Survey of 2020 Graduating Seniors Shows Many Have Changed Their Plans Due to COVID-19

Junior Achievement and the PMI Educational Foundation recently conducted a survey of 1,000 2020 graduating seniors to see how COVID-19 has affected their college plans. They used Wakefield Research to conduct the survey between May 21-29, 2020. A total of 1,000 students were surveyed.

Survey findings include:

  • Roughly half (49%) of Class of 2020 graduating seniors say their plans for after high school have changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Of those whose plans have changed, more than a third (36%) say they will now work, nearly as many (32%) expect to delay their start date for college, and almost a fifth (16%) changed the career path they wish to pursue.
  • Forty percent of graduating seniors say they work. Of those who do, nearly half (49%) say they or their families depend on their income for living expenses.
  • Four-in-ten (40%) say COVID-19 affected their plans to pay for college.
  •  More than a third (35%) who are planning to attend college now say they are less excited to go.
  • Of those planning to attend college, their biggest concerns are the impact of COVID-19 on classes and academic quality (58%), dorm life (53%), athletics and school-sponsored events (44%), and dining halls (40%).

There is a lot of uncertainty out there and these results confirm that many students have concerns about the affect COVID-19 will have on their college experience.