Are college students maximizing access to CalFresh? Study highlights benefits of food security
A NEW STUDY HIGHLIGHTS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FOOD SECURITY AND STUDENT SUCCESS. RESEARCHERS FOUND COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO CONSISTENTLY RECEIVED CALFRESH BENEFITS DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR WERE MORE LIKELY TO STAY ENROLLED AND COMPLETE MORE COURSEWORK. THIS MORNING, WE WELCOME THE COAUTHOR OF THE RESEARCH AND SENIOR RESEARCHER AT THE CENTER FOR STUDIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION, IGOR. IGOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. TELL US WHAT STOOD OUT MOST TO YOU FROM THIS RESEARCH. SO THE GOAL OF THIS KIND OF A STUDY IN GENERAL WAS TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER CALFRESH OR THIS IS CALIFORNIA VERSION OF SNAP OR FOOD STAMPS HELP STUDENTS NOT ONLY REDUCE HUNGER, BUT ALSO HELP THEM TO STAY ON TRACK IN COLLEGE. AND WE FOUND THAT STUDENTS WHO KEPT RECEIVING CALFRESH DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR DID BETTER ACADEMICALLY, AND THERE WERE MORE LIKELY TO COMPLETE 30 CREDITS IN THEIR FIRST YEAR, WHICH IS ONE OF THE KEY MILESTONES FOR STAYING ON TRACK. AND THERE WERE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO COME BACK FOR A SECOND YEAR. SO THE EFFECTS WERE MODEST BUT VERY MEANINGFUL. IT’S ABOUT 1.4 PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE IN EARNING CREDITS AND 2.6 PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE IN RETURN FOR A YEAR OR TWO. AND THE SIZE OF THE EFFECT DOES KIND OF DOESN’T SEEM HUGE, BUT IT’S A IN A LARGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, LIKE IN CALIFORNIA, EVEN SMALL PERCENTAGE GAINS CAN AFFECT THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS. WHY IS THAT? WHY DOES THE ACCESS TO FOOD SUPPORT HAVE SUCH A STRONG IMPACT? IT’S A GREAT QUESTION. ACTUALLY. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE VERY CLEAR REASONS WHY FOOD ASSISTANCE COULD HELP STUDENTS. IT CAN REDUCE HUNGER. IT CAN FREE UP TIME THAT STUDENTS MIGHT OTHERWISE SPEND WORKING AND HELP THEM FOCUS MORE ON SCHOOLS. SORRY, IN SCHOOL AND, AND THERE ARE LITERATURE THAT KIND OF ESTABLISH THIS THEORETICALLY, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THIS IN, IN, IN, IN, IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE SETTINGS. AND HOW MANY COLLEGE STUDENTS ACTUALLY USE CALFRESH. SO CALIFORNIA POLICY LAB PUBLISHED A REPORT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT SHOWED A BIG GAP BETWEEN ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION IN FALL 2019, ABOUT 20% OF CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS WERE LIKELY ELIGIBLE FOR CALFRESH, BUT ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS WERE ACTUALLY RECEIVING BENEFITS. SO THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS MANY STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE, BUT MOST ARE NOT ENROLLED. WE HAVE ABOUT 30S. WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE BARRIERS KEEPING STUDENTS FROM ENROLLING? YEAH. SO THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THAT CALFRESH IS COMPLICATED FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS. STUDENTS USUALLY HAVE TO SHOW NOT ONLY THAT THEY HAVE LOW INCOME, BUT ALSO THEY NEED SPECIAL STUDENT EXEMPTIONS. AND, AND THEN THERE’S PAPERWORK, DOCUMENTATION, INTERVIEWS AND CERTIFICATIONS. SO EVEN STUDENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE CAN FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE TRANSITION INTO COLLEGE. AND FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS MORNING AND THEY MAY NEED SOME HELP, WHAT RESOURCES OR STEPS WOULD YOU RECOMMEND? THE FIRST PROBABLY THE FIRST STEP IS TO CONTACT THEIR BASIC NEEDS CENTER. AT A LOT OF COLLEGES, THERE’S STUDENT BASIC NEEDS CENTER AND EXPLORE IF THEY’RE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
Are college students maximizing access to CalFresh? Study highlights benefits of food security
Updated: 12:26 PM PDT May 7, 2026
The connection between food security and student success was highlighted in a recent study from the UC Berkeley Center for Studies in Higher Education (CSHE). Researches found that community college students who received CalFresh benefits consistently in their first year were more likely to complete a full-time course load and more likely to enroll the following year compared to similar students who were eligible for benefits but did not receive them.Igor Chirikov, a senior researcher, for the center, joined KCRA 3 Thursday morning to talk about the study’s findings. “The effects were modest but very meaningful. It’s about a 1 .4% increase in earning 30 credits and a 2.6% increase in returning for year two,” Chirikov said. “The size of the effect doesn’t seem huge but in a large community college system like in California even small percentage point gains can impact solvency of students.” While there are many students reaping the benefits of food assistance programs, Chirikov said there is still a large gap between the number of students who are CalFresh eligible vs. the number who are actually participating.The process of enrolling and providing proof of eligibility can be overwhelming, causing students to slip through the cracks, Chirikov said. But one of the first steps that can be taken by students to get past that barrier is contacting the student basic needs center at their college for assistance. To apply for CalFresh benefits, click here. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
The connection between food security and student success was highlighted in a recent study from the UC Berkeley Center for Studies in Higher Education (CSHE).
Researches found that community college students who received CalFresh benefits consistently in their first year were more likely to complete a full-time course load and more likely to enroll the following year compared to similar students who were eligible for benefits but did not receive them.
Igor Chirikov, a senior researcher, for the center, joined KCRA 3 Thursday morning to talk about the study’s findings.
“The effects were modest but very meaningful. It’s about a 1 .4% increase in earning 30 credits and a 2.6% increase in returning for year two,” Chirikov said. “The size of the effect doesn’t seem huge but in a large community college system like in California even small percentage point gains can impact solvency of students.”
While there are many students reaping the benefits of food assistance programs, Chirikov said there is still a large gap between the number of students who are CalFresh eligible vs. the number who are actually participating.
The process of enrolling and providing proof of eligibility can be overwhelming, causing students to slip through the cracks, Chirikov said. But one of the first steps that can be taken by students to get past that barrier is contacting the student basic needs center at their college for assistance.
To apply for CalFresh benefits, click here.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel