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Access to four-year colleges is often limited in rural communities, with residents frequently relying on community colleges as their entry point to higher education. According to analysis from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, only 21 percent of rural adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 36 percent of urban residents.
Twenty-three states currently allow at least some community colleges to offer baccalaureate programs (CCBs). This report delves into the landscape of rural-serving community colleges in states that allow CCBs, highlighting the characteristics of these programs, enrollment patterns, and the range of programs available.