Assessing Rural Education Assets and Strengths (AREAS)

The Assessing Rural Education Assets and Strengths (AREAS) Consortium of rural colleges and universities investigates the programs, policies, and practices that improve rural college students’ outcomes in higher education and facilitate rural college students’ successful transitions to the workforce. We center the experiences of rural college students through collaboration, advocacy, and knowledge generation.

In Spring 2025, we initiated data collection via a large, multi-institutional study of college students. You may view our conceptual framework and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for the study. 

The AREAS Consortium is based at the University of Idaho and funded by the Ascendium Education Group in partnership with the American Institutes for Research.