Geography of Opportunity: Mapping the Availability of Broad Access Institutions

As the third installment of our Geography of Opportunity research, our new report by Dr. Nicholas Hillman explores the availability of Broad-Access Institutions (BAIs) across the country, differentiating between rural and urban areas as well as communities along state borders. BAIs play an important role in expanding educational opportunities and promoting upward mobility; however, not all communities have equal access to BAIs. This inequality affects where students go to college—it even affects how they get there, how much they pay, and whether they complete their degrees.  

This analysis draws connections between geographic location and key drivers of educational inequality, offering researchers and policymakers new ways of thinking about college access, affordability, basic needs, and student success.