College students on a limited budget may be feeling the impact of increasing food prices. Some may be cutting back on fresh produce, opting instead for cheaper and less nutritious alternatives.
Economics Professor John Dougherty and his wife own Oxo Farm, a small farm inspired by the Catholic Worker Movement, where he often takes his students. They sell their produce at the Loyola–assisted Govans Farmers Market at more affordable prices, and donate about one third of their harvest to food pantries.
“I know some of my students, in particular, have said, ‘Okay, well, now I need to work more because I can’t afford things. I have less time to dedicate to my classes and to studying,’” Dougherty said.
Dougherty said food prices today are around 24 percent higher than they were five years ago.
“You would have to go back to the early 1980s to get inflation that high. I remember when I was a college student, I was always looking for grocery deals and whatever I had to do to get my education,” Dougherty said.
The Greyhound investigated prices for four staple items in a college student’s diet: a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, a dozen eggs, and a box of coffee. The Greyhound compared prices at Target, Weis, Giant, and ALDI to help students identify the best deals.
A quick and classic breakfast for college students with early morning classes is… you guessed it—cereal! And for that, you need milk. The cheapest gallon of milk was found at ALDI for only $1.48, followed by Weis at $1.59 and Target at $1.99. Finally, the most expensive gallon of milk—almost a whole extra dollar more—was at Giant for $2.59.
“I like to get most of my groceries from either Giant or Target. The good thing about Target is that I can buy other stuff I might need too, like toiletries, but Giant is closer and has more food options,” Josue Sánchez ’27 said.
Bread can be used for multiple things ranging from grilled cheeses, French toasts, and homemade pizza. Bread is a must-have in every college student’s apartment. Once again, ALDI had the lowest price with a loaf only costing 99 cents. The other three stores were fairly close in price, with only a 10-cent difference between them: $1.39 at Weis, $1.49 at Target, and $1.59 at Giant.
Bread is one of the many things on sophomore Nane Tevosyan’s typical grocery list.
“For me it is definitely important for college students to have affordable options when it comes to grocery shopping. I do wish we had a walkable grocery store near campus that would be easier for students to get to,” Tevosyan said.
Due to the recent shortage of eggs leading to skyrocketing prices, eggs have been something college students have not been able to afford easily in the past few weeks. However, prices have started to stabilize, making eggs a more affordable option once again.
By a few cents, Weis managed to have the lowest priced eggs of the four, at $5.39 per dozen. Target and Giant are both tied at $5.49. Surprisingly, ALDI had the highest price, charging $5.97 per dozen. Chloe Smith ‘25 emphasized how vital eggs can be for a college student’s diet.
“I use eggs a lot to cook, and it is a good protein source. Now that they are going back to a normal price, I can continue to buy them because college is already a high price point,” Smith said.
Everybody knows the saying that college students run on coffee, and with the constant stream of students flowing in and out of the Starbucks on our campus, however, most college students don’t have the luxury of splurging on a five-dollar beverage every day.
For students looking to make their daily caffeine fix more affordable, brewing coffee at home is not only a more budget-friendly option but also a practical one. For just $2.49 at ALDI you can find Espresso Ground Coffee. For Weis and Giant, you can see the difference between the stores, as the same brand of single-serve pods is priced at $4.69 at Weis and $4.99 at Giant. At Target, the cheapest brand of espresso capsules is $6.49.
“As an avid coffee lover, I make it every morning in my dorm. I love the coffee at Starbucks, but I can’t afford to buy from there every day so Target is a good place for me to buy the ingredients,” Amanda Simon ‘27 said.
Our bargain hunting found ALDI consistently offered the lowest prices for staple items like milk, bread, and coffee, making it a strong choice for students looking to save money. Weis offered the best bargain price on eggs. However, convenience also plays a key role in shopping decisions.
“Groceries are already not the most accessible things for us students so having more affordable prices makes it easier, but also more desirable,” Kiana Frawley ‘26 said.
The Loyola shuttle takes students to Giant Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5:30p.m.-8:30p.m., making it a more accessible store for students. For students willing to plan their trips strategically, balancing affordability and convenience can help stretch every dollar further.
