Private Colleges vs. Public Colleges During COVID-19

As the Fall semester starts, colleges have taken very different approaches as to how to reopen their campuses. Some universities have decided to take very substantial precautions while others have decided to do little to nothing about Coronavirus. The response to COVID-19 on college campuses ranges anywhere from going completely online to continuing with almost all face to face instruction. Only time will tell which of these approaches will prove to be the best to reduce COVID-19 cases moving forward.

Many schools are setting up large precautions in order to limit the spread of coronavirus on their campuses. There are pros and cons to many of the proposed approaches, which has sparked the long time debate of whether it’s best to attend a private or public university. The major upside for private universities is the smaller class sizes, in contrast to very large class sizes of public universities. Parents and students are weighing all their options of in person classes versus online. Class size has been a large factor in determining which school to attend, or whether transferring to another school would be preferred.  The CDC believes that “private schools are in a better position to implement safety measures, whether it’s putting in a new ventilation system or doing a better job distancing the students.” The amount of money that flows into private schools allows them to make improvements that public schools may not be able to afford. There are benefits to learning in smaller class sizes as well. It “can benefit student learning by creating more opportunities through individual attention, and offering courses with perceived higher standards.” While this looks really good for private universities, decisions about where to attend school will also heavily depend upon the overall cost of attendance. 

Mandi Woodruff of Business Insider stated that “while private institutions tend to excel in prestige and social scene, public schools offer proximity and affordability.” Many people cannot afford private school, so this option is not available for everyone. Jessica Dickler of CNBC wrote in an article that “the average cost of tuition at private schools in America is $26,866 a year, with roughly a quarter of all families receiving financial aid, according to the National Association of Independent Schools. With record unemployment and consequently many parents experiencing a job loss or furlough, families may no longer be able to afford a private-school education.” Due to the struggle that many families in the nation are facing as a result of COVID-19, public school may be their only option. 

Both public and private universities alike have implemented some variation of a mask policy. However, schools are also implementing other ideas, such as one-way hallways. This practice limits the amount of students walking past each other and keeps the flow of air traffic heading in one direction. Many public universities in California have decided to go completely online. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) decided that no more than 20% of all classes will be held in person. Colorado State University (CSU) is also doing something very similar. Its Chancellor Timothy White said going virtual is “actually sort of field training for the future workforce, because when they graduate, chances are going to be increasing every day that they will be working in a virtual space in the future.” These learning circumstances will help prepare many students for virtual work situations in the future. There are many schools that are looking to shift their schedules around. Most schools will enact plans that include hybrid classes. This course of action means that “half of all students will attend a class in-person one day, with the other half following along virtually, and the students will swap spots on alternate days.” Students will still be exposed to each other in a class setting, just in lesser quantities and with less frequency. Schools are starting to use policies that will sit students apart with at least one seat between them in order to closely follow CDC guidelines. Many classrooms will look differently this year in order to implement 6ft social distancing regulations. 

Another key factor involved in choosing which college to attend is the vulnerability of the student to contract COVID-19. Individuals with pre-existing issues and those who have not been exposed to COVID-19 directly yet are some of the most vulnerable. Lisa Fuller of Merrimack College stated that “generally, they can choose remote learning or a leave of absence if they decide against in-person classes. The most vulnerable students often have the fewest choices, since they may be on scholarships or part of work-study programs that require them to be on campus.” This situation makes reaching typical college student goals, such as good grades, harder to reach due to the limitations on their ability to attend classes in a preferred format. Lisa Fuller, a philosopher, writer, and editor, posed the question  that “if someone feels responsible for infecting another person, and that person is permanently disabled, or even dies, what psychological impact will that have on them over their lifetime?” By returning to campus, students will be taking on all sorts of new responsibilities for the welfare of others that they were not previously given. These responsibilities could be crucial in determining students' mental and emotional health. 

COVID-19 has brought struggles and decisions that no one ever imagined they would have to make. From policy to policy, there are many different viewpoints on what should take place. Many people’s opinions ebb and flow with the tide of the majority of people. In this instance, it is important that individuals remain objective and make decisions based on their own personal needs and not based on someone else’s opinion of the situation. Both private and public universities have their positives and negatives, and it is important that all individuals feel comfortable in their own environment. As students are starting the fall semester, it will be very difficult to choose which school best suits their needs. 

Works Cited:

Luo, Mingchu  Neal, et al. “The Long-Term Outcomes of Graduates’ Satisfaction: Do Public and Private College Education Make a Difference? .” ScholarCommons, 2017, scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1005&context=jger.