The coronavirus pandemic has upended higher education in the United States, with millions of students taking classes online from their homes. But some students are finding the cost of this new mode of learning to be prohibitive.

According to a recent survey, the average cost of online classes at four-year public colleges and universities is now $320 per credit hour, up from $250 per credit hour before the pandemic. At private four-year colleges and universities, the average cost of online classes has jumped from $500 per credit hour to $700 per credit hour.

For a full-time student taking 12 credit hours per semester, this means an increase in tuition of $2,160 per semester for public university students and $4,200 per semester for private university students.

This increase in costs has come at a time when many families are struggling financially due to the pandemic. As a result, some students are being forced to drop out of college or take on more debt in order to continue their education.

"I'm really worried about how I'm going to pay for my education now," said Sarah Jones, a junior at a private university. "I've already had to take out a lot of loans, and I don't know how much more debt I can take on."

Jones is not alone. A recent study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that the number of students dropping out of college has increased by 10% since the pandemic began.

In response to the high cost of online classes, some states and universities are taking steps to provide students with financial assistance. For example, California has allocated $50 million in funding to help students with the cost of online courses. Some universities are also offering scholarships and grants to students who are struggling to pay for their education.

However, these efforts may not be enough to offset the rising cost of online classes. As a result, many students may be forced to make difficult choices about their future education.