Who Are Rural Students? How Definitions of Rurality Affect Research on College Completion

• In Event: Access, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation

Abstract

This study investigates the importance of the consistency of the definition of rurality for conclusions drawn about college attendance and degree completion for rural students. Analyzing data from the Education Longitudinal Study (ELS:2002-2012), we compare 3 definitions of rurality used by the National Center for Education Statistics in their last 3 data collections examining the transition to college. We find the definition of rurality, particularly how towns are categorized, matters for conclusions drawn. Based on our results, we make recommendations for researchers and policymakers about the options for defining rural students, reporting transparently about implicit choices made, and building a more robust body of literature concerning rural students’ college access and success.

Authors

• Catherine A. Manly, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

• Ryan S. Wells, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

• Suzan Kommers, University of Massachusetts - Amherst