Purpose – This study seeks to uncover the many types of academic stress faced by students in higher education institutions as teaching methods shifted from offline to online during the Covid-19 outbreak. Design/methodology/approach – The underlying reasons for students' academic stress will be investigated using the author's self-prepared Student Opinion Questionnaire (SOQ). A total of 205 students from one of the best academic institutions in North Bengal, which is located in the Indian state of West Bengal, were chosen for this study from the first, third, and fifth semesters. Findings: The Student Opinion Questionnaire (SOQ) took into account two factors: socio-demographic stress and academic stress. The fact that 42% of respondents were first-generation students was the most significant source of socio-demographic stress. The instability of the internet, lack of academic recognition, submission of online answer scripts, and different guidelines of offline classes in different states of India were identified in academic stress parameters out of nine parameters given in the SOQ. Originality/value – To the best of the researcher's knowledge, this is an empirical study of one of the premier higher education colleges in North Bengal, where a large percentage of students are first-generation learners, highlighting the types of academic stresses they experience.