Gaining the “freshman 15” is a decades-old joke about the abundance of food options available to college kids, but the shocking reality is that today, experts estimate that nearly half of all college students are food insecure.

In a recent article in The New York Times, Sara Goldrick-Rab, a professor of higher education policy and sociology at Temple University, writes that the epidemic—which disproportionately impacts former foster youth, L.G.B.T. students, and students of color—is due largely to the rising costs of education.

Even worse, students who struggle with food insecurity are far less likely to graduate, writes Goldrick-Rab. Though institutions are trying to combat the problem with solutions ranging from on-campus food pantries to unused meal credits, it’s an uphill battle, particularly for students who don’t qualify for federal assistance.