Many students would be much less willing to go to college if it was online only, and would instead take a gap year or do something else. If you can keep them hooked until after the tuition is billed and after the refund period expires, and then transition online, then you get that money which you would not otherwise get (now). This entire thing seems a bit like a conspiracy theory, but American universities are pretty greedy so idk. I've just accepted that I'm paying for the diploma so I personally won't mind if the classes are online for the same price - less time wasted in useless lectures, and I've already done much of the networking & connection building part of the experience in past years.
