COVID-19 and college plans

The COVID-19 pandemic is adding an element of uncertainty to high school seniors’ college plans, according to a survey of a representative sampling of 1,171 seniors by the Art and Science Group.

The April survey, which followed up on a March survey, found that 17% of students who had planned to attend a four-year college or university in the fall were expecting to change those plans. Of these students, 34% expected to enroll part-time, 17% anticipated waiting until spring 2021 to enroll, 16% were considering taking a “gap year,” and 16% were considering an associate’s degree or community college program.

These were not the only students who expressed uncertainty about prior plans. Of students who still planned to attend a four-year school in the fall, 57% were very (26%) or somewhat (32%) concerned that they wouldn’t be able to follow through on those plans. The most common reason cited for a potential change in plans was financial.