Three Texas college towns could face financial devastation from pandemic, according to new study
Amid the COVID-19 outbreaks on college campuses and subsequent quarantines, the crushing effects of the pandemic could annihilate the economies of some college towns across the U.S., a new study finds. In a report by Business Insider, three Texas college towns could face economic devastation if the COVID-19 pandemic forces the schools to effectively shut down their activities on campus.
The most vulnerable Texas towns that emerged on the Business Insider report include San Marcos, home of Texas State University; College Station, main campus of Texas A&M University; and Huntsville, home base for Sam Houston State University. Business Insider found 30 college towns in the U.S. which would take a severe financial hit if the schools which serve as their community anchors don't reopen or close soon after reopening.
To estimate which college towns are the most economically vulnerable, Business Insider based the ranking on undergraduate enrollment as a share of the town or city's population. To further break it down, they looked at the 200 colleges and universities with the largest number of degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates gathered from fall 2018 college data from the National Center for Education Statistics' Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS.)
Texas State University ranks No. 10 on the report and has 33,531 degree or certificate undergraduates who comprise 52.6 percent of the population in San Marcos. Texas A&M University shows up as No. 12 on the list and has 53,150 degree or certificate seeking undergraduates who make up 45.8 percent of the population in College Station. Sam Houston State University ranks No. 17 and has 16,588 degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates who make up 39.3 percent of the population in Huntsville.
Read more: https://www.lmtonline.com/local/article/Three-Texas-college-towns-could-face-financial-15554928.php
(Laredo Morning Times)