As the school year begins, the future of college remains uncertain. Like the rest of the United States’ response to the coronavirus, the process has been balkanized. Some colleges are fully reopening (with plans to mitigate spread); others are trying to go totally online; some are using a hybrid model. Just a few months ago, some universities announced plans to reopen in person, but now—with cases booming again—have reversed course. With the Trump administration pushing to reopen schools no matter the consequences, they’ve left schools with no choice: Online education is the way forward.