The purpose of this study was to examine student experiences from Mid-Atlantic community colleges during the COVID-19 pandemic and the related impact on their perceived stress levels and academic performance. Adopting a cross-sectional survey research approach, this study aimed to critically examine how students navigated their academic lives during this unprecedented health crisis. The researcher examined to what extent demographic variables (gender, ethnicity, age, scholarship, GPA, Pass/Fail, computer technology, remote access accessibility, and counseling) predict students' stress levels during COVID-19 at community colleges and determined what changed in students' lives as a result of the pandemic. The findings indicated that female community college students experienced more anxiety compared to males, and Hispanic or Latino male students faced significantly more stress than their Asian and White peers. Analysis of the open-ended survey responses identified three main themes: the difficulty of adjusting to online classes during COVID-19, positive experiences with online classes during the pandemic, and the stress associated with taking online courses during COVID-19. The findings of this research offer valuable perspectives on the student experience during a major health crisis and suggest pathways for community colleges to enhance their support systems and educational strategies should an outbreak of this magnitude happen again. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]