Higher Ambitions - The Effect of COVID-19 on How Families Plan for Post-secondary Education

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Angel

Higher Ambitions analyzes how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced families’ and high school students’ thinking about post-secondary education. Conducted by Ipsos with Sallie Mae, the adjunct report compares an online January 2020 survey with a shorter follow-up in April 2020 focused on pandemic-related concerns. Findings show uncertainty is largely short-lived: long-term intentions, education value attitudes, and expectations about paying for college remain broadly stable, while preparation for decisions and funding increases.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

About this adjunct report

Discussion of findings

Higher education plans

FAFSA filing and payment plans

Savings for higher education

2020 Higher Ambitions The Effect of COVID-19 on How Families Plan for Post-secondary Education Conducted by Ipsos Higher Ambitions: The Effect of COVID-19 on How Families Plan for Post-secondary Education Sallie Mae | Ipsos 2 About this adjunct report Sallie Mae partnered with Ipsos, a global independent market research company, to introduce a new 2020 study, Higher Ambitions: How America Plans for Post-secondary Education. The study is designed to understand high school students’ plans for after they graduate high school. In addition, it examines the value students and their families place on higher education, how they are preparing for post-secondary education if they plan to attend, and how they expect to pay for this post-secondary education. Interviews were conducted with parents of high school students and high school students, online, in English, between January 8, 2020 and January 17, 2020. As we neared publication of the report, the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic was surging in the United States. We considered that, as a result, students’ plans for higher education and their families’expectations and confidence regarding paying for higher education may have changed. To assess the impact of the pandemic on families’ current thinking, we fielded a shorter, followup survey reprising several key questions to use as points of comparison, along with several new questions specific to concerns about COVID-19. This adjunct survey was conducted online in English between April 10, 2020 and April 22, 2020. The survey sample comprised a cross-section of key demographic variables of • 500 parents of high school juniors and seniors, and • 500 high school juniors and seniors from the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii Details on methodology, including sampling, weighting, and credibility intervals, are included in the technical notes. To read the main report, Higher Ambitions: How America Plans for Post-secondary Education, go to[salliemae.com/howamericaplans](salliemae.com/howamericaplans). © 2020 Sallie Mae Bank. All rights reserved. Sallie Mae, the Sallie Mae logo, and other Sallie Mae names are service marks or registered service marks of Sallie Mae Bank. All other names and logos used are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank, are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America. SMSM MKT15199 0520 Higher Ambitions: The Effect of COVID-19 on How Families Plan for Post-secondary Education Sallie Mae | Ipsos 3 Discussion of findings While high school juniors and seniors and their families are concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic, most families seethe associated uncertainty as short-lived. Long-term views about pursuing a postsecondary education, attitudes towards the value of education, and assumptions about paying for college haven’t changed. The immediate economic effect on families is of particular importance, but it’s not stopping students from pursuing the dream of higher education. They continue to plan, though they may have to maneuver differently than previously expected. Higher proportions of families report being prepared Comparing the April data to January data, distinct increases are seen in families’ decision-making about posthigh school plans and their preparedness for paying for higher education. As students are closer to leaving high school, 80 percent of families report the student is planning on post-secondary education, compared with 75 percent in January, with fewer being “undecided” about their plans. Figure 1. Higher Education Plans Q. What do you [student] plan to do directly after high school? 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Other Undecided, but probably will attend Definitely not Probably not Attend a technical, career, or vocational program Attend a skills-training boot camp Attend a 2-or 4-year college Higher Ambitions: The Effect of CO

FAQs

What was the purpose of the adjunct report?

To assess how the COVID-19 pandemic affected families’ current thinking by comparing a January survey with a shorter April follow-up that included new COVID-19 specific questions.

Did students and families change their long-term views about post-secondary education?

Most families saw the associated uncertainty as short-lived, and long-term views about pursuing education, attitudes toward its value, and assumptions about paying for college largely did not change.

What trends appeared between January and April regarding plans and preparedness?

Higher proportions reported being prepared for post-high school decisions and for paying for higher education. For example, more families indicated the student planned to pursue post-secondary education, and FAFSA filing increased among seniors.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Angel