Photo: Ty Wright

The onset of COVID-19 forced most colleges and universities to cancel in-person classes and move to remote learning. Now, as the world slowly emerges from the pandemic, many are asking what will become of higher education in America.

In this interview, New America's Kevin Carey talks about the state of American colleges, the student debt crisis, why the pandemic is affecting institutions in wildly disparate ways, and if he thinks the future of higher education will look anything like its past.

Photo: Seth Wenig

Before the pandemic, transitioning from high school to college or a career may have marked the first major life change for many teenagers. But COVID-19 seniors faced massive disruptions, disappointment, and turmoil this past year. At the same time, their experiences may also better prepare them for what lies ahead. 

When schools went online, students went into independent, self-directed learning. They had to take full responsibility for their education, making choices about attendance, motivation, engagement and how to limit distractions. They also gained invaluable experience being resourceful when they didn’t know how to proceed.