coronavirus pandemic.At the University of Texas at Arlington, commitments from state residents are up 26% over last year.Ohio State and Western Kentucky universities are both up about 20%.
Deposits paid to attend Michigan State University are up 15% among state residents, while deposits from others are down 15%.Colleges and admissions counselors credit the uptick to a range of factors tied to the pandemic.
Students want to be closer to home in case an outbreak again forces classes online.Some are choosing nearby schools where they're charged lower rates as state residents.
And amid uncertainty around the fall term, some are paying deposits at multiple schools to keep their options open.At the same time, scores of universities are bracing.