Dean of Students Office

Increasing student basic need with campus based strategies such as food pantries is important, however college students eligible for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) remain underenrolled. An estimated 150,000 New York undergraduate students are SNAP eligible.   For New York students that get enrolled in the program, SNAP can provide an average of $211.42 per month toward groceries for an individual student, and more for student parents or caregivers providing for a household. 

If you are eligible for SNAP, you can get monthly benefits to spend at local grocery stores and farmers’ markets. To be eligible, you must meet certain income requirements. The amount of benefits you receive depends on things like your household size, income and expenses.

At the State of the University address, Chancellor King identified supporting students facing food insecurity as a priority for student success. The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is one way that certain eligible students can receive funding for groceries. However, many college students who are eligible for SNAP do not apply, due to confusion or difficulty with the process.

• As announced in the State of the University, this summer the SICAs center built an online enrollment verification form that will be available in Banner 9 Self Service. This will allow an eligible student (half time in HEGIS codes 5000-5599) to generate a signed enrollment form on-demand that they can include in their SNAP application.

• This is designed to make it easier for eligible students on your campus to apply for SNAP benefits. More information on SNAP and college students is available here:

  Online enrollment SNAP verification 

NOEP can help you apply for SNAP.

• Nutrition Outreach and Education (NOEP) Coordinators offer one-on-one help applying for SNAP. They can tell if you may be eligible for SNAP and help you gather the documents you need, and fill out and send in your SNAP application. You’ll also get information on other programs that may help stretch your food budget, like school meals and summer meals for kids. The service is free and confidential.

If you would like to check your eligibility, please complete this pre screening application and someone from our office will get back to you.