Study finds surprising result: Which campuses had more COVID cases?

Last Updated on March 5, 2024 by Robert C. Hoopes

Recent studies have shed new light on the correlation between wealth and COVID infection rates in college communities. While it was previously believed that lower-income areas had higher infection rates, a study conducted by Sophia Zacher ’21 and Lewis Davis has turned this assumption on its head.

Zacher and Davis analyzed data from 1,069 U.S. schools during the 2020-21 academic year and found that COVID infection rates were actually higher at wealthier schools. In fact, colleges and universities with higher endowments per student and higher tuition fees showed greater infection rates. The study also revealed that more illness was reported at more selective schools.

These unexpected findings have raised questions about the impact of wealth and selectivity on COVID infection rates in college communities. The study challenges the conventional wisdom that lower-income areas are more susceptible to the virus and highlights the need for further research in this area.

Zacher and Davis’ research has important implications for college administrators and public health officials as they work to mitigate the spread of COVID on campus. By understanding the factors that contribute to higher infection rates, universities can better target their prevention and response efforts to protect the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff.

As the world continues to grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, studies like this provide valuable insights that can inform strategies for controlling the spread of the virus in college communities and beyond.