However, some students must return to campus to continue their education, for many reasons. Their families may not have a quiet or safe place where they can study, or there may be no reliable internet. And some classes, like a nursing internship or a chemistry lab, simply can’t be taught online. Many universities are prioritizing finding space in homes and classrooms for these exceptions. But for the typical student, whose courses will be largely online, learning this fall doesn’t require being on or near campus.
Given the enormous health risks of bringing students back, why do so many universities promise to open their campuses? The answer is simple: your financial survival depends on it. Many four-year universities, especially the most selective schools, provide not only classroom learning but also the social experience of clubs, athletics, culture, politics and professional networks.
Without the promise of an on-campus experience, some students may choose to take a year off or enroll in a cheaper school. In addition, public universities are facing sharp cuts from state governments that are facing falling tax revenues. If these universities also lose tuition, fees, room and board, they will be forced to close the programs and fire large numbers of employees and teachers. At best, it would take decades for higher education to recover from such losses and disruptions.
With no indication that the federal government is prepared to intervene quickly with a financial bailout plan for higher education, colleges and universities are forced to choose between bad alternatives.
But a toll will be paid, and it will largely not fall on the students. Cafeteria workers, janitors, secretaries, librarians, medical staff, as well as older faculty members, are much more vulnerable.
As an economist, I am frequently asked, “Is college still worth it?” My answer is almost always yes: the lifetime benefit of a college degree is so great, in health in wealth, that it overshadows even high tuition costs. College is an especially smart choice during a terrible job market.
But in this pandemic, the university experience has to change. Gathering students on campus is a gamble that could create huge risks for society and only modest benefits for students.
Susan Dynarski is a professor of education, public policy, and economics at the University of Michigan. Follow her on Twitter: @dynarski
