Experts are raising concerns about college deserts, areas where students live more than 30 miles away from a community college, making higher education harder to access. These deserts mainly affect rural communities and people of color, which could make existing education gaps even worse.
Rebecca Corbin, CEO of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, explains that many of these college deserts are in rural southern areas, where people live far apart. She says it’s important to make sure no one is left behind when it comes to education.
College deserts have been getting more attention recently because they are a key reason some groups of students don’t pursue higher education. A study in Texas found that distance to community colleges is a big factor for students who decide not to attend college. In the U.S., students receive transportation to schools up through high school, but after that, they are usually on their own to get to college.
The study also showed that while all students are less likely to attend college if they live in a desert, White and Asian students are more likely to choose a four-year university instead of a community college. However, Black, Hispanic, and lower-income students are more likely to skip college altogether. They are less likely to get associate degrees and even bachelor’s degrees.
Lois Miller, an assistant professor, explained that Black and Hispanic students might face extra challenges, like needing to work part-time or take care of family members, making it harder to consider colleges that are far away.
Community colleges serve many first-generation college students, single parents, and people who aren’t familiar with navigating higher education. These groups are especially impacted by the lack of nearby colleges.
Finding a solution to college deserts is difficult because many colleges are shutting down. In the first nine months of this year, 28 degree-granting colleges closed, nearly double the number that closed in all of 2023.
Martha Parham, from the American Association of Community Colleges, says that many schools are trying creative ways to serve students in these areas. Some colleges partner with state schools to offer local opportunities, and others provide classes in nearby towns, churches, or community centers to help students who struggle with transportation.
Offering more online classes is another potential solution, but many rural areas have unreliable internet, which makes it hard for students to take advantage of online education. Rebecca Corbin says that bridging the digital divide could help address the issue of college deserts.
