Rural colleges deliver value, according to a new analysis by researchers at Boston College. While median earnings at rural-serving institutions are typically lower, their accessibility, shorter time-to-degree, and affordability create equitable value for many students, the report says.

The study is part of a new research series from the Institute for Higher Education Policy that addresses crucial questions about student outcomes and the economic benefits of higher education. The papers draw on IHEP’s Equitable Value Explorer, an interactive data tool to compare post-college earnings across student populations and institutions.

Illustration: The Chronicle

The troubled Eastern Gateway Community College, in Ohio, is “pausing” registration and enrollment after the spring of 2024. In other words, the college will not hold classes starting this summer and hasn’t announced any timetable to resume them.

While few public colleges ever close, Eastern Gateway’s announcement of an enrollment “pause” comes after years of scrutiny from its accreditor, which raised concerns about academic quality and corruption following the institution’s meteoric growth in online programs.

Illustration: David Senior

Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced instructors around the world to try online education, something unexpected has happened: Professors are discovering that some online teaching methods work better than what can be done in the limits of a physical classroom.

And now with campuses back from pandemic restrictions, many instructors are trying to incorporate those remote practices into their in-person teaching.