University of Denver Partners with STARS College Network to Support Students in Rural America Make College a Reality

The University of Denver (DU) has joined the STARS College Network, a coalition of 32 of the nation’s most prominent institutions dedicated to ensuring that students from rural and small-town America have the support they need to enroll and graduate from the college or university of their choice.

STARS is doubling in size, adding flagship state schools, historically Black colleges, Ivy League universities, and other selective institutions, spreading STARS’ reach to more regions across the nation. As one of the 16 new members, DU will combine its own resources with STARS philanthropy to support pipeline programs and recruiting efforts aimed at students from small-town and rural America, as well as offering financial aid and on-campus programs to support students who enroll.

“It’s an honor and privilege to join an outstanding consortium of universities that are collectively working to ensure more rural students have access to a college education,” said Todd Rinehart, vice chancellor for enrollment at DU. “While we’ll participate in STARS programs across the country, our focus will be on Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region to recruit high-achieving rural students and reinforce the fact that college is possible and affordable.”

Students from rural America often face unique obstacles to attending college. While students in small towns and rural communities graduate high school at roughly the same rate as students in metro areas, they are only half as likely to graduate from a selective college or university.

STARS simultaneously addresses a variety of obstacles that contribute to this disparity. College counselors in rural high schools are often overburdened, if the school even has a counselor. The average national caseload for rural counselors is 310 students. This means that students have less access to educators and college access professionals who have broad experience and familiarity with the full spectrum of college opportunities. 

Importantly, these students may not think they can afford college. Many do not have the networks and resources to help them understand the financial aid and other support available to them. 

In its inaugural year, more than a quarter-million students across the country joined the STARS College Network and took part in STARS activities. In its first year, STARS:

• Visited 1,100 rural high schools in 49 states to bring information about a wider variety of institutions directly to students and educators.
• Gave prospective students and educators more opportunities to experience STARS campuses first-hand through free trips to visit colleges and summer programs that help prepare students academically and socially for college.
• Provided monthly virtual panels with college admissions staff from Network schools, with topics designed to meet students wherever they are in their college search process.
• Partnered with local and national businesses to provide internships and job opportunities for the next generation of rural America 
• Sparked national media coverage, academic research, convenings and policy conversations about how to enhance college access for rural and small-town students
• Advocated for federal, state and local legislation that would support rural and small-town communities

“STARS’ first year demonstrated that there is an appetite and imperative for our nation’s leading universities and colleges to better serve the massive talent pool in our small towns and rural regions,” said Byron D. Trott, chairman and co-CEO of BDT & MSD Partners. “STARS and its affiliated programs are opening doors in higher education for high-achieving rural students they might not have found otherwise; and the students, campuses and our economy will all be the better for it.”

Joining DU as new STARS member institutions are Amherst College, Auburn University, Dartmouth, Duke University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Southern Methodist University, Spelman College, Stanford University, University of Alabama, University of Arizona, University of Arkansas, University of California Berkeley, University of Notre Dame, University of South Carolina and The University of Texas at Austin. You can view the complete list of STARS member institutions here.

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