Housing Insecurity Among College Students: It's All About the Money

College students are faced with managing the high cost of tuition and necessary living expenses, both of which have steadily increased in recent years. Students who struggle to meet basic housing needs may face difficulties pursuing their college degree. This study uses Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to examine the predictors of housing insecurity among college students attending two universities in the Southwest and Midwest regions of the United States. The results show that students who are employed, have federal student aid, federal student loans, and who are upper-level students are more likely to report being housing insecure whereas students who have an emergency fund and live at home with family are less likely to report being housing insecure. Findings from this study are applied to FCS professionals who work with college-bound students and their families.