NASFAA Mention: ‘Some Sort of Reparation’: Should Colleges Refund Tuition, Fees After Coronavirus?

"Disgruntled students and parents across South Florida are asking colleges to give them money back for unused meal plans and unoccupied dorms; online classes instead of in-person instruction; additional campus fees, like parking, athletics and student involvement, and charges related to specific majors, like clinical labs," The Miami Herald Reports

"So, are refunds in such a large scale even possible in the financial realm of higher education institutions?

The short answer is it depends on the school, said Megan Coval, vice president of policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

'It’s a great question,' she said. 'And it is the question every school is having to ask themselves right now and weigh from a budgetary standpoint. Different institutions have different levels of resources, so it varies.'

Asked if a big-picture trend is available, Coval said data on how many colleges have issued refunds is not yet available, because some school officials haven’t made decisions.

All universities tend to keep a pot of emergency financing for these situations, Coval said, but because the COVID-19 effects are so massive and unprecedented, it’s unlikely any fund will cover it to its full extent."

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: 4/9/2020

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