hours a week—a little more than two hours a day—on social media platforms was linked with higher odds of loneliness. The study did not establish causation but found a strong association between time spent online and feelings of isolation.

Some institutions are responding by encouraging more in-person connection. New York University’s IRL, or In Real Life, initiative, for example, promotes device-free classroom practices, supports extracurricular programming and designates device-free spaces across its campuses in New York City, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai.

5. Students trust campus counseling—but many don’t use it.

A fall 2025 survey from the Hi, How Are You Project and the College Student Mental Wellness Advocacy Coalition, completed by more than 11,000 students nationwide, found that 73 percent of respondents said they trust campus counseling services.

However, only 18 percent reported accessing professional mental health care through their college, even though 55 percent said they had received professional treatment over all.

Some campuses are working to reduce that barrier. At the University of California, Davis, officials have leaned into the library as a “third place,” embedding mental health ambassadors to engage students in conversation, host stress-relief activities and connect them with resources—meeting students where they already gather.

Taken together, these findings show that by directly addressing student loneliness—whether through structured activities, peer support or professional counseling—institutions can help improve students’ overall mental health, especially among the most vulnerable, as well as their satisfaction with their college experience.

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