IHEP interviewed 17 “low-income and working-class” students to understand the challenges these groups face during college. Most of those interviewed said their aid was critical to helping them stay in college. However, it often wasn’t enough to cover their full cost of attendance, forcing them to make ends meet by leaning on friends and family, taking out loans, working more and cutting back elsewhere, including skipping meals to lower food costs.
Their experiences reflect those of many other students. In 2016, the average student had nearly $9,000 in unmet financial need.
