ABSTRACT
Broad access institutions play an important role in rural communities across the country, but, due to a limited body of research, these institutions are not well understood. Using data from several federal datasets, this chapter addresses some of these research gaps by examining a set of public and private broad access institutions in rural and non-rural areas. The analyses support the notion of “institutional-level intersectionality” that can result in important differences by locale and sector, while also highlighting the ways in which rurality shapes these institutions. Regardless of sector, rural broad access institutions are more likely than non-rural BAIs to be located in counties with demographic challenges such as low employment and population loss, which underscores the need to increase support to these institutions that serve as educational access points, cultural hubs, public health partners, and crucial regional employers.
