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Rural Students Bypass College for Local Jobs and Hands-On Careers
2 Aug
Summary
- High school graduate Briar Townes chooses art camp and local factory jobs over college
- Rural college enrollment lags behind urban and suburban areas, despite efforts to boost access
- Students in rural areas often prefer hands-on work over higher education
As of August 2025, rural high school students in the United States are increasingly choosing to forgo college in favor of local jobs and hands-on careers. This trend is exemplified by the story of Briar Townes, a recent graduate from a rural school district in Wyoming County, New York.
After completing high school in June 2025, Townes has been overseeing an art camp at the county's Arts Council. If that position doesn't become permanent, he is considering work at a local "cookie factory" or at one of the area's manufacturing plants. Townes' decision reflects a broader pattern seen in rural communities, where college enrollment has remained largely flat in recent years, despite efforts by school districts to remove academic and financial barriers to higher education.
Across the country, only about 55% of rural high school graduates in 2023 enrolled in college, compared to 64% of suburban students and 59% of urban students. This disparity is driven by a variety of factors, including the distance students would need to travel for college, a lack of parental experience with higher education, and skepticism about the value of a college degree among some rural political voices.
However, rural school districts are working to address this gap, offering college-level courses and partnerships with local community colleges. In Townes' district, for example, the superintendent is as eager to provide reference checks for employers and the military as he is to write college recommendations. The district has also used federal pandemic relief funds to cover tuition for students in a dual enrollment program, helping to boost college enrollment in recent years.
Despite these efforts, many rural students like Townes and his high school classmate Devon Wells are opting for hands-on careers in fields like welding, electrical work, and agriculture. As Townes puts it, "My stress is picking an option, not finding an option" when it comes to his post-graduation plans.
