Students in rural counties are less likely to attend college, and those who do are less likely to choose a four-year, private, or highly selective institution, according to a recent report.
Andrew Koricich, an assistant professor of higher education at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, analyzed federal higher education and longitudinal data to determine how living in a rural community influences postsecondary choices. His study found that about 64 percent of rural students pursue postsecondary education, compared to nearly 70 percent of students who live in metro areas. Nationally, about 66 percent of graduating high school students enroll in a postsecondary institution.
Of those students in the study who attended college, 47 percent of rural students chose a two-year institution, compared to about 38 percent of students living in metro areas.
