Niche survey finds most students want to resume in-person classes

Recent surveys show that the nation’s students – both high school and college – are itching to return to the classroom for in-person learning.

A survey from Pittsburgh-based Niche, an online school search platform, received more than 21,000 responses from students across the country. The survey found that students want some aspect of “normality” and are opposed to online learning as the only method of instruction. The most popular scenarios for this fall that appealed to students were in-person classes, a flexible hybrid model with both in-person and online classes or a block schedule — in which courses run for three to four weeks with breaks in between.

The survey also found that 35% of students reported they would likely transfer schools if online instruction continued, and many believe they should pay less than they would for an in-person scenario.

Will Patch, enrollment marketing leader at Niche, said he wasn’t surprised that in-person instruction was most popular with students. Still, students turned away from the idea of delaying the semester any more. And while online learning is unpopular, several respondents said they felt learning needed to continue in at least some capacity.

“I think they’ve had enough disruption,” Patch said. “They want to get back to learning, even if it’s online.”

Patch said the survey was posted to the Niche website, and collected responses from students in high school, college and graduate school. The survey gave students a platform to describe how the covid-19 pandemic disrupted their education, Patch said. He hopes schools and universities, if they’ve narrowed down a few options for the fall, will take these results into account.

“I hope schools know that students want to be back,” he said. “But they also should know that online learning isn’t going well for the students.”

In recent weeks, several area schools have announced preliminary plans for the fall semester. Last week, Indiana University of Pennsylvania released a letter to the campus community outlining plans for a semester that will include both online and in-person elements. The University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University have also introduced possible scenarios for how learning may look in the fall.

Patch said the survey garnered nearly 700 responses from students attending Pennsylvania colleges. Of these students, 83% supported a return to in-person courses, while only 20% support learning solely with online methods. Fifty percent support a hybrid model and 46% support the block schedule idea.

Nationally, colleges are mostly split on how they will approach the fall, though it is one of the top three “most pressing concerns” for college presidents, according to a survey from the American Council on Education (ACE). That survey found that 53% of all presidents found it “very likely” their institution would resume in-person instruction for at least part of the fall semester.

The ACE survey also found that “students and families” were a key stakeholder as presidents make reopening decisions. Forty percent rated this group as having a “high level” of influence, while 50% rated them as having a “moderate level.” State governors were selected as the most influential stakeholder in the decisions.

One thing is clear from the recent Niche survey, Patch said: Students expect their opinions to be heard on the matter. They want to be a part of the decision process, he said.

“They want to have a voice,” Patch said.

Some of the results reflect a lack of understanding or a need for greater communication. The survey found that 79% of students expect to pay less in tuition for an online semester than for face-to-face instruction — though this may not be feasible for schools. Patch said it either reflects a “lack of awareness or they just don’t value online learning.” In either case, he said, a dialogue needs to be had. Students, after all, are the “customers,” he said.

“It’s very easy to dismiss what students want, and I think the schools that can really stand out right now are ones that can collaborate and let students be heard,” said Patch. “And if the students want something unrealistic, being able to explain that is much better than just ignoring it.”