Key Statistics on Rural College Access and Outcomes

The data in this section comes from multiple sources, all using the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) definition of a rural school. NCES divides schools into four categories: rural, town, suburban, and urban. The statistics provided reflect nationwide trends, and links are included for more details on each one.

While most of the statistics highlighted here focus on college pathways, rural students choose other post-high school options like military service or entering the workforce. However, national data on these alternatives is limited, which is why the focus here is mainly on college-going trends.