Both college-going and college completion rates are far lower in rural areas than in other geographical settings. To learn what works to help rural students enroll in and complete college, MDRC, supported by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), has launched the National Rural Higher Education Research Center. The center will work with college systems to conduct eight research studies in two regions: the South and the Mountain West.

In this episode, Leigh Parise talks with Alyssa Ratledge, research associate at MDRC, about the research questions the Center will address in response to the needs of rural practitioners and policymakers.