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.
How do students feel about online options for their college education? A majority (59%) said they had no interest in an online degree program, and 67% expected a reduction in tuition and fees if their college shifted to online education.
The poll also asked students which sources they trusted for information about higher education in the fall. The majority said they trusted public health agencies and organizations (89%), their college or university administration (86%), family and friends (73%), their state’s governor (71%), and the news media (52%). The only source not selected as trustworthy by a majority of students was the president of the United States (46%).
Source: The Art and Science Group. (2020, April). Looking ahead to fall 2020: How COVID-19 continues to influence the choice of college-going students. Baltimore, MD: Author.
