State of theStudent Experience:
Fall 2020
Higher Education During Disruption

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Table of Contents
Background

1

Executive Summary

2

Findings

3

Methodology

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

Background
Higher education has faced unprecedented challenges amidst COVID-19. The pandemic’s
economic impact continues to challenge students — and their families — as they struggle
to finance their education. Students are also combatting mental health concerns andexperiencing record-low wellbeing levels. At the same time, students are adapting to changes
in how and where they learn as infections rise and fall in communities nationwide.
The impact of COVID-19 on students and their learning experiences has raised manyquestions about the state of higher education in the 2020-2021 academic year and beyond.
As such, in the fall of 2020, Lumina Foundation and Gallup partnered to survey 2,064 students
currently pursuing their associate degree and 3,941 pursuing their bachelor’s degree
and assessed:• How has COVID-19 changed the student experience?

• To what extent have changes resulting from COVID-19 impacted the quality of thestudent experience?
• How, if at all, will COVID-19 impact students’ ability to continue in their degree?

Throughout 2020, many students have transitioned between in-person and remote learning
as schools continue to navigate the pandemic. It is important to note that most students
interviewed for the Lumina-Gallup Student Study reported they were learning remotely (at least
partially) when the survey was administered.

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

Executive Summary
1

Most students pursuing their associate (72%) or bachelor’s degree (76%)
rate the quality of their education as “excellent” or “very good.”2Students attending classes in-person are more positive about thequality of their education than those in a fully online learning model.

3

Those who transitioned from in-person learning in the spring of 2020 toa fully online learning model in the fall of 2020 are driving lower quality-level
ratings among online learners.

4

Students who transitioned from an in-person learning model in the springof 2020 to fully online learning in the fall of 2020 are also faring worse in theirwellbeing, are less likely to feel their professors care about them as a person
and are less likely to have a mentor.

5First-time students in the fall of 2020 are more positive than their peers
about the quality of education they are receiving. These students are also lesslikely than their peers to say they have considered withdrawing from courses in
the past six months.

6

About a third of all currently enrolled students say they have considered
withdrawing from courses in the past six months. When asked why they
have considered stopping classes, the most-cited reasons are COVID-19 andemotional stress.

7

About half of currently enrolled students report that COVID-19 is “very likely”
or “likely” to impact their ability to complete their degree.

8Black and Hispanic students are more likely than their White peers to say
COVID-19 is “very likely” or “likely” to impact their ability to complete
their degree.

9Black and first-generation students — two student populations who
historically have lower completion rates than their peers — are theleast likely to say their school offers many of the services designed tocombat the impact of COVID-19 and other challenges, including mental healthand financial services.
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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

Findings
The majority of associate and bachelor’s degree
students report the quality of education they received
in the fall of 2020 as “excellent” or “very good.”
72

76

Despite pandemic disruptions, 72% of students pursuingtheir associate degree and 76% of those pursuing theirbachelor’s degree rate the quality of their education as“excellent” or “very good.”

Quality of Education Ratings by Degree Type
Which of the following best describes the quality of the education
you are currently receiving in your [degree pursuing] program?
Associate
degree students% Very Good

39
Negative ratings andexperiences are morecommon among
students who havetransitioned from acompletely in-person
to completely online
instruction model.

% Excellent

Bachelor’s
degree students

41% Good% Fair% Poor1

3

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

The largest predictor of perceived quality is the extent to which
students receive instruction online — fully online students are
more negative than those receiving instruction in-person.
Quality of Education Ratings by Curriculum Delivery Model*
Which of the following best describes the quality of the education you are currently receiving
in your [degree pursuing] program?
% Excellent% Very Good

% Good% Fair% Poor34

Completely in-person
Mostly in-person

44

Equal time online/in-person

43

Mostly online

421

Completely online

39

1*Among all currently enrolled associate and bachelor’s degree students

22% of associate andbachelor’s degree
students say they are
currently receiving
instruction completely
or mostly in-person,compared with 76%
prior to the pandemic.

76

22

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

Dissatisfaction is driven by students
who received coursework completely
in-person prior to the pandemic
and transitioned to fully online
instruction in the fall of 2020.

Currently enrolled associate and bachelor’s degree students who were forced online during the pandemic
give lower quality ratings than their peers. Given these students’ desire for an in-person education experience,some frustration is to be expected.
Quality of Education Ratings by Degree of Transition From In-Person to Online Instruction*
Which of the following best describes the quality of the education you are currently
receiving in your [degree pursuing] program?
% Excellent% Very GoodNo change ininstruction model0% Good% Fair% PoorReceived more instruction
online than prior to
the pandemic

2

1
30

Moved fromcompletely in-person tocompletely online

43

43*Among all currently enrolled associate and bachelor’s degree students who took courses completely in-person prior to the pandemic

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

Quality ratings are highest among older students andthose attending for-profit institutions; both groups haveexperienced less delivery model disruption.
Quality of Education Ratings by Age Group and Institution Type*
Which of the following best describes the quality of the education you are currently receiving
in your [degree pursuing] program?
% Excellent/Very good73

78

Age 18-24
Age 25+

79

Private for-profit

73

Public institution

Private not-for-profit*Among all currently enrolled associate and bachelor’s degree students

Although prior research indicates quality ratings are typically lower among students who
attend for-profit institutions, quality ratings are higher among this group amidst COVID-19.**
These more positive ratings are driven by lower levels of disruption due to the pandemic,
since most students attending for-profit institutions were learning online prior to the fallof 2020.
Similarly, older students have experienced lower levels of disruption as many received
instruction fully online prior to the pandemic and continued to do so in the fall of 2020.
** Source: Rothwell, J. (2018, May 31). Assessing the validity of consumer ratings forhigher education: Evidence from a new survey. The Journal of Consumer Affairs 53(1),167-200. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/joca.12201

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

Wellbeing and quality of the student experience arelowest among those who have transitioned from acompletely in-person to completely online instruction model.
Wellbeing and Student Experience by Degree of Transition From In-Person to
Online Instruction*
No change ininstruction model

Received more instruction
online than prior to
the pandemic

Moved from completely
in-person to completely online

Percentage
point change

45-18%Thriving in wellbeing

27
65% Strongly agree a professor
cares about them as a person

-40
25
41

% Strongly agree
they have a mentor

-24
17
59

% Strongly agree they
belong at their institution-23
36*Among all currently enrolled associate and bachelor’s degree students who took courses completely in-person prior to the pandemic

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

First-time enrollees in the fall of2020 are more positive about
the quality of their education than

Returning students who previously
learned mostly or completely
in-person and transitioned to apartially or fully online experiencein the fall of 2020 report a decline in

returning students.

Quality of Education Ratings by
Enrollment Status*

the quality of their education.

Which of the following best describes the qualityof the education you are currently receiving in your[degree pursuing] program?
First-timestudents

40% Excellent

Quality of Education Ratings Pre- vs.
Post-Pandemic*
How does the quality of the education you are currently
receiving compare to the quality of education you
received prior to COVID-19?

Returning
students

Quality is ________ now
than it was in the spring.

% Very Good41

% Associatedegree students% Good% Bachelor’s
degree students

Much better% Fair0% Poor3

1*Among all currently enrolled associate and bachelor’s
degree students

Slightly better

8

About the same

First-time enrollees are more positive than theirpeers across many metrics, including the qualityof the student experience and wellbeing. Students’
expectations may influence the quality ratings they
provide, as many first-time students entered the fallof 2020 understanding that their student experiencewould be different than that of students in years past.

Slightly worse

In contrast, returning students who had an otherwise
normal student experience prior to COVID-19
may give lower quality ratings because they havea comparison point and therefore had different
expectations than first-time students.

13

Much worse

16* Among all currently enrolled associate and bachelor’s
degree students who took courses at least partially in-person
prior to the pandemic and have transitioned to a mostly orcompletely online learning model

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

About one-third of currently enrolled students report they
considered stopping taking courses in the past six months,
and about half of students say it is likely COVID-19 may
impact their ability to continue.

Percentage of Currently Enrolled Students Who Have Considered Stopping Taking Courses

In the past six months, have you considered stopping taking courses?
% Yes

% No

62

Associate
degree students

38
67

9

Bachelor’s
degree students

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

COVID-19 and emotional stress are the most cited reasons students
give for considering stopping courses in the past six months.
Reasons Why Students Have Considered Stopping Taking Courses*
Which of the following describes why you considered stopping taking classes?
% Associate degree students% Bachelor’s degree students

COVID-19/Coronavirus

024

Emotional stressChildcare responsibilities/
Care for a family member or friend

You lost your job
You got a new job
You did not believe thedegree/credential would help you
achieve your personal goals
You did not believe thedegree/credential would help you
achieve your career goals
The courses you took were not
relevant to your future career
Completing the degree/credential
was taking longer than you expected

70

33

24

32

14 17

The coursework was too difficult

Health-related reasons

51
42

25

Cost of attendance

The education you werereceiving was low quality

36

8

15
14 14

12 16
11

20

10 11
77
78
7 10

*Among all currently enrolled associate and bachelor’s degree students who report they considered stopping taking courses in the past six months
Note: Ranked by most commonly selected reason for bachelor’s degree students; respondents were asked to report up to three main reasons
they considered stopping taking a course; responses will add to more than 100% as respondents could select more than one reason

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

Consideration for stopping classes is highest among
those who have transitioned from a completely in-person
to completely online delivery model.
Percentage of Students Who Have Considered Stopping Taking Courses
by Degree of Transition From In-Person to Online Instruction*
In the past six months, have you considered stopping taking courses?

44

36

No change ininstruction model

Received more instruction
online than prior to
the pandemic

Moved fromcompletely in-person tocompletely online* Among all currently enrolled associate and bachelor’s degree students who took courses
completely in-person prior to the pandemic

Returning students are also more likely than their peers to report they have consideredstopping taking courses.

Emotional stress is morecommonly cited as areason for stopping classes
for those who have transitioned
from completely in-person tocompletely online learning thanfor those who experienced no
disruption in curriculum delivery(61% vs. 40%, respectively).

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

About half of currently enrolled associate and bachelor’s
degree students say it is “likely” or “very likely” COVID-19
will negatively impact their ability to continue.
Black and Hispanic students are most likely to say COVID-19 will negatively impact
their ability to complete their degree.
Students’ Perceived Likelihood COVID-19 Will Negatively Impact Their Ability toComplete Their Degree
How likely is it that the COVID-19 pandemic will negatively impact your ability to complete your[degree pursuing]?
Associate
degree students

Bachelor’s
degree students% Very Unlikely% Unlikely

33

37% Likely% Very Likely

20

17

Percentage of Students Who Say It Is Likely/Very Likely COVID-19 Will Negatively
Impact Their Ability to Continue
Associate
degree students
White students
Black students
Hispanic students

Bachelor’s
degree students

52

White students

60

Hispanic students

Black students

12

44
56

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

Students lack awareness of services designed to help
them combat issues raised by COVID-19, including
mental health and financial services.
Percentage of Currently Enrolled Students Aware of Services
Offered on Their Campus
As far as you know, which of the following services does your school/university
offer to students?
% Associate degree students
Mental health services% Bachelor’s degree students

31

0

51

Emergency financial help

80

67

33 38

Career counseling32

Food assistance

43
52

Tutoring/academic support

Childcare support

58

72

19 20

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, student mental health concerns were rapidly increasing
nationwide as a growing number of students sought services and rates of anxiety anddepression increased.
Although an American Council on Education (ACE) survey in 2019 found that about eightin 10 presidents reported they had reallocated or identified additional funding to address
mental health on their campus, less than one-third of associate degree and a slim majorityof bachelor’s degree students report knowing their school offers mental health services.
These rates come among record lows and unprecedented volatility in wellbeing nationallyamidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

Percentage of Students Aware of Services Offered on Their Campus by Key Demographics*
As far as you know, which of the following services does your school/university offer to students?
% White students% Black students% Hispanic students% First generation% Non-first generation

69
63

Tutoring/
academic support

54
46

Mental healthservices

36
Emergency
financial help

Students who historicallycomplete their college degrees
at lower rates, including Black andfirst-generation students, are lesslikely than their peers to knowthat their school offers support
services important to persistence
and completion. While 69% ofWhite students report knowing
their school offers tutoring andacademic support, 59% of Black
students say the same.

39

65
Careercounseling57* Among all currently enrolled associate and bachelor’s degree students

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State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 | Higher Education During Disruption

Methodology
Results for the Lumina-Gallup Student
Study are based on web surveys
conducted Sept. 22-Oct. 5, 2020, witha sample of 2,064 currently enrolled
students pursuing an associate degree,
3,941 currently enrolled students pursuinga bachelor’s degree, 400 students pursuinga certification, industry certification ora certificate and 2,000 U.S. adults who
are not currently enrolled in school
but have some college and no degree.
Respondents were interviewed via
Dynata’s web-based panel.
The data are weighted to match national
demographics of gender, age, race,
Hispanic ethnicity and region. Demographic
weighting targets are based on the mostrecent Current Population Survey figures
for the aged 18 and older U.S. population.
All reported margins of sampling error forthe study include the computed design
effects for weighting.
• For results based on the total sample
of 3,941 currently enrolled students
pursuing a bachelor’s degree, the error
range is ±2.3 percentage points.

• For results based on the total sample
of 2,064 currently enrolled students
pursuing an associate degree, the error
range is ±3.0 percentage points.
In addition to sampling error, question
wording and practical difficulties in
conducting surveys can introduce error orbias into the findings of public opinion polls.

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