STUDY: 40% of Parents Considering College Delay for High School Seniors Due to COVID-19

These are among the results of an independent survey commissioned by Brian Communications in conjunction with Dynata. The report evaluated 405 parents of high school seniors likely to attend a college or university after high school.

Additional key findings of the survey, aimed at gauging how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted parental decisions about their high school seniors’ academic future, included:

• 85 percent feel they need more information on what colleges and universities are doing to ensure student safety next year
• 40 percent would now prefer their child to attend a college or university closer to home
• 65 percent say the pandemic has made them more cautious about the financial impact of tuition

“The incoming freshman class is the lifeblood of a healthy university or college,” said Brian Tierney, CEO of Brian Communications. “What we’re seeing in this survey indicates that parents of graduating seniors have deep concerns connected to this outbreak that could threaten the long-term viability of institutions if they don’t respond in the near term.”

When asked what colleges and universities can do to make them feel better about their children’s academic future, many parents expressed a need for proactive communication on how colleges and universities are handling the crisis, addressing safety and providing more options for financial aid and distance learning.

“There’s always been a need for higher education institutions to communicate their plans regarding student safety and financial aid, and now that need is even more acute,” said David Demarest, Senior Advisor at Brian Communications. Demarest formerly served as Vice President for Public Affairs at Stanford University. “It’s natural that parents are anxious. Even when circumstances are in constant flux, such as in the midst of the current pandemic, institutions of higher learning can help parents of college-bound students by providing clear and continuous communication.”

While parents and high school seniors are feeling anxious about their academic future, data also shows they remain hopeful and optimistic. Among parents surveyed, more than two thirds responded that they might consider paying for their child to attend their first-choice college or university, if distance learning is an option.

Survey process

With a sample size of 405 parents of college-bound high school seniors and designed to be nationally representative, this independent survey had a margin of error of +/- 4.9% at the 95% level of confidence. The study was conducted between April 1 and April 3, 2020. For a full report on the survey, visit briancom.com/research.