Evaluating the Role of SNAP in Closing Socioeconomic Gaps in Educational Opportunity and Attainment

Awarded Scholars:
Monnica Chan, University of Massachusetts, Boston
Project Date:
Mar 2022
Award Amount:
$30,000

Although many studies have documented high levels of food insecurity among college students, participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for this group remains low. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded SNAP eligibility criteria to overlap with certain federal student financial aid programs. In partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia, education policy expert Monnica Chan and her co-author Lena Shi will explore the characteristics of students participating in SNAP. She will leverage these new eligibility rules and estimate the causal impact of SNAP participation on college student credit accumulation and persistence during the pandemic. With rich administrative data, Chan will provide accurate estimates of SNAP participation and will be the first to causally estimate how SNAP participation complements student financial aid resources to support student success. This will extend our understanding of how student financial aid interacts with students' basic needs.

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