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Rural Colleges

50 schools. See our methodology.

Rural colleges across America offer surprisingly strong career outcomes, with graduates from Maine Maritime Academy earning $89,964 annually despite the school's remote Castine location. These 423 institutions span from highly selective liberal arts colleges like Colgate University, which accepts just 12.4% of applicants, to accessible community colleges with acceptance rates above 70%. Net prices vary dramatically, from North Florida College's remarkable $1,799 annual cost to Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences at $37,208. Technical schools in small towns often deliver strong value, with State Technical College of Missouri achieving a 79% graduation rate while charging students only $13,958 net annually. Many of these rural institutions serve critical workforce needs in agriculture, maritime industries, and healthcare, connecting students directly to regional employers. The Landing School in Arundel demonstrates this perfectly, graduating 100% of its 43 students into boat building careers. Rural settings frequently translate to lower costs of living, smaller class sizes, and tight-knit campus communities, though students should consider transportation access and internship opportunities when evaluating options.
50
Schools
$13,479
Avg. Net Price
$48,543
Avg. Earnings
60.1%
Avg. Graduation Rate

Rural Colleges

College listings
# School Setting Enrollment Net Price Graduation Rate
1 Rural-Fringe 43 $24,342 100.0%
2 Rural-Distant 3,122 $29,107 90.5%
3 Rural-Distant 888 $21,185 61.4%
4 Rural-Distant 2,023 $13,958 79.0%
5 Rural-Remote 472 $17,460 75.5%
6 Rural-Distant 54 $24,326 66.7%
7 Rural-Remote 228 $13,843 56.9%
8 Rural-Fringe 9,042 $8,155 61.8%
9 Rural-Fringe 1,548 $37,208 67.0%
10 Rural-Fringe 1,753 $29,383 86.8%
11 Rural-Fringe 64 $22,625 76.9%
12 Rural-Fringe 837 $9,847 73.0%
13 Rural-Remote 1,380 $8,373 60.6%
14 Rural-Distant 817 $1,799 63.5%
15 Rural-Fringe 1,566 $18,362 68.0%
16 Rural-Distant 663 $5,895 61.2%
17 Rural-Remote 1,277 $10,277 54.1%
18 Rural-Fringe 79 $20,698 66.7%
19 Rural-Fringe 1,271 $8,849 55.2%
20 Rural-Distant 1,196 $7,309 60.4%
21 Rural-Fringe 2,083 $11,140 45.3%
22 Rural-Fringe 4,410 $2,244 43.9%
23 Rural-Fringe 6,879 $12,898 44.2%
24 Rural-Fringe 7,770 $19,634 72.0%
25 Rural-Fringe 5,808 $16,767 37.2%
26 Rural-Remote 417 $12,515 53.4%
27 Rural-Fringe 614 $6,838 57.1%
28 Rural-Fringe 938 $6,073 57.6%
29 Rural-Fringe 2,492 $3,271 53.5%
30 Rural-Remote 3,567 $20,865 48.9%
31 Rural-Remote 2,290 $14,040 46.2%
32 Rural-Fringe 1,164 $8,388 51.5%
33 Rural-Distant 1,598 $27,498 82.4%
34 Rural-Fringe 2,875 $11,274 46.4%
35 Rural-Fringe 867 $3,550 47.7%
36 Rural-Distant 1,838 $8,579 42.8%
37 Rural-Remote 1,700 $11,898 46.6%
38 Rural-Fringe 2,280 $18,568 68.2%
39 Rural-Fringe 1,422 $4,477 52.5%
40 Rural-Fringe 910 $20,979 51.5%
41 Rural-Distant 854 $7,697 53.8%
42 Rural-Remote 613 $3,474 54.5%
43 Rural-Remote 1,574 $6,520 46.9%
44 Rural-Distant 61 100.0%
45 Rural-Remote 435 $4,584 53.6%
46 Rural-Fringe 2,055 $7,054 44.3%
47 Rural-Distant 539 $25,032 82.0%
48 Rural-Distant 4,413 $14,042 48.2%
49 Rural-Fringe 807 $11,477 45.9%
50 Rural-Fringe 5,499 $6,113 41.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

What career outcomes can students expect from rural colleges?

Rural college graduates earn between $32,503 and $89,964 annually, with technical schools often producing the highest earners. Maine Maritime Academy graduates average $89,964, while specialized programs like The Landing School achieve 100% graduation rates. Many rural colleges maintain strong industry connections that lead directly to employment in agriculture, manufacturing, and maritime sectors.

How much do rural colleges typically cost?

Net prices at rural colleges range from $1,799 at North Florida College to $37,208 at Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences. Most fall between $8,000-$25,000 annually. State technical colleges often offer the best value, with institutions like State Technical College of Missouri charging just $13,958 while maintaining strong job placement rates.

Is admission competitive at rural colleges?

Acceptance rates vary widely, from Colgate University's highly selective 12.4% to St. Mary's College of Maryland's accessible 77.3%. Most rural institutions accept between 40-60% of applicants. Technical colleges typically have open enrollment policies, while liberal arts colleges in rural areas often maintain moderate selectivity.

What graduation rates do rural colleges achieve?

Rural colleges show graduation rates from 54.1% to 100%, with an average around 70%. Specialized technical schools often perform well, like The Landing School's perfect 100% rate and State Technical College of Missouri's 79% rate. Small enrollment sizes at many rural colleges contribute to higher completion rates.

Where are the best rural college values located?

Florida leads in affordability with North Florida College at $1,799 and University of West Florida at $8,155. Missouri and Kansas technical colleges offer strong value propositions under $18,000. Maine and Pennsylvania schools command higher prices but deliver specialized programs with excellent earning potential exceeding $60,000 annually.

How small are rural college enrollments?

Rural college sizes range from The Landing School's intimate 43 students to University of West Florida's 9,042. Most enroll between 500-2,000 students, creating close faculty relationships and personalized attention. Technical schools average under 1,000 students, while liberal arts colleges typically enroll 1,500-3,000 students in rural settings.

Rural Colleges by State

Alabama (8) Arkansas (6) Arizona (7) California (22) Florida (7) Georgia (10) Iowa (8) Illinois (15) Indiana (6) Kansas (11) Kentucky (9) Louisiana (6) Massachusetts (6) Maryland (8) Maine (9) Michigan (14) Minnesota (11) Missouri (7) Mississippi (14) Montana (7) North Carolina (32) North Dakota (8) Nebraska (5) New Hampshire (5) New Jersey (7) New Mexico (10) New York (24) Ohio (31) Oklahoma (8) Pennsylvania (15) South Carolina (8) Tennessee (5) Texas (10) Virginia (16) Vermont (8) Wisconsin (8) West Virginia (11)

Related

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