The digital divide among college students: Lessons learned from the COVID-19 emergency transition

This report examines the meaning and impact of the digital divide -- the gap between those who can and cannot access the Internet -- on college students during the COVID-19 emergency shift to remote learning. The assessment is based on several national surveys conducted in the spring or summer of 2020, as well as results from a large-scale survey the authors conducted at Indiana University and The Ohio State University during the same time period. Key findings reveal the prevalence of inadequate technology, the relationship between inadequate technology and student success, and college and state approaches to supporting students with inadequate technology during the emergency transition.