TouchNet releases first Annual Student Survey - Connecting the Dots 2020

TouchNet Releases First Annual Student Survey - Connecting the Dots 2020

The majority of today’s college students are mobile natives who prefer the convenience and immediacy of digital experiences. But within that broad group, students have a variety of opinions, expectations, and needs when it comes to how they manage their finances — especially when it comes to paying tuition and other college-related expenses.

To gain a better understanding of students’ preferences, TouchNet conducted its first survey of digital technology usage among U.S. college students in the Spring of 2020. Participants in the Connecting the Dots 2020 Survey were asked a variety of questions to determine what’s important to them in terms of payment technology, how they use it now, which apps are useful, and their preferences for paying for activities, goods, and services on campus.

The survey intentionally gathered diverse student opinions — traditional and nontraditional, full- and part-time, and those enrolled at two- and four-year institutions of all sizes and types. The survey results offer a comprehensive snapshot of students’ perceptions of financial responsibility. It also documents how those preferences change durings a student’s college career, which is data schools can use as they transition to safer, more contactless campuses that better meet students’ needs.

Because the pandemic had already begun when the survey was conducted, it also includes timely responses to schools’ use of technology both inside and outside the classroom and off campus. Students’ answers can help schools fine-tune their technology advancements as contactless payments and credentials continue to play an important role in keeping students and campuses safe.

“One of the most encouraging takeaways from our first student survey is that 89 percent of students surveyed believe technology on their campus is as good or better post-COVID,” says Adam McDonald, TouchNet President. “There’s no doubt the pandemic sped up the shift toward contactless payments and credentials among the schools we work with, so knowing our efforts are playing a role in these positive student experiences is incredibly rewarding.”

Given the important insights gathered in its first year and the ongoing need for real-time feedback, TouchNet plans to conduct this survey annually. By sharing how students perceive the digital payment tools available to them, which ones they like and don’t like, and what changes they’d most like to see, TouchNet can continue to help schools meet students’ needs today and in years to come.

Download your free copy of the Connecting the Dots 2020 Survey.