Coronavirus influences college choice for new students. Coronavirus influences college choices for the graduates of 2020 – rural colleges are now in vogue as they are seen as being less affected by the virus.
Thousands of students are rethinking their fall 2020 college decisions, or wondering whether or not they’ll be able to even go to college this fall, according to a survey by college advisory groups. Top reasons include a desire to be closer to home, financial situations, and concerns of a digital-only college experience.
This could not have come at a worse time for higher education – institutions are scrambling to do damage control – offering online courses while recruiting future classes. Financially, they’re also hurt as they offer students refunds for housing, meal plans, and even parking permits. In a sign of the times, San Francisco Art Institute and MacMurray College in Illinois have both announced that they will not admit new students and or will actively scale down current operations. Many other higher education institutions are laying off contract workers and or freezing new hires.
Some see this as long overdue – higher education has needed a complete overhaul for a while. Student loan debt was skyrocketing – which made many question the value of college. Moody’s Investors Service expects student enrollment to drop in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Singapore. The agency also warned that endowments and gift-giving may decline. International students may also stay home – reducing further income for universities.
We should see a more fuller picture starting May 1st, the traditional deadline for students to accept a college’s offer. But early signs point to many students staying home or postponing college. Overall numbers of students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has declined steadily in recent weeks.
There is an unexpected winner, however – that would be community colleges. During economic recessions and uncertainty, more people enroll in community colleges to improve their employment prospects. There is no reason to believe that this trend will be bucked with the ongoing pandemic and expected belt tightening.
What do you think? Let us know on our Facebook page!
