It's probably a combination of hopeful optimism and financial desperation. It's too early to know for sure, but I bet a lot of small, private colleges are hurti

It's probably a combination of hopeful optimism and financial desperation. It's too early to know for sure, but I bet a lot of small, private colleges are hurting and need to do everything they can to have students on campus. Students not paying for housing, meal plans, etc. is a big deal.