Multidimensional Poverty Among College Students: Focusing on Race and First-generation College Student Status

Publication Title

Journal of College Student Development

Document Type

Article

Department or Program

Psychology

Publication Date

11-1-2025

Abstract

Distinct classes of multidimensional poverty were identified by using basic needs insecurity and relational poverty indicators to examine disproportionate poverty prevalence and structures based on race and first-generation college student status. By using LCA (Latent Class Analysis) with secondary data that consisted of a 3,886 U.S. college student sample, we found that there were different poverty structures based on race. Specifically, among Students of Color, four classes emerged: (1) Extreme Multifaceted Poverty (1.9%), (2) Moderate Poverty without Eviction (16.7%), (3) Relational Poverty (7.3%), and (4) Economically Secured (74.1%). White students had three classes: (1) Moderate Poverty without Eviction (6.6%), (2) Mild Multifaceted Poverty (7.2%), and (3) Economically Secured (86.2%). First-generation White college students were less likely to belong to the Mild Multifaceted Poverty class than the Moderate Poverty without Eviction class, whereas first-generation college Students of Color were less likely to belong to the Economically Secured class than the Extreme Multifaceted Poverty class. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Comments

Original version is available from the publisher at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/csd.2025.a975615

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS