Calling All Rural Students: There Are College Scholarships for You, Too!

While city life calls to many people, the allure of rural areas is also strong. From a lower cost of living to the unique and beautiful solitude found only in natural settings, there are plenty of reasons to embrace country living. When it comes to gaining access to higher education opportunities, however, the numbers suggests that students from small towns may be at a disadvantage. Let’s take a closer look at the research, along with highlighting scholarships aimed at leveling the playing field.

The Facts on Rural College Admissions Rates

As reported by a Chronicle of Higher Education commentary piece, U.S. college enrollment rates in for students from rural areas historically lag behind those from both urban and suburban areas. How much so? While 46 percent and 42 percent of urban and suburban 18- to- 24-year olds attend college, just 31 percent of those from rural areas can say the same. Not only that, but just 17 percent of rural adults ultimately procure a college degree -- roughly half of their urban peers.

Low enrollment rates among students from rural areas are attributable to a number of different factors, including lack of access to postsecondary institutions in their own communities; limited awareness about college opportunities; and parents who didn’t attend college themselves.

Rural poverty rates further compound the problem -- starting with the economic struggles faced by many rural school districts at the elementary school level and continuing into the postsecondary years. For some would-be college students, the mere cost of moving from a rural area into a city is enough to discourage them from attending college.

In response to this dichotomy, higher education officials are calling for measures aimed at increasing the percentage of rural students who attend college. Wrote West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Director of Statewide Academic Initiatives Sarah Beasley and research and policy analyst for the commission Neal Holly in their Chronicle of Higher Education appeal, “Despite all this, rural areas and the rural perspective are frequently left out of national higher education conversations. That must change. Given the role large national and regional foundations play in setting the higher education agenda, we hope that they will reserve a 'rural seat' at the table and that all educational policy makers will seek rural input.”

Supporting Rural Students
On a policy level, higher education officials have suggested several different strategies designed to promote college enrollment and completion among rural students, including assigning more rural education experts to national leadership positions; forming a national support network for postsecondary institutions with significant rural student numbers; and devoting more research to the topic of improving primary and secondary education in rural communities.

But what can be done on an individual level, in the meantime? Raising awareness about the existence of scholarships for rural students is a great start. Why? Because many rural students are missing out on opportunities entirely because they don’t know about them.

The good news is that funding is out there for those who know where to look. For example, the Foundation for Rural Service, America’s Farmers, and Hagan Scholarships all offer financial assistance programs for students from rural and/or farming backgrounds.

Additionally, many individual colleges and universities offer scholarships targeted at students from small towns. Stop by your school’s Financial Aid office to learn more about scholarships for rural students, along with other potential funding opportunities for which you might be eligible.

Think the problem is limited to the U.S.? Think again. The phenomenon is playing out in countries around the world -- from China to Australia. And while gaps in wealth between urban and rural communities are certainly a factor, so is the lack of access to information. According to a report from the Bush Telegraph, for example, scholarships for rural students in Australia are going largely unclaimed -- to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars a year. A combination of factors, including what The Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEFA) Sarah Taylor describes as “a real confidence issue.” To help overcome this barrier, CEFA offers a comprehensive list of scholarships, highlighting opportunities for rural and regional students.

Just because you’re from a rural town doesn’t mean that college isn’t in your future. Not only are there plenty of scholarship opportunities out there for students just like you, but colleges and universities all over the globe are now prioritizing on-campus diversity as a means of enriching their communities. Your takeaway? it may be time to stop thinking about your country roots as a liability and start embracing your unique background -- and potential contribution -- as a selling point.