New Hillel International Survey Finds Nearly 40% of Jewish College Students Worry About Paying for Food, Rent, and Medicine
Survey shows private school students carry heavier debt loads
than public school peers.
More than one-third of Jewish college students are experiencing a high level of financial anxiety, with 38 percent of students saying they worry about paying for basic needs like food, rent, tuition, or medicine, according to a new survey by Hillel International. The survey also finds that 27% of Jewish college students cannot make ends meet or are struggling to make ends meet.
The findings come amid broader concerns about the rising costs of higher education. Indirect costs like room and board, food, and textbooks are often excluded or underestimated by institutions from financial aid offers, making it difficult for students to budget accordingly. With more than one-third (35 percent) of Jewish college students taking out student loans and nearly half (48 percent) struggling to find a job or paid internship, financial stress compounds.
The survey results also revealed patterns in how financial pressure affects students who attend private and public schools differently. Jewish students at private colleges and universities face more financial pressure than their public school counterparts: 39 percent worry about paying for basic needs, compared to 34 percent of public school students. Among the students who have taken out loans, 57 percent of those at private schools will graduate with more than $30,000 in debt, compared to 40 percent of those at public schools.
“This data demonstrates the growing number of Jewish students facing serious financial pressures,” said Adam Lehman, President and CEO of Hillel International. “When Jewish students are struggling financially, they need the support of their community more than ever.”
Hillel has long prioritized removing barriers to student participation and improving student wellbeing. Throughout its 102-year history, the organization has never collected dues or fees, and in response to growing student need, has expanded its network of support programs to address both financial stress and overall wellbeing. In addition to mental health resources and wellness programming, since 2020, Hillel has increased scholarship offerings from four scholarships totaling $15,000 annually to 60 scholarships distributing more than $350,000 per year. Hillel programs also include the CUNY Cash Assistance Program supported in partnership with the UJA-Federation of New York and more than 1,000 paid internships annually. Hillel also manages the Jewish Scholarships Portal, the world’s largest database of Jewish scholarships, as well as the Jewish Career Network.
Melissa Simplicio, a 2025 recipient of Hillel International’s Sandy and Jack Cohen Scholarship and a rising second-year student at NYU studying computer science and economics, said that, “Becoming a Hillel International Scholarship recipient has opened the door to so many possibilities. During my first year of college, I balanced rigorous academic coursework with leadership roles in student organizations and part-time jobs to support myself. This scholarship allows me to enter my second year with the freedom to prioritize learning, leadership, and professional development without the constant pressure of juggling academics and work. It means I can invest my energy where it matters most.”
Methodology
Hillel International fielded a survey of Jewish college students across the United States from July 17 to August 8, 2025. The survey was conducted using an SMS sample, online web panels, and Hillel’s list, with the sample weighted to ensure proportional representation of Jewish college students nationwide. A total of 1,145 Jewish college students responded to the survey.