DVC Students Struggle With Affordability Under Trump's Second Term

Despite the President's promises, rising costs of living continue to squeeze college students in the Bay Area.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:11am

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As President Trump touts the 'golden age of America' in his second term, students at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California, are finding it increasingly difficult to afford the basic costs of living. From skyrocketing rents and grocery prices to limited access to financial aid, many DVC students are being forced to make difficult choices, like living in converted vans, to make ends meet.

Why it matters

The affordability crisis facing DVC students reflects broader economic trends under the Trump administration, including continued high inflation, cuts to social safety net programs, and a growing wealth disparity that has left many young people feeling left behind. This story highlights the real-world impacts of national policies on local communities.

The details

DVC student Justinn Rodriguez, 21, has converted a van into his home to save on housing costs, as the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Contra Costa County sits around $2,000. Other students like Zakiya Barnes, 33, and Katrina Terre, 24, are struggling with rising grocery and gas prices, with Terre calling it 'daylight robbery.' Meanwhile, financial aid programs often fall short, leaving students like Nicole Finnegan, 21, unable to qualify for assistance despite their family's financial constraints.

  • On February 24, President Trump proclaimed 'the golden age of America is upon us' in his first State of the Union address of his second term.
  • In the last quarter of 2025, the cost for key food items like meat, poultry, fish and eggs rose by 3.9 percent despite Trump's promise to 'end inflation on day one'.
  • Last year, Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' brought $1.1 trillion in cuts to SNAP benefits, Medicaid and more, making it even more difficult for students to receive welfare assistance.

The players

Justinn Rodriguez

A 21-year-old student at Diablo Valley College who has converted a van into his home to save on housing costs.

Zakiya Barnes

A 33-year-old DVC student who works a part-time minimum wage job and believes the affordability situation has gotten 'way worse' under the Trump administration.

Katrina Terre

A 24-year-old DVC student who works at a local restaurant and says the rising cost of groceries feels like 'daylight robbery.'

Nicole Finnegan

A 21-year-old DVC student who works a part-time minimum wage job but is ineligible for financial aid because her father's income is deemed too high, even though it doesn't account for all his expenses.

Eva Shapiro

A DVC economics professor who observes that the country's growing wealth disparity has created 'two different Americas.'

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What they’re saying

“I believe in the American Dream. But I don't believe it's worth pursuing for a lot of people. It's too expensive.”

— Justinn Rodriguez, DVC student

“Considering how expensive rent is, I feel it has given me an unfair advantage: I'm saving so much money that I can give myself much more luxuries.”

— Justinn Rodriguez, DVC student

“Prices were going a little up in the Biden Administration, but I didn't think that things were unlivable. It was expensive, but I had my own apartment back then. Now, it doesn't feel like anything's getting better.”

— Zakiya Barnes, DVC student

“You go to Target and buy five items and somehow I've spent $100! There was a time when I lived on my own, in full survival mode. It was rough. Most of my paycheck went to rent, gas and groceries.”

— Katrina Terre, DVC student

“I'm not allowed to apply for core school financial aid. All of my money goes directly to DVC's pockets because they claim my dad makes too much money. But it doesn't account for everything he pays for. We don't get his gross income... we get what's left over.”

— Nicole Finnegan, DVC student

What’s next

Economists will continue to monitor inflation rates and the impact of the Trump administration's economic policies on college students and low-income communities.

The takeaway

The affordability crisis facing DVC students reflects broader economic inequities that have worsened under the Trump administration, with rising costs of living, limited access to financial aid, and a growing wealth gap leaving many young people struggling to make ends meet.