CINCINNATI — Ryann Richardson was supposed to go to college in North Carolina this fall, but the COVID-19 pandemic rerouted her to Ohio.
Richardson made the decision to attend Miami University so she can save money in the wake of the pandemic.
University of Cincinnati sophomore Stefone Broaders is looking for ways to save too.
"I'm taking summer classes, and those are at a community college,” Broaders said. “And those are very much cheaper than what I was paying for UC."
Broaders is used to virtual classes by now. He spent the end of his freshman year taking lessons entirely through Canvas.
But not everyone wants to pay tuition for online classes. That’s one of the reasons high school graduates like Eric Doane are taking a gap year.
"If I can get some real world experience that might actually help me better than just sitting there,” Doane said.
Broaders agrees online classes are not ideal.
"It would just be great to see all the professors and to start learning like normal again,” Broaders said.
Some graduates are turning to technical schools, like Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. A spokesperson said the college has seen an increase in enrollment since the pandemic.
Cincinnati State's plan for the fall semester includes in-person labs and technical skills courses as well as remote general education courses.
