Rising college costs shouldn’t cost your basic needs
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The Editorial Board shares on and off-campus health, safety and financial resources following H.R. 1 impacts
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD — opinion@theaggie.org
On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed H.R. 1 (the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) into law, enacting the largest budget cuts to basic needs programs in United States history. These include the slashing of over $1 trillion across vital services such as Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).
For many college students, the consequences of H.R. 1 add increasing amounts of concern, disproportionately impacting those who rely on federal financial aid and support programs. H.R. 1 tightens the eligibility requirements necessary to enroll in federal financial aid, Medicaid and SNAP. For federal financial aid, it completely eliminates Graduate PLUS financial assistance for incoming graduate students and caps Parent PLUS borrowing at $20,000 annually and $65,000 in total per dependent student. In addition, H.R. 1 bars any student with a Student Aid Index (SAI) at or above $14,790 from receiving a Pell Grant: a hard cutoff replacing what used to be a gradual phase-out.
As of June 1, 2026, H.R. 1 limits adults ages 18 to 64 without children under 14 to three months of CalFresh every three years. Exemptions include working around 20 hours a week, as well as a minimum half-time enrollment in college. The burden falls on recipients to prove eligibility for an exemption, and the state estimates 72,000 Californians will lose food assistance.
These consequences leave many undergraduate and graduate students in difficult situations. Borrowing money to enroll in college could further extend decades of loan repayments, dealing a devastating blow to first-generation, lower-income and immigrant families. Previously, families that relied on packages offered during previous administrations now face an even greater question of whether or not college is worth the financial burden.
The Editorial Board strongly believes in the value of education as a means of transforming one’s personal and professional lives. Students should not be forced to choose between health, education and finances. Additional financial pressures disadvantage those already heavily impacted by the costs of higher education.
As the school year begins, the burden of these changes falls more heavily on students themselves. Whether it is a Pell Grant, CalFresh or Medicaid/Medi-Cal, eligibility increasingly depends on knowing which form to file, when to file and where to seek assistance. UC Davis offers several safety resources that we urge those affected by H.R. 1 to consult.
Students in need of immediate financial assistance can access an emergency basic needs grant from the Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center. The Basic Needs Center also offers several emergency grants and awards such as the Student Emergency Relief Aid Grant and the UC Davis Health Equity Fund. This center also displays the locations and schedules of various food resources, such as the Aggie Eats food truck. Importantly, students ineligible for CalFresh/SNAP can receive money for food through the AggieFresh program starting on Sept. 21.
Healthcare resources on campus include Health 34, a 24/7 free non-emergency service that provides basic mental health, medical support and aid. Health 34 also provides basic needs supplies such as personal hygiene and self-care items free of charge. Students are also encouraged to use UC Davis Police and Safe Ride services to assist in secure transportation on and off campus.
Students in need of professional medical support can consult Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS). SHCS uses the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) that all students are automatically enrolled in each academic quarter. Students with their own health insurance plans can waive their UC SHIP enrollment up to 30 days past the deadline. The Basic Needs Center also provides answers to commonly asked UC SHIP and Medi-Cal enrollment questions with an available representative to help navigate and discuss options.
Most importantly, no student should lose benefits for simply not being fully aware of their rights. The Center for Advocacy, Resources & Education (CARE) connects students with emergency response advocates. CARE advocates can help students with private conflicts such as sexual assault, intimate violence and stalking. Students can also consult the Office of Student Support to anonymously report sexual violence and harrassment cases. The LGBTQIA+ Resource Center and Women’s Resources and Research Center both provide open, safe and inclusive spaces for self-exploration with confidential support and referral services to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and harrassment.
The Office of Student Support also informs students of accommodations for student housing, dining and employment at the university. For additional confidential reporting and guidance resources, students can consult the UC Davis Ombuds office. Legal Services of Northern California works to ensure students and community members alike have stable access to health care, housing, civil rights and education.
While these changes may seem permanent and insurmountable, the aforementioned programs are here for students and community members alike to take advantage of. Don’t hesitate to utilize the resources at your disposal amidst distressing circumstances, and we urge you to share these assets with others. Action taken now to help spread these resources may help temporarily alleviate these impacts for others.
Written by: The Editorial Board - opinion@theaggie.org