Last year, rising cases of coronavirus put an abrupt halt to the fall semester on many college campuses south of the border, just as classes got underway.
This year, the Delta variant is threatening to shut down U.S. schools once again. And the possibility of more campus closures has sparked renewed interest in college refund policies and tuition insurance.
Roughly 78% of colleges and universities plan to resume all in-person classes for the fall, and just 19% are planning a mix of in-person and online classes, according to a survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
Yet, already a few colleges and universities have announced they will start remotely due to rising cases of COVID.
For most students, distance learning is a poor substitute for in-person classes. And almost all say it’s not worth the same high cost.
Nearly half, or 46%, of students think universities did not do enough to support them during the pandemic, a recent WalletHub report found.
Going forward, some families are being more proactive when it comes to protecting their investment.
While a number of colleges and universities have said they will offer refunds of fees and room and board if campuses must close again, the reimbursement policies vary from school to school — and nearly all of them have drawn the line at tuition.
Depending on when a student withdraws during a semester, a school’s refund policy may reimburse a significant amount (specifically if it’s within the first month or so of the semester, although it varies by school).
However, refunds are typically offered on a sliding scale and most schools won’t give any money back at all after the fifth week of classes.