7 Ways the Pandemic Will Change College Forever
Colleges and universities face steep budget cuts, enrollment challenges and new types of competition as a result of COVID-19. We cover the changes you'll see on campus this fall -- and beyond.
The pandemic will force major changes in higher education — not just in the fall but for years to come, as colleges and universities face steep budget cuts, enrollment challenges and new types of competition.
Adapting won’t be easy, and institutions that don’t embrace change will likely suffer. Many schools will be forced to shut down or merge. Two hundred or more institutions, mostly very small schools, could close in the coming years.
Policymakers in Washington will keep a close watch on these sudden changes in higher ed, which will influence updates to federal student loan programs, grants, and more.
College Enrollment Will Dip by 10% or More at Some Schools
Many students will cancel college plans because they can no longer afford to go. One bad sign for schools: There’s been a notable drop in both existing students and high school seniors filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is a strong indicator of enrollment. The sharpest decline has been among students from low-income households. There are also reports that more incoming freshmen are expressing interest in deferring for a year.
Enrollment by international students will fall off a cliff. Many foreign students will be unable to get visas or flights because of travel restrictions. Others will avoid U.S. schools because of virus-related fears. Some will be put off by restrictive health measures that alter the much sought after on-campus experience.
The hardest-hit schools include those that have lots of foreign students and those with sky-high prices but middling or poor education rankings. Small schools could get whacked, too, since they often rely heavily on tuition to fund operations. For them, not hitting enrollment targets by even just a bit can be financially devastating.
Keep an eye out for schools that decide not to hold in-person classes in the fall and choose to mandate virtual learning. That could turn off scores of students and parents who don’t want to shell out full price for online learning.
Some schools may buck the trend, luring students with more-affordable tuition and flexibility to choose online or in-person classes.
Community Colleges Will Grow in Popularity
Students who choose to study closer to home (for vastly cheaper tuition) will fuel a surge in enrollment at community colleges and elsewhere — if not in the fall, then soon after. Vocational training programs, national online-only schools and nontraditional online courses will see more interest.
Greater student interest in lower-cost, more-flexible options will create more competition. For example, BYU-Pathway Worldwide allows students to try out classes before committing. California’s Calbright College offers adults flexible online options geared to work readiness. Community College of Denver is creating a subscription plan for returning students with some college and no degree to complete general education courses.
College Budgets Will Decline as Well
Fewer students means major losses in tuition revenue. That’s on top of severe state funding cuts for higher ed (one-third of revenue for public universities is from state and local sources). Schools expect to lose more than $20 billion in enrollment revenue and more than $11 billion in a range of auxiliary services, such as food services, book stores and recreation facilities. Other losses, from downsized sporting events to lost parking revenue, will bite as well.
Pressure is ramping up for private schools to tap more of their endowments to shore up the books, but don’t expect a drastic change as schools opt to spend conservatively. Some schools have agreed to dip in a bit deeper (Princeton University will spend 6% of its endowment this year instead of the 5% it usually spends, for example). A large chunk of endowment money is restricted to specific projects. The portion of restricted funds is often higher for schools with smaller endowments.
Fewer Faculty and Staff
Tens of thousands of college employees have been laid off or furloughed already, and more layoffs are coming for faculty and staff, though some will be brought back eventually.
It’s hard to see what type of personnel won’t be affected. Cuts will include professors from programs that are shrunk or shuttered; all types of administrative positions; dining and other service staff; sports coaches and assistants. Many schools are planning to not renew contracts for certain professors and other staffers. The fallout could lead to worse student/faculty ratios and fewer student activities, among other things.
More Online Learning
Look for an explosion of online learning options to generate new revenue. Traditional schools still lag leading online educators, such as for-profit colleges. That spells more sales to colleges by learning software vendors such as Blackboard, Canvas and Moodle.
Innovation in education technology will accelerate — more virtual experiences that feel like a real classroom, new artificial intelligence tools to automate grading, etc.
More Partnerships With Local Employers
State schools and private colleges will partner more closely with businesses to meet new demands of local employers and to land funding for new programs. Schools will be straining to save money to stave off additional cuts as they speed up plans to adapt for future student demand. More than ever, prospective students will ask, “Will I land a good-paying job after graduation?”
Schools will strive to answer that by soliciting money and input from businesses for re-tooled or new academic programs. <
No Parties – at Least, Not This Fall
Did you hear us – no parties! NO P-A-R-T-... oh, never mind.
Seriously, the on-campus experience won’t be easy in the near term. Schools need the capability to test, trace and quarantine. Students will need to follow strict rules, including wearing masks, no partying, restricted travel to and from campus, required flu vaccinations, limited social gatherings and much more. Don’t plan on chatting with professors after class. They’ll be behind Plexiglas and will jet out the door when class ends. Feel sick? Schools will make students quarantine in solo dorm rooms and take courses online.
