STARS College Network Expands to 32 Schools, Boosting Rural Student Enrollment
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The STARS College Network, a $170 million initiative to connect rural students with top colleges, has doubled its membership to 32 institutions, including Brown, Columbia, and MIT. The expansion coincides with a 15% increase in rural applications to member schools and rising enrollment at participating colleges like Amherst. The effort aims to address a persistent gap where rural students graduate high school at high rates but enroll and complete college less often than their urban and suburban peers.
Facts First
- The STARS College Network has expanded from 16 to 32 member schools, including Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, MIT, Stanford, and Yale.
- More than 90,000 rural students applied to STARS member institutions last year, a 15% increase over the previous year.
- Amherst College's proportion of rural students increased from 6% to 11% following its participation in STARS.
- Just over 50% of rural high school graduates go straight to college, compared to nearly 60% of urban and 63% of suburban graduates.
- More than 1,000 students utilized STARS programs to visit campuses, attend classes, and stay overnight last year.
What Happened
The STARS College Network (Small Town and Rural Students) has expanded from 16 to 32 member schools. Founded with a $20 million investment from alumnus Byron Trott, Trott's foundation has since invested an additional $150 million into the initiative. More than 90,000 rural students applied to STARS member institutions last year, representing a 15% increase. Member schools like Amherst College have seen enrollment gains, with its proportion of rural students increasing from 6% to 11%. Over 1,000 students utilized STARS programs for campus visits last year.
Why this Matters to You
If you or your family live in a rural community, this network expansion may increase access to information, financial support, and campus visit opportunities for students considering top colleges. The growing number of participating schools could make the college application process feel less distant and more attainable. For colleges, this represents a concerted effort to diversify their student bodies and tap into a pool of high school graduates where 90% complete high school but just over 50% go straight to college.
What's Next
The STARS College Network is likely to continue facilitating campus visits and outreach programs, building on the participation of more than 1,000 students last year. Member schools may see further increases in rural student enrollment as these efforts scale. The initiative could also help address the lower college completion rates among rural students who enroll. Ongoing polling suggests changing perceptions in rural communities about the value of college remains a challenge, but increased access and visibility may contribute to a shift.