High school seniors say that the COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected their postsecondary plans and their perceptions about being prepared for college, according to a new report from ACT, the nonprofit organization that administers the college readiness exam.

“The students who began high school at the start of the pandemic are now graduating. These are the same students who faced numerous new challenges, including decreased access to school counselors, canceled extracurricular activities, and an overnight pivot to remote learning,” ACT CEO Janet Godwin said. “It’s important to recognize their unique journeys and how the pandemic’s disruption has affected them — emotionally, academically, and financially — as they make important decisions about the first steps of their lives beyond high school.”

The report provides recommendations for higher education institutions to help students as they transition into and through college. These include connecting students with financial opportunities, providing reliable assessments and courses for unfinished learning, addressing mental health resources, and encouraging exploratory activities in the first year of college (e.g., internships, career planning programs).

Of the high school seniors surveyed, more than four in 10 (42%) reported that the pandemic affected their thoughts on at least one college- or career-related choice, and one-third (33%) of students changed their thoughts on two or more college- or career-related choices.

Students in certain income and racial/ethnic groups were more likely to be affected by the pandemic than students in other groups, and students from lower-income families faced more challenges than other students. Roughly four in 10 (42%) students in the low-income group reported that the pandemic influenced their thoughts about a future career. This was closely followed by changing thoughts about which school to attend and which program of study or major to pursue (40% and 39%, respectively). Additionally, while two in 10 white students (22%) reported that the pandemic changed their thoughts about which school to attend, about one-third of Black, Asian, and Latinx students (30%, 33%, and 36%, respectively) adjusted their thoughts on this choice.

“Before the pandemic I always looked towards college and furthering my academics, but once the pandemic hit it altered the way I looked at college. It made me struggle in my high school years and made me doubt whether or not college was the best choice down the road,” one Latino student said.

The top pandemic-related challenge that influenced students’ thoughts on their choices was greater financial difficulties. Some students questioned whether they could afford to pay for college after experiencing financial struggles during the pandemic. These financial difficulties, which stemmed from family job loss and the increased cost of living, led these students to reevaluate their schooling options. There were also students who weighed the possibility of going to certain colleges in certain locations against the cost. A lack of finances, including an inability to self-finance a college education, made it impossible for some to afford certain schools. Amid financial constraints and ongoing concerns about how to pay for their postsecondary education, other students considered less expensive college alternatives and funding options such as scholarships and financial aid.

The top pandemic-related opportunity influencing students’ thoughts was expanded interests and being able to discover new passions. Students who experienced a shift in their activities due to the pandemic were able to learn more about themselves and what they liked. Some students were inspired to consider new career fields as they became aware of more options uncovered during this time.

Key findings:

• Forty-two percent of surveyed high school seniors reported the pandemic affected their thoughts on at least one college- or career-related choice, and one-third (33%) of these students changed their thoughts on two or more choices.
• When it came to college and career perceptions, students in certain income and racial/ethnic groups were more likely to be affected by the pandemic than students in other groups.
• Roughly four in 10 (42%) students in the low-income group reported that the pandemic influenced their thoughts about a future career.
• Two in 10 white students (22%) said the pandemic changed their thoughts about which school to attend, while about one-third of Black, Asian, and Latinx students (30%, 33%, and 36%, respectively) adjusted their thoughts on this choice.
• Students identified greater financial difficulties as the top pandemic-related challenge, while the top pandemic-related opportunity was discovering new interests and passions.

About the Data

ACT researchers surveyed a random sample of 1,549 12th grade students in September 2022. The surveys asked students to indicate which, if any, of the thoughts they had about college and career choices were affected by the pandemic. As a follow-up, an open-ended question asked for more details on how the pandemic affected these thoughts.


About ACT
ACT is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people achieve education and workplace success. Grounded in more than 60 years of research, ACT is a trusted leader in college and career readiness solutions. Each year, ACT serves millions of students, job seekers, schools, government agencies, and employers in the U.S. and around the world with learning resources, assessments, research, and credentials designed to help them succeed from elementary school through career. Visit us at www.act.org.

Contact: ACT Media Relations; publicrelations@act.org