Sara Goldrick-Rab
Professor of Sociology & Medicine, Temple University
Founder, Wisconsin HOPE Lab
Chapter Member: New Jersey-Philadelphia SSN
Areas of Expertise:
Connect with Sara
About Sara
Goldrick-Rab's research focuses on students’ basic needs in higher education. Her work sparked the national #RealCollege movement and legislation to address food and housing insecurity. Goldrick-Rab is also the President and Founder of the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice in Philadelphia and the Chief Strategy Officer for Emergency Aid at Edquity, a student financial success and emergency aid company. She founded Believe in Students, a nonprofit distributing emergency aid.
Contributions
Improving Emergency Financial Aid Programs to Help Students Stay in College
Key Findings Brief,
The Problem of College Students without Reliable Housing
Key Findings Brief,
No Jargon Podcast
In the News
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on the effects of college campus closing by Andre Perry, "Closing Campuses doesn’t Necessarily Move Vulnerable People Out of Harm’s Way" The Hechinger Report, March 16, 2020.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on the adverse effects of college closures by Saahil Desai, "The Real Lesson of the College Closures" The Atlantic, March 16, 2020.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on homelessness among students by Kyle Spencer, "In College and Homeless" The New York Times, February 20, 2020.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on student debt discussed by , "Even at Elite Colleges Lauded for their Generosity, Some Students Take on Debt," The Hechinger Report, March 29, 2019.
"Why Did it Take a Celebrity Scandal to Talk Absurd College Costs?," Sara Goldrick-Rab (with ), The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 14, 2019.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on homeless students program in MA discussed by , "State Offers Housing for Homeless College Students," The Boston Globe, February 1, 2019.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on financial aid discussed by , "Michael Bloomberg's $1.8 Billion Gift to Johns Hopkins is Historic, but Not Everyone Agrees it Will Have a Lasting Impact," CNBC, November 20, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on free college discussed by , "Here’s What it Would Take to Make College Tuition-Free," MarketWatch, October 21, 2018.
"Don’t Dismiss the Value of Free-College Programs. They Do Help Low-Income Students.," Sara Goldrick-Rab (with ), The Chronicle of Higher Education, September 7, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Michelle Andrews, "Some College Students Go To Class Hungry" The Washington Post, August 7, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Michelle Andrews, "For Many College Students, Hunger ‘Makes It Hard To Focus’" NPR, July 31, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on food insecurity discussed by , "Hunger on College Campus Has Some Students Relying on Food Pantries and Donated Meals," Slate, July 31, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on college affordability discussed by , "Wisconsin HOPE Lab Closes Doors, but Research on College Affordability Continues," The Cap Times, July 19, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on resources for students discussed by , "Hungry for Change: The Mindset Shift Higher Ed Needs to Address Student Housing and Food Insecurity," Education Dive, July 18, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on higher education discussed by , "How to Boost Completion Rates," Education Dive, June 20, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on college classes discussed by , "Why Flunking or Dropping That College Class Will Dent Your Wallet," CNBC, June 10, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on student hunger and homelessness, "Studying While Hungry, Homeless: Educators Float Solutions" Public News Service, May 14, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on student hunger and homelessness by Scott O’Connell, "State Survey Shows Hunger, Homelessness a Common Problem at Public Colleges" Telegram.com, May 11, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on student emergency money and housing by Anna Helhoski, "Where College Students Can Find Emergency Money and Housing" NewsOK, May 1, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on student hunger by Cameron Probert, "Tri-Cities Colleges are Seeing More Hungry Students. They're Not Alone, but They've Got a Plan" Tri-City Herald, April 22, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on college homelessness by Theresa Hermann, "College and Homelessness Shouldn’t Go Together" Western Herald, April 20, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on student hunger and homelessness discussed by , "Hunger, Homelessness Rising among College Students," Boston Herald, April 19, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on affordable higher education, "Community Colleges’ Affordable Option" Herald-Tribune, April 17, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on basic student needs by Matt Reed, "Taking Diversity Seriously" Inside Higher Ed, April 16, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on student hunger and homelessness by Greg Toppo, "For Students in Debt, Bitcoin on Their Minds" Inside Higher Ed, April 12, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on food insecurity for low-income students by Matthew Michaels, "College is Getting So Expensive That Students Worry about Having Enough Money to Eat" Business Insider, April 12, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on student hunger by Shannon Najmabadi, "As College Costs Rise, Some Texas Students Go Hungry. Will Food Scholarships Help?" The Texas Tribune, April 10, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on student hunger and homelessness discussed by , "Third of College Students Go Hungry or Lack Housing, Temple Researcher Finds," WHYY, April 10, 2018.
on 89.3 WFPL with Roxanne Scott, Sara Goldrick-Rab, April 10, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on , "This Hidden Hunger Problem Affects 36 Percent of College Students," The Student Loan Report, April 6, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on , "New Study Finds That 36% of College Students Don’t Have Enough to Eat," CNBC, April 6, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on , "Survey: Hunger among College Students on the Rise," Campus Safety Magazine, April 5, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on , "A Third of College Students Face Food and Housing Insecurity," Teen Vogue, April 5, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on , "Are Students Starving? Study Finds Widespread Hunger in U.S. Colleges," Newsweek, April 4, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on , "College Students Nationwide Fight Food Insecurity, Homelessness, New Report Finds," Chron, April 4, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Felicia Mello, "California Campuses Confront a Growing Challenge: Homeless Students" CALmatters, April 3, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on , "Hunger and Homelessness are Widespread among College Students, Study Finds," NPR, April 3, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Caitlin Dewey, "The Hidden Crisis on College Campuses: Many Students Don’t Have Enough to Eat" The Washington Post, April 3, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on , "College Students are Going Hungry — And Researchers Believe It's a Growing Problem," Bustle, April 3, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on student hunger by Kevyn Burger, "More Students in Minnesota Colleges Struggle to Get Enough to Eat" Star Tribune, March 28, 2018.
"Should College Education be Free? Yes: Such an Investment Pays off in Growth and Innovation," Sara Goldrick-Rab, The Wall Street Journal, March 20, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Matt Reed, "Live from the League, Day 2" Inside Higher Ed, March 20, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Daphne Hernandez, "Food Scholarships Could Help More Students Finish College" The Conversation, March 5, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Jeffery J. Selingo, " How Much is Too Much to Pay for College?" The Washington Post, February 24, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Sydney Johnson, "Without Addressing Basic Needs, Student Success Strategies Fall Short" EdSurge, February 23, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Amanda Haggard, "Study Finds College Students Going Hungry, Homeless" Roots Radio, February 13, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Rachel Frommer, "Diversity Advocates Disappointed after Harvard Names Another White Male as President" The Washington Free Beacon, February 13, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted , "Feeding Hungry Students Should be as Simple as Skipping on Outtakes" The Huntington News, February 7, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Sara Goldrick-Rab, "The High Cost of Higher Education" Shepherd Express, February 6, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Katie Pickrell, "More College Students Risk Hunger" The American Prospect, January 31, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Matt Reed, "Dispatches from a Student Basic Needs Conference" Inside Higher Education, January 30, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Morgan Zalot, "Temple to Open Food Pantry to Serve University Community" Temple University, January 29, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Mary Churchill, "At the Intersection of Success and Poverty" Inside Higher Ed, January 25, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted , "Hungry for Solutions: New Research Tackles College Hunger" HealthNewsDigest, January 22, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Jeremy House, "Food Insecurity Remains a Barrier for Students on Campus" Education Dive, January 19, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Alyssa Biederman, "Grants Made Available to Students in Need" Temple News, January 16, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted , "From California to South Africa, Students are Going Hungry" SINews, January 15, 2018.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on homelessness on college campuses discussed by , "Up to 14% of Community College Students are Homeless, New Study Says," USA Today, June 30, 2017.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on housing and food insecurity at community colleges discussed by , "Homelessness and Hunger a Fact at Community Colleges, Study Finds," The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 15, 2017.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on college affordability discussed by , "Student Debt in Crisis, Says Professor," Daily Iowan, February 14, 2017.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on college affordability discussed by , "Focus of College Affordability Fight Shifts from Feds to States, Cities," Des Moines Register, February 10, 2017.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on access to higher education discussed by , "The Impossible Price of Going to College," New Republic, January 17, 2017.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on Republican agenda for financing higher education by John Morgan, "Trump Could Act on For-Profits, Loans, Campus Sex Assault Claims" Times Higher Education, November 12, 2016.
"Q&A: It’s Not the Cost of College-- It’s the Price," Sara Goldrick-Rab, Interview with Rachel M. Cohen, The American Prospect, October 20, 2016.
"College Students Going Hungry? Sara Goldrick-Rab Shares This and Other Campus Realities," Sara Goldrick-Rab, Interview with Dan Loney, Wharton Business Radio, October 20, 2016.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on tenure protections by Avory Brookins, "Report Shows UW-Madison Spent $23.6M on Retention Efforts in 2015-16" Wisconsin Public Radio, October 18, 2016.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on financial advice by Liz Brody, "How to Pay for College Without Selling Your Eggs (or God Knows What)" Glamour, October 18, 2016.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on , "How the Financing of Colleges May Lead to Disaster!," The New York Review, October 13, 2016.
Interview on higher education financial aid reform Sara Goldrick-Rab, Pacific Standard, October 10, 2016.
Guest to discuss food and housing insecurity among college students on Wisconsin Public Radio, Sara Goldrick-Rab, September 27, 2016.
Guest to discuss higher education financial aid on National Public Radio, Sara Goldrick-Rab, September 17, 2016.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on an examination of the “new economics of college in America” discussed by "Paying the Price," Kirkus, August 22, 2016.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on simplifying financial aid applications discussed by , "New Fed Legislation to Help Pell Recipients Rooted in UW-Madison Research," Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, July 15, 2016.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on Clinton’s use of a means test to determine eligibility for free tuition by Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, "Not Everyone Agrees on Hillary Clinton’s Big, Bold Plan for College Affordability" The Washington Post, July 6, 2016.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on housing and food insecurity on college campuses discussed by , "How Unnecessary Paperwork Leaves Homeless College Students Behind," Think Progress, June 6, 2016.
"This is #RealCollege: Some Students Struggle to Pay for Food, Housing," Sara Goldrick-Rab, The Washington Post, May 10, 2016.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on the sticker price of college attendance versus its actual cost discussed by , "The Real Cost of College is Confusing and Hidden, New Study Says," Deseret News, April 11, 2016.
"1 Trillion Reasons Why We Must Slash the Price of College," Sara Goldrick-Rab, Crain's Chicago Business, March 26, 2016.
"Here’s Another Reason Why Many Community College Students Do Not Get Their Degree," Sara Goldrick-Rab (with ), The Conversation, March 14, 2016.
"Lenders Shouldn’t Pick Which Students Get an Education," Sara Goldrick-Rab, The Wall Street Journal, February 28, 2016.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on Wisconsin's funding of higher education by Emily Hamer, "Experts Weigh In on Wisconsin’s Lack of Support for Higher Education" Badger Herald, February 8, 2016.
Guest to discuss being a scholar-activist on Wisconsin Public Radio, Sara Goldrick-Rab, January 29, 2016.
"Public Higher Education Should be Universal and Free," Sara Goldrick-Rab, New York Times, January 20, 2016.
Guest to discuss the rising cost of college on Milwaukee National Public Radio, Sara Goldrick-Rab, January 20, 2016.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on the food-security status of community college students discussed by , "The Hidden Hunger on College Campuses," The Atlantic, January 14, 2016.
"To Cut Costs, College Students are Buying Less Food and Even Going Hungry," Sara Goldrick-Rab (with ), The Conversation, September 25, 2015.
Guest to discuss college-rating systems on National Public Radio, Sara Goldrick-Rab, September 12, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on private loans offered to minority students by Casey Quinlan, "For Profit Colleges, Students of Color, and the Debt Crisis No One Really Talks About" Think Progress, August 31, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on the health effects of poverty, and how those effects could influence educational achievement by Lisa Rapaport, "Among Young Blacks, Higher Student Loan Debt Tied to Less Sleep" Reuters, August 27, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted by Pat Schneider, "UW's Hope Lab: Low-income College Students Need Free Lunch Too" The Cap Times, August 6, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on free community college proposal by Nicholas Tampio, "There is No Such Thing as Free Community College" Al Jazeera America, August 3, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on academic freedom by Rebecca Schuman, "'We Don’t Want Students 2 Waste Their $'" Slate, July 22, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on the psychological similarities between Walker and Hitler by David Hookstead, "Univ. of Wisconsin Professor says Hitler, Scott Walker Share ‘Terrifying’ Similarities" The College Fix, July 13, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on F2CO proposal for affordable college courses by Matt Read, "Green Shoots" Inside Higher Ed, July 5, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on Walker making an example out of people from his state by Kimberly Hefling , "Scott Walker’s Latest Target: College Professors" Politico, June 18, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on changes to tenure and shared governance at University of Wisconsin System by Pat Schneider, "Tenure Changes Would Signal It's Time to Leave UW-Madison" Cap Times, June 2, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on the actual cost of attending college, "Underestimating the True Cost of College" U.S. News and World Report, June 1, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on changes to tenure and shared governance at University of Wisconsin System by Colleen Flaherty, "Tenure under Attack" Slate, June 1, 2015.
"Restoring Hope to Baltimore Requires Making College Affordable," Sara Goldrick-Rab, Talk Poverty Blog, May 7, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on expanding public education by Tara García Mathewson, "Is Free Community College the Next Frontier of K-12 Expansion?" Education Dive, April 22, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on MRDC College Match program by Eric Schulzke, "A Guide for Guidance Counselors: How to Help High School Students Find the Right College" Deseret News National, April 20, 2015.
"What Psychology Tells Us about Student Achievement - and How It is Ignored," Sara Goldrick-Rab (with ), The Washington Post, April 19, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on the affordability of higher education for lower and middle class students by Karen Herzog, "Raising Nonresident Tuition Could Backfire, 2 UW Experts Say" Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, April 9, 2015.
Guest to discuss the debate surrounding the future of higher education on American Radio Works, Sara Goldrick-Rab, April 1, 2015.
"Industry and Government Need to Do More to Train Workers," Sara Goldrick-Rab, New York Times, March 19, 2015.
"University of Wisconsin System Needs Accountability for Everyone," Sara Goldrick-Rab (with ), Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, March 16, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on expanding the Pell Grant program by Beckie Supiano, "What a Promise of Financial Aid Might Mean to a Middle Schooler" Chronicle of Higher Education, March 5, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on the uncertainty surrounding the public authority model by Tara Golshan, Polo Rocha, Alex Arriaga and Emily Neinfeldt, "What Does the Public Authority Mean for UW System?" Badger Herald, February 23, 2015.
"Teachers’ Union: We Have Seen Free Community College Succeed," Sara Goldrick-Rab (with ), The Washington Post, February 2, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on college affordability by Chris Rickert, "Extending Welfare to the Well-Off Community College Student" Wisconsin State Journal, January 14, 2015.
"But What if the Shared Vision is Myopic?," Sara Goldrick-Rab (with ), Chronicle of Higher Education, January 12, 2015.
"Free Community College Isn't a Joke for Families Who Spend Half Their Income to Send a Child," Sara Goldrick-Rab, The Guardian, January 12, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on the benefits of reducing college costs by Pat Schneider, "UW's Sara Goldrick-Rab Says Obama's Free Community College Plan is 'Smart and Bold'" Cap Times, January 11, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on making college affordable discussed by , "The Players Who Influenced Obama’s Free-College Plan," Chronicle of Higher Education, January 11, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on financing universal community college discussed by , "There’s a Big Catch in Obama’s Plan for Free Community College," The Washington Post, January 9, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on funding free community college by Karen Weise, "How Obama Retooled a Republican Education Idea along Democratic Lines" Bloomberg, January 9, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on the need for universal community college by David Leonhardt, "Obama’s Community-College Plan: A Reading List" New York Times, January 9, 2015.
Guest to discuss Obama's free community college proposal on National Public Radio, Sara Goldrick-Rab, January 9, 2015.
"Administrators, Authority, and Accountability," Sara Goldrick-Rab (with ), Chronicle of Higher Education, January 6, 2015.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on helping financially insecure students by Emily Gerber, "Campus Food Pantry Caters to 'Invisible' Student Population" The Daily Cardinal, November 24, 2014.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on current rhetoric about attending community college discussed by , "The Community College Effect Revisited: Different Impact for Different Students," Imperial Valley News, November 16, 2014.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on financial insecurity among low-income college students discussed by , "UW Study Sheds Light on Low-Income Student Issues," Badger Herald, November 13, 2014.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on housing and food insecurity among low-income college students discussed by , "Colleges Lack Systems to Assist Low-Income Students with Housing, Food," Cap Times, November 10, 2014.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on college affordability discussed by , "Degrees of Risk: UW-Madison's Sara Goldrick-Rab Says College is a Financial Gamble for Too Many ," Cap Times, October 29, 2014.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on race and student debt discussed by , "It's Hardest for Black Students to Get the Financial Benefits of College," Businessweek, September 2, 2014.
Sara Goldrick-Rab quoted on the pitfalls of Starbucks' partnership with ASU Online, a for-profit university by Ned Resnikoff, "Starbucks Free Tuition Plan Comes at a Cost" MSNBC, June 17, 2014.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on making college affordable discussed by , "Paying for College: Experts Gather in Search of New Models," Chronicle of Higher Education, June 11, 2014.
Sara Goldrick-Rab's research on how to improve the public's understanding of Pell Grants discussed by , "Raising the Pell Grant's Profile," Chronicle of Higher Education, August 8, 2012.
Publications
"Still Hungry and Homeless in College," (with ), Wisconsin HOPE Lab, 2018.
Finds 36% of university students reported being food insecure in the 30 days preceding the survey compared with 42% of community college students. Shows similarly, 36% of university students reported being housing insecure in the last year compared with 51% of community college students. Homelessness was 9% versus 12%. Contends these findings indicate unmet basic needs disproportionately affect marginalized students who often work long hours in addition to academic workloads.
"Coming Up Short: Basic Needs Insecurity on the College Campus" (with ), in The Structure of Schooling, edited by Richard Arum, Irenee R. Beattie and Kelly Ford (SAGE Publications, Inc, 2020), Chapter 27.
Discusses exploration of Basic Needs Insecurity on the College Campus.
"Hungry and Homeless in College: Results from a National Study of Basic Needs Insecurity in Higher Education," (with ), Association of Community College Trustees, March 2017.
Assesses food and housing insecurity among community college students. Bases results of a survey of more than 33,000 students at 70 community colleges in 24 states--the broadest survey of its kind--that describes the extent to which students are adversely affected by unmet basic needs while pursuing higher education
"Working for College: The Causal Impacts of Financial Grants on Undergraduate Employment " (with ). Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis 38, no. 3 (2016): 477-494.
"The Dark Side of College (Un)Affordability: Food and Housing Insecurity in Higher Education" (with ). Change 48, no. 1 (2016): 16-25.
Discusses strategic efforts of college leaders to support students from low-income families who are unable to pay their college costs without experiencing material hardship.
"Investing in Student Completion: Overcoming Financial Barriers to Retention Through Small-Dollar Grants and Emergency-Aid Programs," (with ), Wisconsin HOPE Lab Report for Scholarship America, 2015.
Explores emergency aid program administrative practices at colleges and universities across the country. Identifies commonly used eligibility and fund disbursement practices and provide recommendations for strengthening program processes.
"Redefining College Affordability: Securing America’s Future with a Free Two Year College Option," (with ), Lumina Foundation, 2014.
Outlines a Free Two Year College Option (F2CO) that can be funded by partnerships between states and the federal government with existing resources, developed to overcome the problems in previous efforts to make college more affordable, and designed to ensure that wider access occurs without reductions in educational quality.
Reinventing Financial Aid: Charting a New Course to College Affordability (edited with ) (Harvard Education Press, 2014).
Addresses the growing concern that student loan programs are not a sustainable solution to the problem of mounting college costs, and argues that the time has come to reform the financial aid system so that it is more effective in promoting college affordability, access, and completion.
"Transforming America’s Community Colleges: A Federal Policy Proposal to Expand Opportunity and Promote Economic Prosperity," (with ), Brookings Institution, April 30, 2009.
Provides a blueprint for a long-overdue investment in improving community colleges and access; establish national goals and a related performance measurement system; provide resources to drive college performance toward those goals; stimulate greater innovation in community college policies and practices to enhance the quality of subbaccalaureate education; and support data systems to track student and institutional progress and performance.