Why More Men Are Missing Out on College
The decline in student enrollment during the coronavirus pandemic is seven times as steep for men as women, raising questions about the long-term impact on individuals and communities
(EWA Radio Episode 261)
COVID-19 is remaking the college landscape, especially when it comes to who’s pursuing — and who’s pausing — on higher education. New data shows the decline in enrollment is seven times as large for men as for women. That’s exacerbating an already existing gender gap, and it could have serious long-term consequences for men’s career paths, says Jon Marcus, higher education editor for The Hechinger Report. He also discusses the impact of the coronavirus on rural colleges, special challenges for first-generation students, and how the decision by many postsecondary institutions to go “test optional” temporarily hasn’t solved the inequality issues in the college admissions game. Marcus, who teaches journalism at Boston College and Northeastern University, shares his syllabus for the semester, and what he’s learning from his students about the challenges of pursuing a degree amid the pandemic.
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