---
title: How the Top 101 Colleges Plan to Reopen Campus
description: Schools around the nation are working tirelessly to design a roadmap for returning to campus this fall.  Here are the plans from the top 101 universities.
image: https://blog.unincorporated.com/hubfs/higher-education-fall-2020-campus-reopening-plans-top-100-universities-feature.png
---

[![UnincorporatedLogo_Full](https://blog.unincorporated.com/hs-fs/hubfs/UnincorporatedLogo_Full.png?width=400&height=87&name=UnincorporatedLogo_Full.png "UnincorporatedLogo_Full")](https://unincorporated.com)

![abd73a_dbaedf0e6dde44fead653ec8ce32177a_mv2](https://blog.unincorporated.com/hubfs/abd73a_dbaedf0e6dde44fead653ec8ce32177a_mv2.webp "abd73a_dbaedf0e6dde44fead653ec8ce32177a_mv2")

ABOUT

- [The Team](https://www.unincorporated.com/about)
- [Our Manifesto](https://www.unincorporated.com/manifesto)
- [Our Services](https://www.unincorporated.com/services)

CONTACT

- [Get In Touch](https://www.unincorporated.com/contact-us)
- [Careers >](https://apply.workable.com/unincorporated/)

CASE STUDIES

- [Cal Lutheran](https://www.unincorporated.com/cal-lutheran)
- [USC Ostrow](https://www.unincorporated.com/usc-ostrow)
- [USC Dornsife](https://www.unincorporated.com/usc-dornsife)
- [USC Kaufman](https://www.unincorporated.com/usc-kaufman)
- [View More Work](https://www.unincorporated.com/work)

KNOWLEDE

- [Higher Ed Marketing Blog](https://blog.unincorporated.com/)
- [Higher Ed Happy Hour Podcast](https://www.unincorporated.com/podcast)
- [Sign up for the Higher Ed News Brief >](https://blog.unincorporated.com/how-colleges-plan-to-reopen-campus-for-fall-2020#newsletter)

##### [View Latest Launched Projects](https://music.usc.edu/)

[![abd73a_d0a53ba884ad452ba537445bc00aedfa_mv2](https://blog.unincorporated.com/hubfs/abd73a_d0a53ba884ad452ba537445bc00aedfa_mv2.webp "abd73a_d0a53ba884ad452ba537445bc00aedfa_mv2")](https://www.unincorporated.com/)

# How the Top 101 Colleges Plan to Reopen Campus

![Fall 2020 Campus Reopening Plans - Top 101 Colleges in the United States](https://blog.unincorporated.com/hs-fs/hubfs/higher-education-fall-2020-campus-reopening-plans-top-100-universities.png?width=1600&name=higher-education-fall-2020-campus-reopening-plans-top-100-universities.png)

There is much speculation about what the [fall semester](https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/06/25/update-fall-semester-plans-amid-virus) is going to look like after the summer break. Schools around the nation are analyzing simulated models, bringing in 3rd party consultants, and working tirelessly to put together a comprehensive roadmap that is safe for students, faculty, staff, and their families.

Below is a list of the top 101 universities according to the U.S. News Report's 2019 rankings, and what we know (as of June 22nd) about their [plans for returning to campus](https://www.chronicle.com/article/Here-s-a-List-of-Colleges-/248626) for the Fall 2020 semester. Additionally, we've curated a list of links to the latest announcement or COVID-19 portal from every school mentioned on this list.

 

![Fall-2020-University-Opening-Chart-Top-101-Universities-in-the-US](https://blog.unincorporated.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fall-2020-University-Opening-Chart-Top-101-Universities-in-the-US.png?width=887&name=Fall-2020-University-Opening-Chart-Top-101-Universities-in-the-US.png)

 

## How Schools Plan to Return to Campus

Universities have put together [tasks forces](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1270710910496227328.html) and are planning various approaches for reopening in the fall.  To get a complete look at each institution's plans for reopening campus, here are links to their latest announcements (as of June 24th, 2020) or their school-wide Coronavirus portal.

### Planning for Online (3%)

While the safest option for everyone involved in the higher education ecosystem (students, faculty, staff, vendors, etc.) it is the most extreme decision.   While this may not please students or their parents, many of whom are looking for [tuition refunds](https://www.axios.com/college-students-tuition-discount-online-classes-f13c8db4-1cfe-4af6-89fb-df1805d329fb.html), it is by far the safest decision for the time in which we're living.

2.)  [Harvard University](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/06/the-outlook-for-harvards-online-learning/) (MA)  
19.)  [University of California--Los Angeles](https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/preparations-for-the-2020-21-academic-year)  
33.)  [University of California--Irvine](https://uci.edu/coronavirus/updates/200623-update.php)

 

### Proposing a Hybrid Model (30%)

Transitioning online has impacted the [student's mental health.](http://www.stewardshipreport.com/national-survey-reveals-pandemics-impact-on-college-students-mental-health-remote-learning-families-income-and-more/)  A hybrid model attempts to normalize school in the fall by allowing some students to return to campus (e.g., students who require university resources such as labs), while students who are better able to complete their degree online continue using distance learning.  For example, MIT's plan which includes a distinct, 4-tier hierarchy of people who would be allowed on campus:

1. Research staff and faculty
2. Graduate students whose research generally depends on lab access
3. Undergraduates who rely on campus resources for their work
4. Administrative and other non-research staff, many of whom can work effectively online

 

3.)  [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](http://news.mit.edu/2020/letter-decisions-fall-0617)  
7.)  [Stanford University](https://healthalerts.stanford.edu/covid-19/2020/06/03/a-message-from-president-marc-tessier-lavigne-and-provost-persis-drell-on-academic-planning-for-the-fall-quarter-and-2020-21-academic-year/) (CA)  
10.)  [Northwestern University](https://www.northwestern.edu/coronavirus-covid-19-updates/) (IL)  
14.)  [Vanderbilt University](https://www.vanderbilt.edu/coronavirus/2020/06/16/june-16-2020-our-plan-for-the-fall-semester/) (TN)  
16.)  [Rice University](https://coronavirus.rice.edu/) (TX)  
22.)  [Georgetown University](https://president.georgetown.edu/update-on-fall-2020-planning/) (DC)  
22.) [University of California--Berkeley](https://news.berkeley.edu/2020/06/17/uc-berkeley-announces-plans-for-fall-semester/)  
22.)  [University of Southern California](https://coronavirus.usc.edu/)  
25.)  [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.cmu.edu/coronavirus/news-and-communications/communications-archive/2020/june/2020-fall-semester.html) (PA)  
25.)  [University of Virginia](https://returntogrounds.virginia.edu/)  
30.)  [New York University](https://www.nyu.edu/about/leadership-university-administration/office-of-the-president/office-of-the-provost/provostial-communications/summary-update-on-covid-19-related-developments-june24.html)  
35.)  [University of Florida](https://coronavirus.ufl.edu/)  
38.)  [University of California--Davis](https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-plans-welcome-students-back-campus-fall)  
41.)  [University of California--San Diego](https://coronavirus.ucsd.edu/)  
42.)  [Case Western Reserve University](https://case.edu/studentlife/healthcounseling/health-serviceshealth-updates/covid-19-campus-communications) (OH)  
44.)  [Northeastern University](https://news.northeastern.edu/coronavirus/) (MA)  
46.)  [University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign](https://covid19.illinois.edu/fall-2020-instruction-faq/)  
49.)  [Univ. of Wisconsin--Madison](https://smartrestart.wisc.edu/)  
59.)  [University of Washington](https://www.washington.edu/coronavirus/)  
63.)  [Univ. of Maryland--College Park](https://umd.edu/virusinfo/emails/061820)  
76.)  [Virginia Tech](https://vt.edu/ready/fall2020_message.html)  
78.)  [American University](https://www.american.edu/coronavirus/au-forward.cfm) (DC)  
78.)  [Baylor University](https://www.baylor.edu/coronavirus/index.php) (TX)  
85.)  [Michigan State University](https://remote.msu.edu/)  
85.)  [University of California--Riverside](https://ehs.ucr.edu/coronavirus)  
85.)  [University of San Diego](https://www.sandiego.edu/news/detail.php)  
88.) [Indiana University--Bloomington](https://coronavirus.iu.edu/news/)  
88.)  [Loyola University Chicago](https://www.luc.edu/coronavirus/#recent_changes)  
88.)  [University at Buffalo--SUNY](https://www.buffalo.edu/coronavirus/dashboard.html)  
96.)  [University of Colorado--Boulder](https://www.colorado.edu/researchinnovation/2020/05/12/phased-return-campus-research-and-creative-work-begin-may-26)<https://uci.edu/coronavirus/updates/200623-update.php>

### Planning for In-Person (41%)

Surprisingly the largest group of schools are planning to return to campus in the fall.  One big question that remains unanswered is: [why do we need to return to campus](https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-06-25-college-leaders-must-explain-why-not-just-how-to-return-to-campus)?  Leaders are claiming everything from student's "overwhelmingly" [want to return to campus](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-we-have-a-responsibility-to-open-purdue-university-this-fall/2020/05/25/da3b615c-9c62-11ea-ac72-3841fcc9b35f_story.html), to that it's best for [managing revenue losses](https://www.acenet.edu/Research-Insights/Pages/Senior-Leaders/College-and-University-Presidents-Respond-to-COVID-19-April-2020.aspx).

While the obvious concern with this model is the health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and vendors required to maintain the university ecosystem, there are other less obvious concerns that add risk.  What are they?

Does the school have enough housing to give every student a single room?  Are students willing to "[play it safe](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/15/opinion/coronavirus-college-safe.html)," when they return?  It's unlikely.  Are classrooms big enough to allow for social distancing?  Are healthcare services equipped to effectively perform testing?  Are there school-wide mandates in place that [require masks](https://www.redandblack.com/uganews/mask-mandate-uga-students-faculty-push-for-face-mask-requirement-in-the-fall/article_7e4357ce-b693-11ea-9a7b-7fc3f7228bfe.html)? 

Outfitting campus to meet state organization guidelines before the fall is a herculean task.  While we all hope the situation would return to "normal,"  [not everyone is optimistic](https://www.profgalloway.com/higher-ed-enough-already).

 

8.)  [Duke University](https://today.duke.edu/2020/05/update-president-price-academic-plans-fall-2020) (NC)  
18.)  [University of Notre Dame](https://here.nd.edu/) (IN)  
19.)  [Washington University in St. Louis](https://families.wustl.edu/important-updates-5-2/)  
21.)  [Emory University](http://campuslife.emory.edu/reopen/)(GA) - Watch their [latest Town Hall](http://news.emory.edu/stories/2020/06/er_campus_town_hall_covid_19/campus.html) (06.26.2020)  
27.)  [University of Michigan--Ann Arbor](https://coronavirus.umich.edu/)  
27.)  [Wake Forest University](https://ourwayforward.wfu.edu/) (NC)  
30.)  [U. of North Carolina--Chapel Hill](https://www.unc.edu/coronavirus/)  
35.)  [Georgia Institute of Technology](http://health.gatech.edu/coronavirus/operations-status)  
38.)  [Boston College](https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/sites/reopening-boston-college/students.html)  
38.)  [College of William & Mary](https://www.wm.edu/about/administration/emergency/current_issues/coronavirus/) (VA)  
42.)  [Boston University](http://www.bu.edu/articles/2020/campuswide-covid-19-testing-plan-for-fall/)  
44.)  [Tulane University](https://www.nola.com/news/coronavirus/article_19223db8-a209-11ea-baf4-432a4bb01f22.html) (LA)  
46.)  [Pepperdine University](https://www.pepperdine.edu/coronavirus/university-updates/) (CA)  
46.)  [University of Georgia](https://www.uga.edu/coronavirus/students.php)  
49.)  [University of Texas--Austin](https://president.utexas.edu/messages-speeches-2020/fall-2020-planning-update-june-23)  
53.)  [Lehigh University](https://www2.lehigh.edu/news/61020-the-opening-of-lehigh-fall-semester-2020) (PA)  
53.)  [Syracuse University](https://news.syr.edu/blog/2020/06/12/message-from-interim-provost-john-liu-safe-in-person-instruction-resources-for-faculty-and-engagement-opportunities/) (NY)  
53.)  [University of Miami](https://coronavirus.miami.edu/) (FL)  
56.)  [Ohio State University--Columbus](https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/features/coronavirus)  
56.)  [Purdue University--West Lafayette](https://protect.purdue.edu/students/) (IN)  
59.)  [Pennsylvania State U.--Univ. Park](https://news.psu.edu/story/623188/2020/06/14/academics/penn-state-plans-resume-campus-work-and-learning-fall-semester)  
59.)  [Southern Methodist University](https://blog.smu.edu/coronavirus-covid-19/2020/06/16/fall-2020-the-big-picture/) (TX)  
63.)  [George Washington University](https://campusadvisories.gwu.edu/covid-19) (DC)  
66.)  [Clemson University](https://www.clemson.edu/coronavirus/) (SC)  
66.)  [Texas A&M University--College Station](https://provost.tamu.edu/Campus-Messages)  
70.)  [Florida State University](https://news.fsu.edu/tag/coronavirus/)  
70.)  [Fordham University](https://www.fordham.edu/info/29768/fall_2020) (NY)  
70.)  [University of Pittsburgh](https://www.coronavirus.pitt.edu/updates/fall-2020-updates)  
76.)  [University of Minnesota--Twin Cities](https://safe-campus.umn.edu/return-campus/university-planning-response)  
80.)  [Binghamton University--SUNY](https://www.binghamton.edu/health/coronavirus/)  
80.)  [Colorado School of Mines](https://www.mines.edu/coronavirus/)  
80.)  [North Carolina State U.--Raleigh](https://www.ncsu.edu/coronavirus/)  
80.)  [Texas Christian University](https://www.tcu.edu/coronavirus/index.php)  
88.)  [Howard University](https://home.howard.edu/coronavirus) (DC)  
88.)  [Marquette University](https://www.marquette.edu/recovery/) (WI)  
88.)  [University of Delaware](https://www.udel.edu/home/coronavirus/)  
88.)  [University of Iowa](https://coronavirus.uiowa.edu/fall-2020)  
96.) [Illinois Institute of Technology](https://www.iit.edu/fall2020)  
96.)  [Miami University--Oxford](https://miamioh.edu/coronavirus/) (OH)  
96.)  [University of Denver](https://www.du.edu/coronavirus)  
96.)  [University of San Francisco](https://myusf.usfca.edu/announcement/update-on-reopening-plans)  
96.)  [University of Vermont](https://www.uvm.edu/returntocampus)

<http://www.bu.edu/articles/2020/campuswide-covid-19-testing-plan-for-fall/>

### Considering a Range of Scenarios (14%)

Deciding how to resume school in the fall is a massive undertaking.  University leaders and staff have been researching and planning what the fall will look like since March, and the future is still hazy at best.  Like any strong emergency action plan, it's best to research all of your options and have contingencies in place.  Although students, faculty, and staff are anxiously waiting on news from their school, knowing your leadership team is vetting every possible solution, weighing the pros and cons, and consulting new research builds confidence.

 

3.)  [Columbia University](https://www.tc.columbia.edu/articles/2020/june/updates-for-fall-2020/) (NY)  
8.)  [University of Pennsylvania](https://coronavirus.upenn.edu/announcement/message-community-our-ongoing-planning-efforts)  
10.)  [Johns Hopkins University](https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/06/05/university-plans-to-return-to-campus/) (MD)  
12.)  [Dartmouth College](https://news.dartmouth.edu/covid-19/reopening-levels) (NH)  
14.)  [Brown University](https://covid.brown.edu/university-updates) (RI)  
27.) [Tufts University](https://now.tufts.edu/articles/fall-2020-plans-tufts-announced) (MA)  
30.)  [University of California--Santa Barbara](https://www.ucsb.edu/COVID-19-information)  
33.)  [University of Rochester](https://www.rochester.edu/coronavirus-update/students-families/) (NY)  
35.)  [Brandeis University](https://www.brandeis.edu/coronavirus/campus-updates/index.html) (MA)  
56.)  [Rutgers University--New Brunswick](https://coronavirus.rutgers.edu/returning-to-rutgers-guidebook/) (NJ)  
63.)  [University of Connecticut](https://uconn.edu/public-notification/coronavirus/#)  
70.)  [Stevens Institute of Technology](https://www.stevens.edu/directory/student-health-services/health-advisory-update/coronavirus-2019-covid-19-information) (NJ)  
70.)  [University of California--Santa Cruz](https://www.ucsc.edu/coronavirus/)  
80.)  [Yeshiva University](https://go.yu.edu/covid-19-information) (NY)

 

### Waiting to Decide (12%)

New information is released every day: updated recommendations from state and national authorities, research from public health organizations, and news from other institutions.  With so much happening, schools are correctly taking their time before committing to sweeping changes that have huge impacts across the campus.

1.)  [Princeton University](https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/06/18/message-regarding-campus-operations-and-planning-fall) (NJ)  
3.)  [University of Chicago](https://provost.uchicago.edu/announcements/update-campus-wide-planning)  
3.)  [Yale University](https://provost.yale.edu/news/fall-calendar-announcement) (CT)  
12.)  [California Institute of Technology](https://coronavirus.caltech.edu/sp)  
16.)  [Cornell University](https://statements.cornell.edu/2020/20200622-campus-reactivation-planning.cfm) (NY)  
49.)  [Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst.](https://covid19.rpi.edu/return-to-campus) (NY)  
49.)  [Villanova University](https://www1.villanova.edu/university/coronavirus/updates.html) (PA)  
66.)  [Brigham Young Univ.--Provo](https://www.byu.edu/coronavirus/) (UT)  
66.)  [Clark University](https://www.clarku.edu/healthy-clark-covid-plan/) (MA)  
59.)  [Worcester Polytechnic Inst.](https://www.wpi.edu/news/coronavirus) (MA)  
70.)  [Univ. of Massachusetts--Amherst](https://www.umass.edu/coronavirus/fall-2020-planning)\*  
80.)  [Stony Brook--SUNY](https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/coronavirus/)

 

\*[UMass Boston](https://www.umb.edu/news/detail/umass_boston_will_continue_remote_format_for_fall_semester) is planning to be primarily online for the fall 2020 semester.

 

If there is one thing this list of announcements tells us, there is no clear consensus about what is best for universities, their staff, and their students.  It's been 3.5 months since lockdown, and Coronavirus has caused - and will continue to cause for the foreseeable future - massive disruptions in higher education.  The best thing we can do is listen to the science, follow the guidelines, and make decisions based on the health and safety of others.

---

### Need help migrating fall courses online?  Contact UN today.

[![LET'S WORK TOGETHER](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2887464/28cbf9e1-45e1-4640-98cd-bbcc0be2d185.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2887464/28cbf9e1-45e1-4640-98cd-bbcc0be2d185)

 

 

This article was co-authored by [Marisa Demers](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisademers/).

[![](https://blog.unincorporated.com/hubfs/ian-headshot.jpeg)](https://blog.unincorporated.com/author/ian-evenstar)

[Ian Evenstar*Founder & CEO*](https://blog.unincorporated.com/author/ian-evenstar)

---

[Website](http://ianevenstar.com)  
[Twitter](https://twitter.com/ianevenstar)  
[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianevenstar)

December 10, 2020

[College During COVID-19](https://blog.unincorporated.com/topic/college-during-covid-19)

[*Older Post* **Making Customers the Hero of Your Brand Story**](https://blog.unincorporated.com/brand-story) [*Newer Post* **The Impact of COVID-19 on Alumni Relations in Higher Education**](https://blog.unincorporated.com/alumni-relations-and-covid-19)

## Higher Ed News Brief

Sign up to get the top headlines in higher education every week.

[![UnincorporatedLogo_Full-1](https://blog.unincorporated.com/hs-fs/hubfs/UnincorporatedLogo_Full-1.png?width=400&height=87&name=UnincorporatedLogo_Full-1.png "UnincorporatedLogo_Full-1")](https://blog.unincorporated.com/)

[![](https://blog.unincorporated.com/hubfs/Email%20Images/UN-facebook-50.png)](https://www.facebook.com/unincorporated/) [![](https://blog.unincorporated.com/hubfs/Email%20Images/UN-twitter-50.png)](https://twitter.com/unincorporated?lang=en) [![](https://blog.unincorporated.com/hubfs/Email%20Images/UN-insta-50.png)](https://www.instagram.com/unincorporated/?hl=en) [![](https://blog.unincorporated.com/hubfs/Email%20Images/UN-linkedin-50.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/unincorporated-llc)

CONTACT US

##### WORK WITH US

[View Openings](https://apply.workable.com/unincorporated/)

 

LOCATION

 

Google Hangouts

Zoom

``

![](https://dc.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=322004&fmt=gif)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Ian Evenstar",
    "url" : "https://blog.unincorporated.com/author/ian-evenstar"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2020-12-10T19:30:30.500Z",
  "datePublished" : "2020-06-25T21:33:30.000Z",
  "headline" : "How the Top 101 Colleges Plan to Reopen Campus",
  "image" : [ "https://blog.unincorporated.com/hubfs/higher-education-fall-2020-campus-reopening-plans-top-100-universities-feature.png" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.unincorporated.com/how-colleges-plan-to-reopen-campus-for-fall-2020",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.unincorporated.com/hubfs/UN%20-%20Wordmark.png"
    },
    "name" : "UNINCORPORATED"
  }
}
```