Studies of Rural Students' College Enrollment and Persistence in Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Indiana

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

Across the nation, students from rural schools have lower college enrollment and persistence rates than students from nonrural schools. But college enrollment rates are rising faster among students from rural schools than among their peers in nonrural schools. Given this changing landscape, it is important to examine patterns in and seek ways to improve on the college outcomes of rural students. All three studies in this symposium address college-going and persistence patterns in their states, but each takes a slightly different lens that helps add to the knowledge base. The Pennsylvania study emphasizes degree of rurality/locale, the Oregon study highlights ethnicity and level of achievement, and the Indiana study addresses the match between students’ academic preparation and college selectivity.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Rural Education

Chair

• Teresa Garcia Duncan, ICF International

Papers

• College Enrollment and Persistence in Rural Pennsylvania Schools - Caitlin Howley, ICF International; Jerry Johnson, Ohio University; Aikaterini Passa, ICF International; Kazuaki Uekawa, ICF International

• Comparing Postsecondary Enrollment and Persistence Among Rural and Nonrural Students in Oregon - Ashley Pierson, Education Northwest; Havala Hanson, Education Northwest

• College Enrollment Patterns for Rural Indiana High School Graduates - Elisabeth Davis, American Institutes for Research; Matthew Raymond Burke, Learning Point Associates; Jennifer L. Stephan, American Institutes for Research

Discussant

• Hobart L. Harmon