'Losing A Generation': Fall College Enrollment Plummets For 1st-Year Students

[Sciencewoman]

My daughter coordinates state alumni interviews for W&L, and she has been inundated with interview requests from applicants this fall: full, current, annual price tag for W&L is $74,000. They have a huge endowment, offer very generous need-based and merit aid, and they've created a "bubble" this year where life has gone on as normally as possible with face-to-face classes and activities.

I think the only "winners" in this are going to be the pricy, highly selective, small liberal arts colleges who have the funds to create the safest possible space for students, can offer generous financial aid, and have small enough student populations to make it possible. They're going to attract more of the high achievers than schools with brand name recognition who are offering mostly online this year.

Most other institutions are going to feel the heat -- even the prestigious research universities haven't been able to provide the face-to-face, normal instruction.