The Atlantic

What Congress Could Do to Keep More College Students Enrolled

The pandemic has left many students struggling to afford tuition, food, and housing. They need emergency cash assistance—delivered fast.
Source: Getty / Shutterstock / Katie Martin / The Atlantic

This fall I received desperate messages from many of my students at Temple University, Philadelphia’s public university. They wanted to know where they could find help catching up on bills, and described having to choose between rent, groceries, and gas. Five of my undergraduates lost a family member to COVID-19.

A college education is more essential than ever to economic stability. But across the nation, college students are struggling to cover basic needs and are unsure if they can afford tuition for the spring semester. Many people assume that students can rely on their parents or apply for financial aid to keep

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