The relationship between college proximity and college attendance is well studied, and rural community colleges offer residents affordable education and vocational training that might not otherwise be accessible. Rural community colleges can lessen the impact of education deserts, close attainment gaps, and have the potential to drive economic growth and help sustain vibrant communities.
While the Department of Education estimates that there are 260 rural community colleges in the United States that educate around 670,000 students a year, these figures likely underestimate the total number of rural colleges and students served. The Department of Education’s definition of rural is based on distance from urban centers, which excludes many institutions that serve rural populations.
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