Impact of COVID-19 on parental expectations, savings intentions and other plans to financially support children’s postsecondary education

This Insights article examines changes in parental expectations—between before and after the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown—that their children will pursue postsecondary education. The study looks at whether parental expectations of their children to attain further education and their plans for helping their children with the financial aspects of postsecondary education—through savings and other means—have changed since the arrival of COVID-19. The analysis is based on the Survey of Approaches to Educational Planning (SAEP), conducted between February 2 and June 20, 2020. The sample includes children aged 17 and younger who had not yet started any postsecondary education and whose parent or legal guardian responded to the survey.