Food insecurity is linked to lower persistence among older, working, and caregiving college students, according to a new analysis from the Institute for Higher Education Policy. The findings position basic-needs volatility as a retention risk, not just a welfare issue, with students more likely to disengage when meals and household stability are unstable. For institutions, the report adds urgency to student success strategies that integrate financial, nutritional, and administrative support—especially where students face caregiving constraints that limit the ability to resolve enrollment barriers quickly. The focus shifts from individual coping to structural intervention: identifying where campuses can accelerate assistance and reduce the persistence penalty tied to unmet needs.