The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on different areas, with the education sector being one of the most affected but derived from this and with greater feeling the student community and their families. This descriptive quantitative research presents the family situation and social capital of 2337 students from a higher education institution in Colombia for adaptation in the pandemic. There is evidence of a high risk for students and their families, mainly related to economic issues that affect different areas of adjustment, which require attention and mitigation from institutional actions for early approach and reduction of the impact of the pandemic in the institution, the student community and management of the family situation as a primary support network for students.