A new federal report outlines the many obstacles that keep college students from accessing food assistance they're eligible for.

Nearly 2 million college students who are likely eligible for food stamps aren’t receiving them, according to a new report issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on food insecurity in higher education.

But behind that headline, there is a more nuanced, and in some ways more critical, story about who typical college students seem to be in the popular imagination—versus who they actually are.

The report, released on Wednesday, was the result of an in-depth analysis of 31 different studies on campus hunger and numerous interviews with governmental officials, administrators, and students at 14 selected colleges across the country.

As part of its research, GAO also examined what is known about the extent of food insecurity among college students, how the 14 schools are addressing it, and the extent to which federal programs are of any help to students who are struggling to feed themselves.

What it found is alarming: Millions of college students may be going hungry despite qualifying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps).