The COVID-19 global pandemic has an immense impact in the lives of the people all over the world, and the educational system is one of those who struggled to adjust to the catastrophic event. The new curriculum faced setbacks from the difficulties to effectuate students’ social presence and create a safe and effective learning environment. This study determined the undergraduate students learning preference, specifically between online and on-site learning; the impact of the sudden shift to the students social, economic or financial, and academic performance; and the coping strategies used by students to overcome the challenges brought by the change of learning modality. Systematic random sampling was used to select 30 students who served as respondents of the study. Results showed that on-site learning was preferred over online learning modality as it impacted the students in terms of social interaction, active participation, and accessibility to resources. Most of the students revealed that the shift in learning modality has brought about challenges in their physical, moral, emotional and social well-being, financial stability, and academic performance. But they had overcome these with the support of their family, friends, and love ones. This pandemic has taught students the importance of time management, flexibility and resilience, and strong bond with people they can work and open up well.