Full Breakdown
Mississippi Colleges Expand Food Pantries to Combat Student Basic-Needs Insecurity
By Drooid · · How we work
Background: Rising Costs and Student Need
Across Mississippi, students are confronting higher tuition, housing, and food expenses. A 2023 Hope Center for Basic Needs survey found that 59 % of college students lack access to at least one basic need, with 41 % reporting food insecurity. Federal data show that while textbook costs have remained steady, food and student-housing prices have risen sharply in recent years.
Usage Data and Tuition Increases
- University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) opened a pantry on Sept. 1, offering groceries and personal-care items.
- University of Southern Mississippi distributed more than 890 lb of food and hygiene products to 94 individuals during the first week of classes in August; the Eagle’s Nest recorded 2,785 visits last academic year, 81 % by students.
- Mississippi State University (MSU) sees students relying on “Bully’s Pantry” while managing tuition and living costs. In-state tuition rose from $9,815 (2023-24) to $11,095 (2024-25); out-of-state tuition increased from $26,580 to $30,086, with total in-state annual costs estimated at $26,295.
- Jackson State University experienced a 1.4 % drop in in-state tuition but an 18.3 % jump in out-of-state fees.
- Delta State University reported pantry visits more than doubling from 672 (2023-24) to 1,672 (2025-26). Food and on-campus housing costs rose 3.6 % between 2023-24 and 2024-25, while off-campus costs rose 2.4 %.
Official Statements & Responses
University administrators emphasize that the pantries aim to serve any student in need, regardless of financial background. The dean of students at the University of Southern Mississippi expects continued high demand, citing peer-to-peer promotion of the resource.
On-the-Ground Reports
Volunteer coordinator Jennifer Ennis sorts clothing at Delta State’s “Okra Threads” thrift store, while Brandi Lovin, coordinator for the Statesman’s Shelf pantry, highlights the pantry’s role during winter emergencies—serving 416 people in January, half of them amid a severe winter storm. The same effort relaunched the campus clothing closet, expanding from business attire to everyday wear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Every student’s financial situation is different,” — Jonathan Nutt, director of student services at UMMC
- “We are juggling all kinds of expenses and also having to balance our classwork, extracurriculars, work and thinking about our future,” — Hali Hollman, former volunteer at MSU’s Bully’s Pantry
- “Food insecurity and basic needs access is an issue everywhere,” — Jonathan Nutt, director of student services at UMMC
Why It Matters
The expansion of food pantries directly supports student retention and graduation rates by addressing immediate survival needs. By mitigating food insecurity, campuses help students focus on academic and professional development, bolstering Mississippi’s future healthcare and other critical workforces.
What’s Next
Universities plan to maintain pantry operations throughout the academic year and to monitor demand trends, adjusting inventory and outreach as living-cost pressures evolve.