Despite increasing access to college-level courses in rural high schools, a significant disparity persists in higher education enrollment between rural students and their urban and suburban counterparts.

This gap in college attendance is a multifaceted issue, often stemming from geographic isolation, a lack of familial experience with higher education, and a growing skepticism towards college’s value among some political voices prevalent in rural communities.

Many rural school districts, like the one serving students in western New York’s Wyoming County, are actively working to bridge this divide by expanding access to college-level courses and dismantling academic and financial barriers that might deter students from pursuing higher education.

For students like Briar Townes, an artistic streak honed through high school drawing classes might lead to a career outside traditional academia, illustrating the diverse pathways many rural graduates consider, including local industries that offer immediate employment opportunities.

Statistics reveal that only about 55% of rural U.S. high school graduates in 2023 enrolled in college, significantly less than their suburban and urban peers, despite compelling data showing the substantial lifetime earning potential increase a bachelor’s degree offers.

In areas where cows might outnumber people, like Wyoming County, a college degree isn’t always perceived as the sole path to success. Local economies, built on agriculture and manufacturing, often provide viable career alternatives, shaping student and community perspectives on post-secondary education.

Dual enrollment programs, allowing high school students to earn college credits, are a growing focus for advocates striving to equalize access to higher education, with policy initiatives underway in several states aimed at expanding these opportunities for rural youth.

The prevailing sentiment across much of rural America, influenced by concerns over tuition costs and political narratives questioning the value of higher education, contributes to this hesitation, making the case for college a complex and challenging endeavor for educators.