Without BPS we lose the long view of students’ experiences, including pandemic impacts

The Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS) offers one of the most comprehensive national views of how students navigate higher education over time. By following students from initial enrollment through completion and into the workforce, BPS helps researchers and policymakers understand how significant events shape student outcomes across different populations. Yet, the federal contract for future BPS data collections remains cancelled, putting this essential source of insights at risk.

Newly released 2020/2022 BPS data offer one of the first nationally representative student-level looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted students’ food security and educational progress. IHEP analysis finds that older, working, and caregiving students—a critical part of today’s undergraduate population—were more likely to face food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet similarly or less likely to receive institutional emergency aid than their peers. They were also less likely to persist toward a degree. Together, these findings highlight the gap between students’ needs and the support they receive, and point to opportunities for institutions to better align resources with realities students face, both during crises and in everyday operations.

Food Insecurity Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic was Highest for Older, Primarily Working, and Caregiving Students

Food insecurity—limited access to affordable and sufficient food—is widespread among college students, and has negative effects on students’ academic achievement and mental and physical health.

Students reported high levels of food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with especially severe impacts for certain groups. Nearly one in five older students reported food insecurity, compared to about one in ten younger students. Caregiving students reported food insecurity at nearly twice the rate of those without dependents.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated food insecurity. Campus closures restricted student access to food pantries and dining halls, while job loss and reduced work hours made it harder for students to afford food. These patterns underscore the importance of swiftly distributing resources, such as institutional emergency aid, to the students with the greatest need.

Institutional Emergency Aid Fell Short of Reaching Students with the Greatest Need

At least one in four students reported receiving emergency financial aid from their institutions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of their age, work responsibilities, or caregiving status. This broad reach reflects colleges’ quick efforts, supported by federal relief funding, to assist students through uncertain times.

However, aid did not always reach those with the greatest need. Older, primarily working, and caregiving students received emergency financial assistance at similar or lower rates despite experiencing higher rates of food insecurity. The largest disparities were among older and primarily working students, who received emergency aid at rates five to seven percentage points lower than their peers.

This mismatch between need and support may stem, in part, from differences in outreach, application, and disbursement processes across institutions, which shape who ultimately receives support.

Persistence was Lower Among Older, Primarily Working and Caregiving Students

Pandemic-related disruptions also affected students’ academic progress. Survey data show increases in the number of students delaying graduation, withdrawing from classes, and planning to change majors—trends that signal broader challenges to persistence.

Only 53 to 56 percent of older, primarily working, and caregiving students persisted three years after enrollment, compared to about three-quarters of their peers. These gaps reflect how balancing school, work, and caregiving responsibilities often make it more difficult for students to stay enrolled and earn their degree.

Food insecurity is strongly linked to persistence in college. Students experiencing food insecurity are three times more likely to shift their focus from academics to earning income to support themselves, and over three times more likely than their peers to consider stopping out. Disruptions to food security during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic likely contributed to students’ persistence throughout this time period.

Better aligning student supports with the realities of older, primarily working, and caregiving learners will reduce barriers to persistence, and ultimately attainment, across all student groups. This includes proactively connecting students to existing resources they are eligible for—such as campus food pantries and basic needs hubs, assistance with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment, and childcare services for caregiving students.

Protecting and Using BPS Data to Advance Student Success

This analysis offers valuable lessons for how institutions and policymakers can better respond to all students’ needs and reduce barriers to persistence. These insights are only possible because of BPS data that allow us to better understand how events like the COVID-19 pandemic affect students differently based on their life circumstances.

Without continued investment in BPS, policymakers and institutions lose the ability to track these patterns over time. Sustained investment in longitudinal studies like BPS is essential to understanding student experiences and improving outcomes. As one of higher education’s most important tools for evidence-based policy making, BPS supports efforts to expand the socioeconomic benefits of higher education to diverse student populations, including older, primarily working, and caregiving students—strengthening outcomes for all.