How 3 Colleges Are Meeting Students’ Basic Needs

As basic needs insecurity continues to challenge college students nationwide, institutions are expanding efforts to connect them with resources that support their well-being and persistence.

A recent analysis from the Institute for Higher Education Policy found that Pell Grant recipients are nearly twice as likely to experience food insecurity as students who do not receive the federal grant. Drawing on data from the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, researchers found that 42 percent of Pell recipients experience food insecurity, compared with 22 percent of nonrecipients.

Housing instability also remains a concern for many students. A recent report from New America, produced in collaboration with the Eviction Lab, found that student parents ages 35 to 39 with school-age children experienced an eviction-filing rate of 22 percent—double the rate of their nonstudent peers.

In response, colleges and universities are pursuing a range of strategies, from financial aid programs to dedicated housing initiatives. Here’s what Inside Higher Ed has learned about how three institutions are meeting students’ basic needs.

1. University of Mount Saint Vincent: Year-Round Housing

Dax House, an all-women residence located in a former convent, offers students year-round housing with monthly rent of $250 and wraparound support services. The program is a partnership among the University of Mount Saint Vincent, Depaul USA and the Sisters of Charity.

Unlike many colleges that primarily provide emergency housing or short-term basic needs support such as food pantries, Dax House combines stable housing with case management and access to a permanent address that students can use to connect with social services.

The program serves more than 90 students annually, most of whom are low-income, BIPOC, female and first-generation college students. Dax House operates four residences across New York City.

Students in the program have a 94 percent persistence rate, according to Susan Burns, president of the University of Mount Saint Vincent.

“This is not just an issue of providing a bed,” Burns said. “It’s about changing students’ trajectory and helping them prepare for the future beyond their time at the university.”

2. Generations College: Single Parent Scholarship

The Single Parent Scholarship program covers remaining tuition after grant aid, allowing recipients to earn an associate degree at no cost. The program is designed to address the broader costs of attending college as a single parent, including childcare, transportation and the challenges of balancing school with full-time caregiving responsibilities.

Launched in 2020 after college leaders identified childcare as a growing barrier for student parents, the scholarship is available to full-time Pell Grant–eligible students who are single parents.

The scholarship covers up to $3,500 per semester. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 to remain eligible. Demand has grown steadily since the program’s launch: This year, Generations College awarded nearly 90 scholarships.

Chancellor Grace Alexis said many of the college’s students are adult learners balancing school, work and family, with more than half of student parents raising children on their own. She said the scholarship reflects an effort to reduce the financial pressures that often force students to delay or stop out.

“We just wanted to provide them with a sense of hope that, ‘Yes, you too can still obtain your college degree, despite the fact that you have all of these other obligations,’” Alexis said.

3. Austin Community College: First-Dollar Tuition Model

For many students, the cost of college extends beyond tuition. Expenses such as childcare, transportation, food and housing can derail educational plans long before a degree is earned. Austin Community College is tackling those barriers through a tuition-free model paired with wraparound student supports.

The public two-year college in central Texas launched its Free Tuition Pilot Program in 2024 to reduce financial barriers and respond to declining enrollment. The program covers tuition for eligible students living within ACC’s tax-base district who enroll after graduating from high school or earning a Texas GED. Students can receive up to three years of free tuition for credit-bearing coursework, and up to five years if they pursue a bachelor’s degree at the college.

Unlike many free-tuition programs that are last-dollar, ACC uses a first-dollar model, covering tuition and general fees before financial aid is applied. That structure allows eligible students to use need-based grants and scholarships for living expenses such as housing, transportation and food.

The college has also invested in wraparound supports that include childcare assistance, food access, emergency aid, transportation support and mental health services. Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart said the combination of free tuition and basic needs supports is key to student success.

“When we can remove basic needs barriers and make college affordable, students are much more likely to complete,” he said. “And when you add free tuition on top of that, those two things become the most significant predictors of whether students will be successful.”

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