Why are rural students in the US skipping college despite increased recruitment efforts?

Time of India

11 hours ago

Photo credit: Gemini
In rural America, high school graduation rates continue to outpace those in urban and suburban districts. Yet, a persistent and troubling trend remains: significantly fewer rural students go on to college.
This pattern holds despite a wave of policy interventions, school district reforms, and increased recruitment by colleges and universities.
According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, only 55% of rural US high school graduates in 2023 enrolled in college. In contrast, 64% of suburban and 59% of urban graduates pursued postsecondary education. Despite steady efforts by schools and states to close this gap, rural college enrollment has remained largely flat in recent years.
Local efforts, limited outcomes
Many rural school districts, such as Perry Central School District in western New York's Wyoming County, have introduced college-level coursework and removed academic and financial barriers to higher education. These efforts have seen some success.
In Perry's case, federal pandemic relief funds were used to cover tuition for students in its Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) program, offered in partnership with Genesee Community College.
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The results were notable: college enrollment among Perry graduates rose from 60% in 2022 to 67% in 2024. But when federal funding ended, and the district assumed the program's costs, enrollment declined again—to 56% in 2025.
Despite these fluctuations, Perry's enrollment figures have consistently exceeded the national average for rural districts, largely due to sustained community support for dual enrollment programs.
Alternative paths and immediate work opportunities
In rural areas like Wyoming County, where dairy farms, food processing plants, and small manufacturing companies are abundant, the availability of immediate work opportunities offers a compelling alternative to college. Employment at local businesses such as Creative Food Ingredients or American Classic Outfitters provides income without the burden of tuition or student loans.
In such settings, the choice to skip college is less about a lack of opportunity and more about the perceived relevance and cost of higher education relative to local job markets.
Geography, family background, and perception
Multiple factors contribute to the decision-making process for rural students. Attending college often requires relocating far from home, a move that is emotionally and logistically challenging, especially in communities where few adults have postsecondary experience. In Perry, for instance, many students' families have no history of attending college, and the value of higher education has never been strongly emphasized.
Nationally, only 21% of rural adults over the age of 25 hold a bachelor's degree, compared to 36% in other areas, according to a government analysis of US Census findings. This generational gap contributes to a cultural landscape in which college is not necessarily seen as a pathway to success.
Dual enrollment participation lags slightly behind
Dual enrollment, where high school students take college courses, has become a focal point in closing access gaps. According to a U.S.
Department of Education survey, 15% of rural high school students were enrolled in such college classes as of January 2025. This rate, while promising, remains slightly lower than that of suburban and urban students.
Recognizing this disparity, organizations like the College in High School Alliance have launched initiatives to support policy development in seven states specifically aimed at expanding access to dual enrollment for rural students.
A changing national mood toward higher education
Beyond structural challenges, rural students are also influenced by a shifting national sentiment toward higher education. Numerous polls show that skepticism about the value of college is rising across the country, with the most dramatic declines in confidence coming from politically conservative and rural areas.
This skepticism often aligns with dominant political narratives in these communities, where higher education is increasingly portrayed as unnecessary, overly expensive, or ideologically biased.
While economic data continues to show that a bachelor's degree correlates with higher lifetime earnings, that message is struggling to gain traction in many rural households.
Conclusion
Despite targeted interventions, expanded academic programs, and increased outreach, the college enrollment gap for rural students remains a deeply entrenched issue. The data suggest that improving access alone is insufficient. Long-term change will require addressing the underlying social, cultural, and economic factors that shape how rural students and their families perceive higher education.
As the national conversation about college evolves, rural America continues to chart its own course—often choosing immediate employment and local roots over dorm rooms and degrees.
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