NASFAA Mention: Study: Where Students Can Save the Most Money Amid Shifts to Distance Learning

"More colleges turned to distance learning for the fall semester to slow the spread of the coronavirus on campus. By choosing fully remote lessons, students may avoid expenses like room and board," Student Loan Hero reports

..."Do students still owe room and board if learning is remote?

Policies will vary by school, but — on the whole — no. If students switch to a 100% distance learning situation, they shouldn’t have to pay for room and board since the schools aren’t providing those resources, said Jill Desjean, a policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).

'A lot of this hinges on the premise of what sort of student you were before all of this hit,' Desjean said. For example:

  • Students who lived on campus would save on room and board
  • Students who were commuting would save on transportation but not room and board

The primary caveat is that not all universities are going exclusively remote, despite the coronavirus’ grip on the U.S. So for those offering a hybrid approach, with both on-campus and online courses, it could mean students would still owe room and board."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

 

Publication Date: 10/15/2020

View Desktop Version