Unveiling Disparities

Key findings from this research show significant racial, ethnic, and gender post-secondary student financial insecurity gaps for Black and Latine students and students of all racial backgrounds who identify as women, compared to other groups across six different measures, including: needing assistance with food, housing, utilities, medical care, child care, and covering a $500 emergency. Financial insecurity across all measures and racial/ethnic groups was also higher for students who are parents.  We also found that across all racial, ethnic, and gender groups, students who relied on grants, scholarships, or loans to cover tuition faced more financial insecurity than students who paid tuition from personal or family income. In addition, the main methods for meeting unmet needs to pay for tuition—grants and loans—did not remedy student financial insecurity or close financial insecurity gaps.  Reliance on grants, scholarships, and student loans was associated with increased probabilities of financial insecurity.  Not only did loans not close financial insecurity gaps, but those students most likely to rely on loans (students who are Black and women of all racial backgrounds) were the least likely to feel they would be able to pay them off after college.