|
|
|
The views expressed on this page are
solely
those of the author and do not
necessarily represent the views of County
News Online
|
|
Good Housekeeping
Education Dive
Tuition reductions take off as coronavirus shapes colleges' fall plans
With many classes moving online and the campus experience diminished, some schools are lowering the cost of attendance.
Jeremy Bauer-Wolf
July 29, 2020
The rising number of verified coronavirus cases has many colleges
confronting a bleak truth: that despite their initial plans, the fall
term will likely be virtual.
Hosting classes almost exclusively online isn't a move institutions
relish making. Students overwhelmingly prefer face-to-face courses,
research shows. And administrators fear that students and families
unwilling to pay regular tuition costs for a digital course load, or
without a compelling campus experience, will further jeopardize their
already uncertain enrollments.
Fewer students would mean less money at a time when institutions'
budgets are imperiled. And so in recent weeks, several colleges have
reduced the cost of attendance as a way to appeal to students.
Not every school can afford to reduce tuition, however. Experts who
study higher education policy say institutions are likely doing so for
one of two reasons: either they're prominent enough and their finances
are in good enough shape that they want to help struggling students, or
they're in such rough financial straits that they want to ensure
they'll fill their seats come fall.
Williams College, the wealthiest liberal arts school in the U.S. with a
$2.9 billion endowment, falls into the former category. It was the
first major college to announce a cut — a 15% reduction in tuition and
room and board for the upcoming academic year, circulated at the end of
June. Family contributions for students who receive financial aid were
also downsized by 15%.
Maud Mandel, president of the Massachusetts college, wrote in a letter
explaining the changes that the college's fall sports teams wouldn't
compete this semester and that typical campus events would be limited.
The college eliminated its student activities fee entirely. But
officials plan to reopen campus.
In the weeks following, Princeton University said it would mark down
tuition by 10% for students learning on campus and remotely. Georgetown
University, in Washington, D.C., and Lafayette College, in
Pennsylvania, also announced 10% tuition cuts for students who are
studying remotely.
Several historically Black colleges and universities also announced
tuition and fee reductions, including Hampton University, in Virginia,
Spelman College, in Georgia, and Paul Quinn College, in Texas.
More recently, Rowan University, a public institution in New Jersey, knocked 10% off tuition.
Decisions to lower advertised tuition prices likely weren't made
lightly, especially among heavily tuition-dependent private colleges,
said Denisa Gándara, an education policy professor at Southern
Methodist University.
Those institutions needed to weigh how many students they might gain by
trimming tuition against the revenue lost by doing so, Gándara said.
|
|
|
|
