The coronavirus outbreak forced students at colleges across the U.S. to finish the spring semester at home. As Congress considers additional relief for higher education, lawmakers should focus on helping students at greatest risk of abandoning their studies altogether.

According to surveys, enrollment in four-year colleges could drop by as much as 20% this fall. Attrition among poor and minority students is likely to be worse. Close to two-thirds of minority students say the crisis has changed their higher-education plans, and 4 out of 10 graduating from high school likely won't enroll in college this year.

Their hesitation is understandable. Some schools have outlined plans for resuming in-person instruction, but many college students can expect to receive much of their instruction online — an unappealing option for some, and a prohibitive one for those who lack reliable broadband access at home. In effect, the recession has made college even less affordable for low- and middle-income students, requiring them to borrow more to cover expenses like books and food.

For these students especially, choosing to defer or forgo college will be damaging. More than 30 million Americans have some college but no degree. Only 15% of the lowest-income students get a bachelor's degree within eight years of leaving high school. Among dropouts, fewer than 15% re-enroll within five years. Students who fail to complete a credential earn less, suffer higher unemployment and are more likely to default on their student loans.

FROM AN EDITORIAL IN BLOOMBERG OPINION