Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success

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To improve research and practice related to postsecondary education and workforce pathways for rural learners, Ascendium Education Group funded seven research projects focused on understanding and improving outcomes for students in rural communities. From 2022-2026, AIR has served as the organizing partner, collaborating with Ascendium to develop and support the initiative, facilitate cross-project learning, and help disseminate emerging findings and resources.

Over the course of the initiative, participating organizations conducted research across a range of topics affecting rural learners, including institutional policy and practice, student well-being, online learning access, leadership development, caregiving supports, mentorship, workforce preparation, and career development. The projects generated new evidence, tools, and actionable recommendations to support colleges, universities, policymakers, and practitioners serving rural students. 

For example: 

• The University of Idaho conducted a national study of more than 9,600 students to better understand the academic, psychosocial, and workforce-related experiences of rural college students. The project identified key barriers facing rural learners—including financial insecurity, limited access to career development opportunities, and mental health challenges—and developed recommendations for expanding supports such as internships, emergency aid, and flexible learning options. 
  
  Read The Effect of Institutional Programs and Practices on Low-Income Rural College Students’ Academic, Psychosocial, and WorkforceRelated Outcomes.
   
• The Belk Center at North Carolina State University evaluated the Rural College Leaders Program, a cohort-based leadership initiative supporting rural-serving community colleges in North Carolina. The project found that peer collaboration, data-informed decision-making, and cross-functional leadership teams helped institutions implement student-centered changes such as compressed course scheduling, redesigned onboarding, and contextualized coursework, contributing to improvements in student retention and success.
  
  Read Rural College Leaders Program: Catalyzing Institutions to Improve Student Outcomes.
   
• The American Indian College Fund and Urban Institute partnered with Tribal Colleges and Universities to strengthen supports for student caregivers and refine family-friendly campus practices. The project highlighted the importance of culturally responsive, community-centered approaches and produced resources to help rural-serving institutions better support students balancing college with caregiving responsibilities.
  
  Read Family-Friendly Tribal and Rural Campuses.
   
• The University of Washington’s Community College Research Initiatives examined mentorship practices across rural-serving community colleges nationwide. The project found that mentorship plays a critical role in helping rural students navigate academic and career pathways and identified evidence-based strategies centered on relational trust, cultural responsiveness, flexibility, and community connection.
  
  Read Mapping Effective Mentorship for Rural Community College Students.
   
• Western Illinois University studied a nontraditional teacher preparation pathway designed to support rural paraeducators pursuing licensure. The project demonstrated how flexible program structures, financial supports, cohort-based models, and local partnerships can help rural, low-income, and multilingual learners persist in higher education and advance into teaching careers within their communities.
  
  Read Surfacing the Needs of Paraeducators Enrolled in Rural Teacher Preparation Programs.
   
• Georgia State University examined the Technical College System of Georgia’s eCampus initiative to better understand how online course access can expand opportunities for rural learners. The project found that eCampus increased access to courses and credentials for many students, while also highlighting the importance of improving course availability, instructional supports, and technology systems to strengthen outcomes for rural students participating in online learning.
  
  Read Expanding College Access for Rural and Underserved People in Georgia.
   
• Digital Promise studied the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) and its role in supporting the educational and economic mobility of rural early childhood education providers. The project found that tuition-free education, flexible learning options, stipends, and wraparound supports helped rural participants persist in training programs and advance professionally despite barriers such as transportation and limited internet access.
  
  Read Exploring the Effectiveness of Skills Training and Wage-Based Incentive Programs on the Social Mobility of Rural Early Childhood.

Collectively, the initiative advanced understanding of the experiences, strengths, and challenges of rural learners and demonstrated how institutions can better support students through data-informed, community-responsive, and student-centered practices. Across the projects, researchers developed practical tools, policy recommendations, and scalable strategies intended to strengthen postsecondary success and workforce pathways for rural students nationwide.