Transfer enrollment continues to rise across the nation, increasing 4.4% this year and 8% overall since 2020, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. In a recent Inside Higher Ed opinion piece, Gerardo de los Santos, vice president of community college relations at National University, urges policymakers and higher education leaders to recognize that progress remains uneven, particularly for students in rural communities.
While transfer rates are improving, rural institutions often remain excluded from major policy conversations and underfunded in statewide initiatives. Rural community colleges, which serve as lifelines for many first-generation, low-income, and working adult learners, experience systemic challenges such as limited course offerings, inadequate broadband access, and small advising teams. De los Santos emphasizes that supporting these learners requires tailored approaches, flexible transfer frameworks, and stronger partnerships that reflect the realities of rural life.
Transfer rates are rising, and more students are finding affordable on-ramps to bachelor’s degrees. But this progress is incomplete unless it reaches every corner of the country, including the small towns and rural communities that are home to millions of students. In a moment when more students are finally moving forward, we can’t afford to leave these learners behind. When rural students succeed, our entire nation benefits.
Read the full article by Gerardo de los Santos on Inside Higher Ed. Learn more about National University’s mission to expand access, equity, and success for working adults, service members, and lifelong learners at nu.edu.
