COVID-19 has affected the cost of college: Hereâs whatâs changed By Christy Bieber article College costs changed due to COVID-19. This could affect the price of your education and the student loans you're eligible for. (iStock) COVID-19 changed many aspects of life, including college. Many schools switched to remote learning for most of the 2020-21 school year, and this trend may continue into next year. Colleges have also closed on-campus housing facilities, affecting the cost of living for many students. Amidst these changes, recent data from the College Board shows college tuition costs increased by the lowest amount in 30-years. While tuition prices have historically risen by 3% annually, average tuition and fees paid by in-state students at four-year public institutions rose only 1.1% from the 2019-2020 year to the 2020-2021 year. Even at private non-profit institutions, tuition was up just 2.1%.