Empirical studies have concluded that rural students experience lower rates of college enrollment and degree completion compared to their nonrural peers, but this literature needs to be expanded and updated for a continually changing context. This article examines the rural-nonrural disparities in students’ postsecondary trajectories, influences, and outcomes. By comparing results to past research using similar national data and an identical design, we are able to examine change over time. Results show narrowed gaps from the 1990s into the 2000s, but with rural students still facing persistent challenges and experiencing lower average rates of college enrollment and degree completion.

中文翻译：

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缩小的差距和持续的挑战：随着时间的推移，检查高等教育成果的农村与非农村差异

实证研究得出的结论是，与非农村同龄人相比，农村学生的大学入学率和学位完成率较低，但这些文献需要针对不断变化的环境进行扩展和更新。本文考察了学生在高等教育发展轨迹、影响和成果方面的农村与非农村差异。通过使用类似的国家数据和相同的设计将结果与过去的研究进行比较，我们能够检查随时间的变化。结果显示，从 1990 年代到 2000 年代差距缩小，但农村学生仍面临持续挑战，大学入学率和学位完成率较低。