Census Day is Wednesday; coronavirus means college towns will be undercounted

At college dormitories and student apartments across the U.S., census forms will be piling up — but many run the risk of not being filled in.

The spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. has coincided with the start of data collection for the 2020 census.

This may not affect the process for most people who are self-isolating at home. But for students, it could well affect where and if they are counted – and that could have big implications.

The rapid spread of the virus has meant that most colleges have by now closed their classrooms. Many universities have extended the usual weeklong spring break into a second week. At Texas A&M University, where I am an emeritus professor, online instruction will begin after the spring break and continue through the end of the semester in late April. It is a similar story elsewhere.

As a result, many students may not be returning to their campus residences any time soon.

Usual residence
Census data collected from college students are pretty much the same as for the non-student population. The census questions ask about sex, age, race and Hispanic origin.